Republican lawmakers in the Montana House backtracked Wednesday on a proposal to give committee chairs more power during the 2021 legislative session. The rule could influence which bills get a public hearing. Rep. Derek Skees, a Republican from Kalispell, said that after receiving significant push back from the public and other legislators, Republicans in the House Rules Committee have decided to remove an amendment that would have given committee chairs, who are all Republican, discretion to kill bills before they get a hearing. Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, chair of the House Rules Committee, listens as representatives debate over an amendment to “blast” motion rules on Jan. 8, 2019.