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…
Trump wants a review of national monuments
WASHINGTON (AP) — Slamming what he called “a massive federal land grab,” President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday directing his interior secr…
School projects await infrastructure vote
HELENA — Nearly $2 million in state-funded upgrades to Kalispell’s public schools still hangs in the balance as negotiations over a major infrastructure initi…
House revives fees on electric cars, minus hybrid tax
HELENA — A proposal to assess fees on Montanans who drive electric cars, along with liquefied natural gas dealers, passed an initial House vote Wednesday after it was revived last week.
Bill would allow tribes to withdraw from prosecution agreement
HELENA — As likely its last action of the session, the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday reversed course on a bill it had tabled one day earlier, endorsing a measure to give the Confederated Salish and Kootenai …
Senate confirms Trump pick Neil Gorsuch to Supreme Court
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to become the newest associate justice on the Supreme Court Friday, elevating Donald Trump's nominee follow…
Senate GOP 'goes nuclear,' clearing way for Trump court pick
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans invoked the "nuclear option" in the Senate Thursday, unilaterally rewriting the chamber's rules to allow President Donald Trump's…
Montana House resurrects infrastructure bill to keep 'options open'
HELENA — The Montana House unexpectedly agreed Saturday to reconsider an infrastructure bill that had been killed the day before because of objections by fiscal conservatives over issuing $78 million in bonds.
Spearfishing proposal unpopular among some local anglers
Spearfishing could see a jump in popularity in Montana under a legislative proposal that has won the backing of the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Young lawmakers finding their way in Montana's Capitol
HELENA (AP) — When the Montana House debated whether to require parental consent before minors can bronze themselves in tanning beds, there was lots of talk about brain development and young people’s inability to m…
Bill would restrict late-term abortions
A bill that would effectively prohibit the abortion of a fetus capable of surviving outside the womb, even if the mother’s life is at risk, is making its way t…
Zinke promises changes at Park Service
A backlog of infrastructure projects. A promise to reorganize the National Park Service. No tolerance for sexual harassment and prayers from the Blackfeet.
Bed-tax hike would fund effort to prevent mussels
A proposal to raise Montana’s bed tax from 7 percent to 10 percent received skepticism during a committee hearing Thursday, despite agreement with its premise …
Bottling plant debated in Helena
About a dozen Flathead residents opposed to a controversial water-bottling plant proposed in Creston testified in the Montana State Capitol Wednesday afternoon…
Montana officials debate House Republicans' health-care proposal
U.S. House Republicans this week released a draft plan to unthread former President Barack Obama’s health-care law and restructure Medicaid for low-income people. As politicians take their stances on the legislatio…
GOP courts Montana attorney general to challenge Tester
HELENA — Ryan Zinke was the Republican Party’s first choice to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in 2018 and re-claim the seat that would give Monta…