Government & Politics
Biden: Republicans “irresponsible” to refuse masks while sheltering during riot
WASHINGTON—President-elect Joe Biden on Monday chastised GOP lawmakers for refusing to wear masks while they were held in a safe location as a violent mob of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last week. As lawmakers waited for law enforcement to secure the Capitol on Wednesday, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) went around a packed room […]
You fooled us once. Let’s make sure there’s not a next time
We have a crisis of credulity in this country. We’ve become a nation of dupes. The inability of far too many Americans to separate fact from fantasy, and the people who are eager to take advantage of that failure, are the root of the rot in our country. The consequences, long evident, should now be […]
Gianforte: Scott Osterman to lead Commerce
HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Monday his nomination of Scott Osterman to lead the Montana Department of Commerce. “Getting our economy going again, getting Montana open for business, and getting Montanans back to work and thriving in good-paying jobs require a strong leader at the Department of Commerce,” said Gianforte in a news release. […]
Politics is a family business for Speaker Galt
Peel back the layers of Montana’s political history and you will quickly encounter the Galt family. Or just drive around central Montana. There’s a chance you’ll travel on Galt Road in the northeast Helena valley, or more likely, that you’ll end up near the family’s considerable land holdings, the bulk of which are centered around […]
Biden to ship all available vaccine doses to states
WASHINGTON — More COVID-19 vaccine doses will be available to states sooner under changes that the incoming Biden administration is expected to make to how the Trump administration has been allocating those shots. That’s according to comments a Biden transition spokesman made to CNN on Friday, indicating that President-elect Joe Biden will shift to “releasing available doses immediately.” […]
Gianforte’s budget to boost new teacher pay
Teachers in Montana run roughly in the middle of the pack when it comes to average salaries across the country, according to education officials here. But new teachers? In the Treasure State, rookies take home the smallest paychecks of those in all other states. Thursday, education officials who represent schools and educators said Gov. Greg […]
Multiple investigations opened into the death of U.S. Capitol Police officer in pro-Trump riots
WASHINGTON—A Capitol Police officer died late Thursday from injuries he sustained while a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers were set to vote to certify the presidential election results. The officer, Brian Sicknick, died at 9:30 p.m. at a local hospital, according to U.S. Capitol Police. His death is being investigated by several […]
Legislature to hire part-time contact tracer from county
The Lewis and Clark County Board of Commissioners will decide next week whether to approve a contract for a county contact tracer to work for the state Legislative Services Division part-time, a move that some within the Legislature fear could be too late now that one lawmaker has already announced a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The […]
Amendments coming to COVID-19 liability shield bill
Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick intends to amend legislation he proposed that would shield businesses and non-profits from coronavirus-related civil liability in response to concerns from committee witnesses he heard Friday, the Great Falls Republican told the Daily Montanan. The bill, a top priority of Gov. Greg Gianforte, would increase the legal standards necessary to bring a case […]
Dems challenge proposal to cut $1 billion from human services budget
Travis Hoffmann asked lawmakers Friday how many times they would like him to shower. The Missoula man, a U.S. Army veteran and a person with disabilities, said he already needs help showering, and because of limited resources is limited to three times a week. More cuts to what he already considers the struggling health and […]
Rep. Bedey tests positive for COVID-19
State Rep. David Bedey has tested positive for COVID-19, the Legislature’s coronavirus panel said Thursday night. Bedey contracted the virus “via a non-legislative, non-Capitol contact that occurred prior to the start of the session,” legislative COVID-19 Panel Presumptive Chair Jason Ellsworth announced. He is asymptomatic and in quarantine. Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, said in a statement that […]
Dems mull impeachment as talk of Trump pardoning himself grows
WASHINGTON — Among the factors undergirding the new effort by House Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump again is a controversial legal theory that doing so could bar him from pardoning himself, according to those involved. The theory is among the many reasons — and there are many, as tempers still flare after an violent […]