Politics & Government
The Daily Inter Lake’s Politics & Government section delivers updated local and national political coverage, featuring legislative developments, elections, policy debates, and government actions shaping Montana.
Counting machines add vote of confidence to elections security
The conference room of the Flathead County Elections Department whirred with noise. Volunteers rattled off strings…
Interior Department veterans: Proposed overhaul is flawed
DENVER (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's plan for a major realignment to put more of his department's decision-makers in the field has a fundamental …
Democrats say Interior boss withheld key facts
DENVER (AP) — Two Democratic congressmen accused Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Wednesday of withholding key information from lawmakers while launching a mas…
Fagg makes case for Senate candidacy
Russell Fagg, one of the many Republicans vying to unseat Sen. Jon Tester this November, sat down with the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board Wednesday.
Little support for proposed Medicaid cuts
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Some of the state's proposed cuts in Medicaid reimbursement will harm children and leave the state responsible for more expensive services…
Interest high in state legislative races
If the first day of filing is any indication, interest is high in the state political offices up for grabs this year.
Contests shaping up for county elections
There are early contenders for most Flathead County elected offices, setting the stage for some primary election run-offs in June as a busy election year kicks…
Montana lawmakers reviewing their sexual harassment policy
HELENA — Montana lawmakers are reviewing the Legislature’s sexual harassment policy after accusations of sexual misconduct led to the downfall of other lawmake…
Jones victorious in stunning Alabama Senate upset
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — In a stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama's special Senate election on Tuesday, beating back history, an …
Bill would remove wilderness protections from some study areas
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, R–Mont., has introduced a bill to remove some Montana Wilderness Study Areas from long-standing protections.
Daines opposes current version of tax bill
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are considering a trigger that would automatically increase taxes if their sweeping legislation fails to generate as much reven…
Legislature reaches budget fix without raising taxes
HELENA — Montana lawmakers have agreed to a plan to address the state’s projected $227 million budget deficit without raising taxes in a complicated mix of int…
Whitefish native enters U.S. House election
Last year, Montana Democrats took a bruising loss in the race for Montana’s lone House of Representatives seat. But that hasn’t deterred them from trying to un…
Montana provider says it will go broke without subsidy
HELENA — Two companies offering health insurance through the individual market in Montana cannot adjust their rates to take into account President Donald Trump’s decision this week to end federal subsidies for low-…
GOP leaders: Bullock has authority to cut budget
HELENA — Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock has all the authority he needs to cut the state budget to address an expected revenue shortfall, Republican legislative …
Federal judge reinstates Obama-era rule on methane emissions
WASHINGTON — Rebuffing the Trump administration, a federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Interior Department to reinstate an Obama-era regulation aimed at res…