Democrats and GOP ‘Nine’ propel state budget bill through Senate debate

The $16.6 billion budget bill funding the operation of Montana’s state agencies for the next two years passed a key milestone Thursday in its journey through the state Legislature, clearing a preliminary floor vote in the state Senate with bipartisan support from Democrats and a group of Republican lawmakers who have repeatedly bucked the chamber’s GOP leadership this year.

The coalition of the Senate’s 18-member Democratic minority and nine Republicans repeatedly rejected amendment motions brought by GOP leaders, voting in near-lockstep over the course of the three-hour budget bill debate.

By the time debate on the agency budget bill, House Bill 2, concluded, the Senate’s frustrated Republican leaders were voting against passing it.