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Number of distinct calls for special sessions of the Montana Legislature voted down in mail polls, per results announced by the Montana secretary of state this week.
The special session calls were initially made in early May. Two of the three requested an opportunity to pass new state immigration laws, and the third called for a chance to consider a bill that would switch the state to partisan judicial elections. Each of the session proposals required support from 76 representatives and senators to pass. None received more than 59 votes in support.
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Republican lawmakers mount three separate pushes for special sessions
A trio of special session requests from Republican lawmakers each touch on election-year issues, but lawmakers have historically had little success calling themselves into a special session.
All three lead sponsors, Rep. Jane Gillette, Speaker of the House Matt Regier and Sen. Theresa Manzella, made the requests while engaged in contested Republican primary elections. All three subsequently won those primaries against comparatively moderate opponents.
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