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…
Bullock vetoes bill meant to protect whistleblowers
HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has vetoed a bill that would have allowed government workers to sue if their supervisors obstruct them from communicating with a legislator.
GOP delegates pick Gianforte as House candidate
HELENA — Technology entrepreneur Greg Gianforte and musician Rob Quist will square off in a special election to fill the Montana U.S. House seat left vacant by…
House passes bill addressing Lincoln County election mishap
In an attempt to allow Lincoln County to reverse an improperly sanctioned ballot initiative that established nonpartisan local elections, a state lawmaker from Eureka is pushing a bill that would temporarily give t…
Democrats jockey for votes ahead of Montana House convention
HELENA — Musician Rob Quist tours 130 days a year with the Mission Mountain Wood Band and Rob Quist and Great Northern, but for the past couple of months, he’s…
New Interior Secretary Zinke reverses lead-ammunition ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — On his first full day in office, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued an order Thursday reversing a last-minute action by the Obama administr…
Gianforte says he can secure GOP nomination for Zinke's seat
HELENA (AP) — Technology entrepreneur Greg Gianforte says he has commitments from enough delegates to secure the Republican nomination for Ryan Zinke’s former …
Zinke ponies up to work at first day in office
WASHINGTON (AP) — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke arrived on horseback for his first day of work Thursday.
Resolution asks to lift wilderness study area designations
A resolution passed by the state House on Wednesday would ask the U.S. Congress to release 663,000 acres of federal public land from the current designations as wilderness study areas.
Bill addresses Lincoln Co. election blunder
Imagine finding out that your county’s elections have been conducted improperly for the past seven years.
Secretary of State, GOP chair oppose mail-in ballot
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana's secretary of state and the chairman of the state Republican party oppose a mail-in ballot for an expected special election to replace U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, saying that while it would …
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock vetoes 2 gun bills
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed his first two bills of the legislative session on Thursday, one that would have allowed guns in post offices and another that would have eliminated the need fo…
Proposal aims to shake up state parks
On the heels of a bill to remove most of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ authority over the state parks system, a second measure has been introduced into the…
Sen. Daines touts Supreme Court nominee amid protesters
HELENA (AP) — U.S. Sen. Steve Daines arrived Wednesday at the Montana state Capitol to tout the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court and foun…
County-tribal law enforcement agreement could see changes
A Polson lawmaker is advancing a bill in the Montana Legislature that would obligate the state to cover law enforcement costs for counties prosecuting felony c…
Montana's House seat goes quiet as Zinke awaits vote
While Montana’s sole U.S. House representative awaits a full Senate confirmation vote deciding whether he’ll be the next secretary of the Department of the Interior, his voting record has dropped off a ledge. Depen…