Montana Free Press (https://montanafreepress.org/author/llarsen/)
Leia is an award-winning reporter who has covered the environment and public policy in Colorado, Utah, and now the Montana capital. She has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Colorado Boulder.
The so-called Solutions Caucus carried Medicaid expansion renewal, infrastructure funding, and political central committee reform. The also saw some last-day defeats.
After a turbulent ride through the Montana Legislature, a bill extending Montana’s Medicaid expansion program cleared its final legislative hurdle Thursday.
SB 331’s true intent is to secure access to the 500-kilovolt “backbone” emanating from Colstrip, some supporters say. Transmission lines are valuable to companies like NorthWestern, due in part to how utilities make money.
A bill purportedly meant to save the coal-fired power plant by making it easier for NorthWestern Energy to take on a bigger ownership share in Colstrip generation continues to evolve. But some lawmakers and lobbyists say they’re no longer certain what the proposed legislation actually does.
Peer support specialists help Montanans cope with mental and addiction disorders. A bill could channel more funding to the program, but lawmakers need to find solutions for Medicaid expansion first.
Two hot-button bills get Senate approval after a flip-flop vote and heated debate.
The Montana Legislature is currently embroiled in a debate about whether or how the state’s Medicaid expansion program should continue. Coverage for 96,000 Montanans like Andrea Melle hangs in the balance.
A controversial bill meant to give NorthWestern Energy scaled-back regulatory oversight at Colstrip is one big step closer to becoming law.