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.
Kalispell City Council moves forward on housing board, development standards along Parkline trail
City councilors narrowly agreed to move forward Monday on two housing-related initiatives championed by Kalispell …
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…
Bullock calls on lawmakers to raise revenues
Gov. Steve Bullock on Wednesday gave an update on Montana’s grim budget situation.
Zinke: No plans to pay back charter flights
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet members say they do not plan to reimburse the government for charter flights costing tens of thousand…
GOP leader says NRA-backed gun bill shelved indefinitely
WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders called for unity and prayer Tuesday after the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas, but offered no new legislation to tighte…
Senators pitch forest management bill
As Montana’s historic summer wildfires smolder down, U.S. Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., are focused on future blazes.
Democrats try to marshal support for special session
HELENA (AP) — Montana Democrats are trying to marshal public support for a special session to address the budget shortfall while Republicans argue state government needs to live within its means.
Zinke proposes protecting Badger-Two Med
BILLINGS — U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has closely followed his boss’ playbook, encouraging mining and drilling on public lands and reducing the size of…
Dems criticize Interior chief over employee loyalty comments
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are criticizing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke after he said nearly one-third of employees at his department are not loyal …
$229M in state spending cuts proposed
HELENA (AP) — The governor’s budget director is recommending Montana agencies cut $229 million in general fund spending over the next two years to balance the state’s budget due to lower revenues than expected and …
Senators take aim at Canadian lumber exports
Montana’s two U.S. senators testified Wednesday before a federal commission tasked with investigating Canadian lumber export practices.