Montana Senate Faces Tensions Amid Late-Night Session
HELENA, MT — Under the gloomy backdrop of a snowstorm, the Montana Senate convened for a contentious late-night session on Monday, highlighting the growing power struggles within the state’s legislative body. With a coalition of nine Republicans and 18 Democrats at the helm, the session extended over three hours as they reshuffled committee assignments and moved 20 House bills from the Senate President’s desk to committee—a departure from typical legislative process.
Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray (R-Billings) condemned the actions, labeling them as “absurd” and indicative of unprecedented political antics. The coalition’s maneuvers, led by Senator Josh Kassmier (R-Fort Benton), follow a controversial vote on the session’s first day, which saw minority leader Pat Flowers oppose rules and committee assignments laid out by GOP leadership. This friction has only been exacerbated by an ongoing investigation into a Republican senator.
Kassmier asserted the need for timely processing of House bills, criticizing the delay that has left dozens pending, despite the House’s quicker referral requirement. Senate Republicans expressed concern over what they deemed hasty actions, suggesting motives behind the urgency were politically driven.
Throughout the night, tempers flared as senators debated the merits of bills and their committee assignments while grappling with operational challenges imposed by the weather. Senate President Matt Regier (R-Kalispell) critiqued the coalition’s handling of Senate operations, while Flowers supported the decision to expedite the referral process.
The unfolding drama underscores a deepening divide and the coalition’s efforts to assert control in a legislature marked by tension and accusations of misconduct. As the session approached its legislative deadlines, the focus now shifts to whether the Senate can effectively address its backlog of bills amidst the political turmoil.
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