Montana

Votes fall short in final 2023 Montana Legislature veto override polls

Published

1 year ago

June 30, 2023

Votes fall short in final 2023 Montana Legislature veto override polls

HELENA — Montana lawmakers have failed to override Gov. Greg Gianforte’s decision to veto $23 million in projects from a long-range spending bill, resolving one of the final open questions remaining after the 68^th legislative session.

Since the end of the session in early May, lawmakers have been voting by mail in a series of polls, to see whether they’d overturn the governor’s vetoes. The last of those polls dealt with Gianforte’s “line-item vetoes” on House Bill 5, a major long-range spending bill.

The 150 lawmakers had to vote separately on 11 different appropriations that Gianforte had rejected in HB 5 – meaning the Montana Secretary of State’s Office sent out and processed 1,650 ballots for that bill alone.

It takes two-thirds of House members and two-thirds of Senate members to override a governor’s veto. None of the line items on HB 5 reached that threshold.

The closest vote was on a $6 million appropriation to complete a sixth and final skilled nursing cottage at the Southwest Montana Veterans’ Home in Butte. It received support from 48 House members and 26 Senate members – 19 representatives and 8 senators short of what it needed to move forward.

Gianforte said the veterans’ home project was worthy, but he opposed the funding model in the final bill. Originally, HB 5 included $1 million in state funding, with the rest of the cost to be paid by the federal government, but it was amended in the Senate to pay the full cost with state dollars.

Gianforte said in his letter announcing the line-item vetoes that the state shouldn’t be “crossing our fingers that the federal government might reimburse us once we’ve spent the money.”

In a statement Friday, Sen. Ryan Lynch, D-Butte, said upholding the veto was “kicking veterans to the curb.”

“Montanans need to let Gianforte and Republican legislators know how disappointed they are in this insulting decision,” he said.

Overall, 42 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted to override the veto on the veterans’ home funding. 52 Republicans voted to uphold the veto. 18 Republicans and 6 Democrats didn’t record a vote.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, encouraged Gianforte to use his line-item veto power to remove several projects from HB 5, saying he objected to the way they were added into the bill at the end of the session.

Gianforte also vetoed $8 million for conservation grants to the city of Billings and the Yellowstone Conservation District, $1 million for water and sewer upgrades in Columbus and $2 million for local governments to improve parks – all items added to HB 5 during a late committee meeting. He vetoed $2 million to the Chippewa Cree Tribe for a language immersion school and repairs to a cultural ceremony building, and $250,000 to Missoula for a public plaza on the Riverfront Trail – projects that weren’t for state-owned property. Finally, he removed $3.8 million in funding for construction projects at Fort Harrison, saying the Montana Department of Military Affairs had decided not to move forward with them.

In total, Gianforte vetoed 25 bills this session, plus the line-item vetoes on HB 5. That’s higher than in 2021, when he vetoed 16, but significantly lower than in sessions like 2015, 2017 and 2019, when the governor was a Democrat and the Legislature was controlled by Republicans.

19 of the bills Gianforte vetoed this year were submitted to lawmakers for override polls – compared with seven in 2021. The Legislature voted to enact four of them into law over the governor’s objections:

· House Bill 693, sponsored by Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, says a public agency can’t refuse to disclose public information simply because it may be part of litigation.
· House Bill 29, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Carlson, R-Manhattan, requires the state to begin transferring patients out of the Montana State Hospital if their primary diagnosis is Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or traumatic brain injury. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services will need to find new community placements for those patients by 2025.
· Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sen. Jen Gross, D-Billings, requires DPHHS to share reports about allegations of abuse and neglect at the state hospital with Disability Rights Montana, the organization with the responsibility of protecting and advocating for Montanans with disabilities.
· House Bill 868, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Schillinger, R-Circle, is a “companion bill” designed as a placeholder to include any necessary provisions to implement one of the sections of the main budget. This year, it includes coordinating language connected with Senate Bill 442, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta – a bill Gianforte vetoed just before the end of the session. SB 442 would have revised the distribution of state marijuana tax revenue, redirecting money toward county rural roads, wildlife habitat projects and veterans’ services. It passed the Legislature with broad support but didn’t get an override poll because of the timing of the veto. Lawsuits have been filed, saying that deprived lawmakers of their opportunity to decide whether to uphold the veto.

Successful veto overrides have been extremely rare in Montana in recent years. In 2021, the Legislature voted to override one veto from Gianforte. Prior to that, MTN had not been able to identify any since at least 2009.

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Related Topics:Featured Greg Gianforte House Bill 5 line-item veto Ryan Lynch Senate Bill 442 Southwest Montana Veterans' Home veto

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Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 25, 2024

Published

7 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 25, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-05-40-42-52, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

09-18-19-25, Bonus: 15

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

08-29-30-47-57, Powerball: 01

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

01-05-10-39-41

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9:00 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9:00 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Montana

Montana authors talk about state's 'political hell-raiser,' archaeology • Daily Montanan

Published

18 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Montana authors talk about state's 'political hell-raiser,' archaeology • Daily Montanan

Historian and author Marc Johnson gives a book talk next month about Burton K. Wheeler, “one of the most powerful politicians Montana ever produced,” as part of the Montana Historical Society’s lecture series.

