Daily Montanan
![Major Montana GOP legislation on abortion, taxes, advances in Senate](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2023/01/attachment-Legislature1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Major Montana GOP legislation on abortion, taxes, advances in Senate
Legislation to exclude abortion from Montana’s constitutional protection for privacy advanced Wednesday in the Senate, as did a controversial GOP bill to reduce income taxes.
![Bill to revise Montana labor laws gets pushback from unions](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/11/StatueExterior.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bill to revise Montana labor laws gets pushback from unions
Sponsor says bill aimed at unions simply requires employers to inform workers of constitutional rights.
![Bill aims to undo 2021 ballot initiative attorneys argue is unconstitutional](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2021/03/montana-capitol-1.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
Bill aims to undo 2021 ballot initiative attorneys argue is unconstitutional
A bill heard in a Senate committee Monday aims to undo a law passed by the Montana Legislature in 2021 that subjected ballot initiatives to extra review by interim committees and the Montana Attorney General.
![Opponents say bill to change Montana obscenity law could have ‘debilitating’ effects](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/09/attachment-Library.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Opponents say bill to change Montana obscenity law could have ‘debilitating’ effects
Libraries would be better off banning children. Museums might have to censor or throw out pictures of naked victims of the Holocaust or famine. They might need to toss out the Bible too.
![The ‘deep state’ is targeting the ‘American cowboy,’ Zinke laments in House speech](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/08/attachment-Zinke-4.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The ‘deep state’ is targeting the ‘American cowboy,’ Zinke laments in House speech
In a speech that was both far-ranging yet brief and his first floor speech since returning to the United States House of Representatives, Zinke blames the deep state, liberal dark money, and the media for a host of personal and political attacks.
![Bill would help adulterated victims recover financially](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2019/09/dollars.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bill would help adulterated victims recover financially
Sponsor says measure would help adulterated victims recovery financially.
![Bills tweaking Montana aerial hunting laws meet hurdles in initial hearings](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/01/deer-wildlife-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bills tweaking Montana aerial hunting laws meet hurdles in initial hearings
The bill on drones also ran into immediate concerns at its first hearing Thursday over questions on whether it would allow people to hunt wolves from the air and when drones could be used.
![Inside politics: Montana PSC votes for fellow Republican Tschida](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2019/01/Rep.-Brad-Tschida-R-Missoula.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Inside politics: Montana PSC votes for fellow Republican Tschida
Montana Public Service Commissioners voted 4-1 on the hire of former Republican lawmaker Brad Tschida, according to the PSC staff attorney.
Chief Legal Counsel Lucas Hamilton said the holdout was President Jim Brown.
The all-Republican commission regulates monopoly utilities in Montana, and after a problematic audit released spring 2021, it reorganized to hire an executive director. The first director stayed just one year and left summer 2022.
Brown declined to comment on the reason he voted against Tschida. A news release that announced the hire had laudatory statements from the vice president and another commissioner, but no word from Brown.
In a brief phone call this week, Brown declined comment. However, he volunteered confirmation that he was the “no” vote.
“The information provided by Mr. Hamilton is correct,” Brown said.
Last year, with encouragement from Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, Brown ran a race for Montana Supreme Court justice, but he lost to the incumbent Ingrid Gustafson.
Tschida, who served four terms in the Montana Legislature before losing a race in 2022, has recently been a controversial figure. He alleged wrongdoing by the Missoula County Elections Office, but the local Republicans said a review found the elections were secure.
Political analyst Lee Banville said sometimes, people cast votes to send a message, such as a split decision by an all-Republican board.
“It seems to me that Jim Brown is sending a message,” said Banville, with the University of Montana. “What’s complicated is I don’t think we all can translate what he’s saying.”
Hamilton said the human resources office told him 10 people applied for the executive director position in the times it was posted between summer and December.
![Republicans table bill to designate Chief Earl Old Person highway](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2021/10/Earl-Old-Person-native.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Republicans table bill to designate Chief Earl Old Person highway
Republicans voted Thursday to table a bill that would have designated a part of U.S. Highway 89 as Chief Earl Old Person Memorial Highway.
![Bills aimed at speeding up construction in Montana see little opposition in Senate committee](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/12/attachment-Housing-construction.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bills aimed at speeding up construction in Montana see little opposition in Senate committee
One bill would put a limit of 20 working days, or about a month, in place for local governments to approve or deny subdivision applications that are exempt from review and ensure the government does not impose conditions of approval.