Informações:
Synopsis
Montana Public Radio's weekly legislative news and analysis program appears on Fridays throughout the legislative session. MTPR's Sally Mauk is joined by veteran Capitol Reporter Chuck Johnson and UM Political Science Professor Rob Saldin to discuss the week's legislative news.
Episodes
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A contentious legislative session ends. Will it mark a turning point in Montana politics?
06/05/2023 Duration: 14minRepublican lawmakers say they delivered for Montanans. Democrats say they kept a lot of bad things off the books. The Regier family reigned over much of the action. And this session marked a political turning point — but in what direction?
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The Legislature makes the national news again and the mood at the Capitol turns sour
29/04/2023 Duration: 13minRepublicans ban a trans lawmaker from the House floor, putting Montana in the national news spotlight. Meanwhile, much work remains on the budget as the end of the session approaches.
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Citing decorum, Republicans shut down transgender lawmaker; 'Jungle primary' bill fails
22/04/2023 Duration: 13minRepublicans try to silence transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr. Anti-trans bills are on their way to becoming law. Lawmakers table a bill to create a one-time "jungle primary" in next year's Senate race. The defeat of that bill may have political fallout for Senator Steve Daines.
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Anti-abortion bills sail through the Legislature; Consequences vs. discrimination
15/04/2023 Duration: 14minAbortion in Montana could be severely limited if a slew of bills headed to the governor's desk become law. Montana's attorney general intervenes in a lawsuit to ban an abortion pill. Another bill seeks to answer the question of whether religious freedom protects bigoted speech. And lawmakers hope more money will help fix problems at the Warm Springs state hospital.
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Republicans try to tilt the scales in the Senate race, constitutional amendments stall
07/04/2023 Duration: 14minRosendale attends Trump's post-arraignment event. Republican leaders want to change election rules — but only in one race. Many Cascade County residents are not happy with how their top election officer is doing her job. And several proposed amendments to the state Constitution may not make it to the ballot after all.
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Capitol Talk: Satanism enters the chat and it's déjà vu on gun laws
01/04/2023 Duration: 13minCongressional opponents of a ban on assault weapons, including Montana Sen. Jon Tester, aren't swayed by another school shooting. Neither are many state legislators, who want to expand, not limit, gun rights in Montana. A reference to Satanism prompts a walkout in a Senate committee hearing. And wilderness schools for troubled teens are once again in the legislative spotlight
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Republicans own the budget — for better or worse; Arntzen gets an earful; Anti-trans bills advance
25/03/2023 Duration: 13minThere aren't many Democratic fingerprints on the budget passed by the House. Montana's Legislature is just one of several targeting transgender issues. And state Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen gets an earful on a statewide tour. Is she aiming for higher office?
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Lawmakers talk constitutional changes, abortion lawsuits and 'sex'
18/03/2023 Duration: 13minMontana's A.G. threatens to sue Walgreens over the abortion pill. The 2024 ballot could include a slew of proposed constitutional changes. Gov. Gianforte celebrates a major legislative win. And some Republican lawmakers propose a definition of sex.
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Chuck Johnson's impact; Rosendale & white supremacists; Who will challenge Tester?
11/03/2023 Duration: 13minThe Capitol Talk team remembers a dear colleague. Rep. Rosendale keeps hanging out with some bad guys. The Legislature buckles down on budget work. And Sen. Steve Daines may back an unknown Bozeman businessman to challenge Jon Tester for his Senate seat.
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Budget bills await governor's signature; Lawmakers look to weaken the judiciary
04/03/2023 Duration: 13minThe Governor celebrates a major win midway through the legislative session. Democrats hope to fend off attempts to weaken the judiciary. And speculation grows over who will challenge Jon Tester for his Senate seat.
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Tester is in, Racicot is out and moderates rack up some wins
25/02/2023 Duration: 13minDemocrats cheer Senator Tester's re-election bid. Republicans excommunicate former governor Marc Racicot. Moderates celebrate a couple of tough legislative victories. And everyone is scrambling to meet the deadline to transfer bills from one chamber to the next. Learn more now on Capitol Talk.
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Lawmakers spar over Columbus; balloons bring bipartisan agreement
18/02/2023 Duration: 13minThere's rare bipartisan agreement over what to do about wayward balloons. Abortion remains a dominant legislative issue. Montana's former secretary of state wants to now be a country singer. And lawmakers argue over whether Columbus was a good guy or bad guy.
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Lawmakers target gender-affirming care, scientific theories and 'San Francisco elites'
11/02/2023 Duration: 14minBills affecting transgender Montanans draw emotional debate. Scientific theories are targeted for elimination from public education. And Senator Daines battles Twitter and "San Francisco elites."
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Capitol Talk: Balloons, billions and changing the Constitution
04/02/2023 Duration: 13minMontana political leaders want some answers about a Chinese spy balloon floating in the Big Sky. Senator Steve Daines is moving up the party leadership ladder. The Republican plan for allocating a billion dollars is headed to the Senate. And prominent Montanans lead a rally to support the state Constitution
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Gianforte trumpets economic growth; Democrats focus on the housing crisis
28/01/2023 Duration: 13minIn his State of the State Address, Gov. Gianforte said Montana's economy is coming up roses, but Democrats found plenty of dandelions. And Flathead County commissioners have drawn widespread criticism for their views of the county's homeless population. Learn more now on Capitol Talk.
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The downsides of a citizen legislature; Tax bill drama; Abortion bill is likely headed to court
21/01/2023 Duration: 14minA lawmaker's resignation highlights the downside of Montana’s part-time legislature. The governor’s tax relief proposals face some bipartisan opposition. And another effort to make abortion illegal is likely headed to the courts.
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Rosendale goes viral and Republicans set their sights on abortion & Medicaid
14/01/2023 Duration: 13minRep. Rosendale refuses a call from Trump. State Sen. Regier withdraws a resolution Native Americans found insulting. Rep. Zinke warns of threats to cowboys. And more Montanans may lose Medicaid funding
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Week 1 shows Republicans' competing visions. What to do with an extra $2 billion?
07/01/2023 Duration: 14minRepublican legislators in Montana appear as divided as their counterparts in Congress. Rep. Matt Rosendale gets the spotlight in the fight for a new House speaker. Montana lawmakers must decide how to spend $2 billion. A draft resolution blows a loud dog whistle over Native American rights. Learn more now on Capitol Talk.
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Capitol Talk: 2021 Legislature Recap
01/05/2021 Duration: 13minThe 2021 Legislature produced a balanced budget with a slight spending increase, some new restrictions on abortion, a fight with the state Supreme Court and a lot of fulfilled conservative goals. Holly, Rob and Sally give their final takeaways from the session and preview the upcoming race for Montana's new second congressional seat.
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New Voting Laws Face Legal Challenges As Legislature-Supreme Court Standoff Continues
24/04/2021 Duration: 13minThe dispute between Republican legislative leadership and the state Supreme Court will likely continue after the legislative session ends. This as Montana joins several states in passing changes to voting laws — and those changes are already being challenged in court. And Friday, lawmakers reached a compromise on how to implement recreational marijuana.