Johnson will speak from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Touchmark, 915 Saddle Dr. in Helena. He will talk about his book, “Political Hell-Raiser: The Life and Times of Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana.”

“(Wheeler) came of political age amid antiwar and labor unrest in Butte, Montana, during World War I, battling Montana’s powerful economic interests and championing farmers and miners as a crusading United States attorney,” said the announcement from the Montana Historical Society. “Wheeler went on to become one of the most influential, and controversial, members of the United States Senate during three of the most eventful decades in American history.”

Also in January, author and University of Montana archaeology professor Douglas MacDonald will discuss his “Land of Beginnings: The Archaeology of Montana’s First Peoples.”

The book talk takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Lewis & Clark Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch in Helena.

“While researchers have learned a great deal about the origins of the first people to call this region home, questions remain about which route or routes they took and when they made this journey,” said the Montana Historical Society about the book talk.

The organization also said the Original Governor’s Mansion will be open for free guided tours at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, and on Saturday, Dec. 28.

“The Queen Anne-Style mansion will be decorated for the holiday season through the weekend with surprises for visitors of all ages,” said the announcement.

For more information, contact Darby Bramble at [email protected].

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Montana

Montana Ag Network: Sleigh ride season kicks off in Montana

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Montana Ag Network: Sleigh ride season kicks off in Montana

On a frosty morning in late December, Marce Hoffman backs two huge draft horses out of a barn at the historic 320 Ranch south of Big Sky.

“Step up, step up,” Hoffman instructs the horses as he maneuvers them toward a waiting sled. It’s time to take the animals out for a turn on a trail they’ll know well by the end of the winter season. They’ll tread the path up to seven days a week during the holidays and five days a week after that. The animals strain in their harnesses, eager to pull and run.

“They’re fresh. They won’t be fresh come New Year’s, though; they’ll be all muscled up, ready to go,” said Hoffman.

MTN News

The 320 has a long history. It was homesteaded as two separate ranches more than 125 years ago.

“1912 they combined them to form 320 acres That’s how the ranch became known as the 320,” explained Hoffman as he practiced the history lesson he gives while narrating the ride through the high, narrow valley the ranch is nestled in, just outside the boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

In 1936, Bozeman doctor Carolyn McGill purchased the ranch.

Hoffman said, “She fell in love with this area on different hunting trips, trips down into the Yellowstone Park.”

You might recognize McGill’s name from somewhere else.

“Caroline started the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman; was actually called the McGill Museum when it first opened up,” said Hoffman.

Current owner Dave Bass purchased the ranch in 1985.

Hoffman explained that’s when the ranch really began to grow into a tourist Mecca. He said, “He (Bass) bought it up from a 20 gust capacity over 200 that we have today.” He pointed to cabins that drifted by, framed by the mountains and the Gallatin River. It’s the view guests get as they take a one-hour trail ride in the sleighs. Hoffman ticked off the sights: “You get to see Cinnamon Mountain, Burnt Top Mountain. We’ll be able to see the Spanish Peaks when we go along the Gallatin here. Looking back you’ve got a view of Monument.”

As he drives onto a flat, straight stretch of the trail, the horses get frisky. “These guys are gonna air out right here,” he cautioned, just as the horses break into a run. It demonstrated the challenge of managing big Percheron horses around guests.

“Our number one priority is keeping everybody safe. So we always have to be constantly looking at the equipment. As far as the people, probably the hardest part is herding them up and getting them on the sleighs,” Hoffman laughed as he allowed that it is probably harder to manage the passengers than the animals.

Sitting next to him, Head Wrangler Logan McDaniel said she enjoyed working at the ranch.

“I like, of course, to drive and work with the horses but also meeting people from all around the world. You get to meet people from all different parts of life, all kind of different places,” she said. “They’re here for vacation. You get to kind of realize a little bit of people’s life story. It’s pretty cool just to meet different people.”

And the horses?

Hoffman said, “We’re looking for good disposition, you know. We’re not looking for heavy pullers we’re just looking for horses that are pretty docile and easy-going horses. They’re not gonna win any pulling competitions here.”

But these workhorses are no slouches.

“We’ll pull 18 people no problem and these guys are big horses,” said Hoffman.

He said that translates to about 18 hands and nearly 2,000 pounds each. As the horses cool down after their workout, Hoffman wiped them down and explained how these animals cope with the harsh winters at the ranch.

“You know those horses are on hay, you know free choice grass hay and water. They do pretty well. We’ve got a lean-to for them to get out of the wind. But for the most part, you know, they’re pretty hearty animals,” he said.

By late afternoon, as dusk descends on the ranch, guests begin to wander toward a pair of the big sleighs. They board the blanket covered seats for a ride out to the other end of the valley where a wood-floored canvass tent awaits. It’s heated and features a bar serving snacks, hot cocoa, cider, and more. A fire crackles in a pit surrounded by seats outside. After a bit of rest, the passengers will climb back into the sleds for a ride back to the ranch restaurant.

Taking in the view around them, Hoffman and McDaniel reflected on their jobs. Hoffman said, “There’s a lot of people that never seen a horse or been around horses, so it’s a good opportunity to you know, to introduce them to the horses.”

McDaniel added, “It’s cool watching people fall in love with the horses. That’s why I kind of do this. It’s to see people fall in love with horses like I do.”

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