Daily Montanan

Daily Montanan The Daily Montanan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan source for trusted news, commentary and insight into statewide policy and politics beneath the Big Sky.

A surprise guest came by a Democrat-led press conference at the U.S. Department of Education.
04/03/2025

A surprise guest came by a Democrat-led press conference at the U.S. Department of Education.

WASHINGTON — A press conference by a dozen U.S. House Democrats outside the U.S. Department of Education took an unusual turn on Wednesday when the subject of their criticism — Education Secretary Linda McMahon — unexpectedly joined them. The Democrats had met with the Trump administration app...

Montana's House passes a $16.6 billion budget for the next two years, an increase of 6%
04/03/2025

Montana's House passes a $16.6 billion budget for the next two years, an increase of 6%

Montana's budget clears its first hurdle as House lawmakers approve a $16.6 billion document for the next two years.

Even as cuts continue to happen, Republicans in Congress will look at expanding the debt limit by $5 trillion.
04/03/2025

Even as cuts continue to happen, Republicans in Congress will look at expanding the debt limit by $5 trillion.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans released an updated budget resolution Wednesday that sets a May 9 deadline for more than a dozen committees to approve their slice of the massive package that will permanently extend the GOP tax cuts and make significant reductions in spending. The 70-page budg...

Republicans in Congress float the idea of reshaping the federal judiciary, but it's unclear if the bill even has enough ...
04/02/2025

Republicans in Congress float the idea of reshaping the federal judiciary, but it's unclear if the bill even has enough support to get to the floor.

WASHINGTON — Amid dozens of injunctions placed against the Trump administration, Republicans on the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary discussed a bill Wednesday to curb the nationwide effects of those orders from federal judges. The bill, sponsored by GOP Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who leads t...

Beef 'checkoff' bill tabled.
04/02/2025

Beef 'checkoff' bill tabled.

HB 119, brought by House Speaker Brandon Ler, R-Savage, would have created a program to market Montana beef, called a checkoff

Despite some worry that too much of the state's tax burden is being shifted onto residential properties, the Legislature...
04/02/2025

Despite some worry that too much of the state's tax burden is being shifted onto residential properties, the Legislature seems to like the idea of exempting business equipment.

On a bipartisan vote, the Montana Senate approved a bill to increase the business equipment tax exemption rate, a priority for Gianforte.

Nearly every imported good will be hit with a 10% tariff.
04/02/2025

Nearly every imported good will be hit with a 10% tariff.

This story was updated at 6:16 p.m. EDT. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump rolled out sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs Wednesday on trading partners and allies across the globe. Declaring that foreign trade practices have created a “national emergency,” the president unveiled a baseline 10%...

Judge halts 'bathroom bill' signed by Gianforte last week.
04/02/2025

Judge halts 'bathroom bill' signed by Gianforte last week.

A district court judge in Missoula on Tuesday temporarily blocked state officials from enforcing a new Montana law restricting access to public restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping spaces based on an individual's s*x assigned at birth.

Reasons for Dems to smile: Wisconsin Supreme Court remains tilting toward liberals.Reasons for Republicans to smile: It ...
04/02/2025

Reasons for Dems to smile: Wisconsin Supreme Court remains tilting toward liberals.
Reasons for Republicans to smile: It keeps two U.S. House seats in Florida.

WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans both claimed victory and the support of voters nationwide following closely watched elections on Tuesday in Wisconsin and two Florida congressional districts. Dane County Judge Susan Crawford securing a seat on Wisconsin’s highest court over a challenger ba...

As the House recesses, the Senate will try to take up a major spending bill this week.
04/02/2025

As the House recesses, the Senate will try to take up a major spending bill this week.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans hope to approve a budget resolution this week that would clear the way for Congress to enact an extension of expiring tax law as well as sweeping cuts to federal spending later this year. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday the chamber will ...

Montana lawmakers consider banning AI deepfakes within 60 days of election.
04/02/2025

Montana lawmakers consider banning AI deepfakes within 60 days of election.

Senate Bill 25 adds definitions and makes so-called candidate ‘deepfakes' illegal within 60 days of an election

Democratic states sue the Trump administration for nearly $11 billion in cuts to Health and Human Services.
04/02/2025

Democratic states sue the Trump administration for nearly $11 billion in cuts to Health and Human Services.

A coalition of Democratic state officials sued the Trump administration Tuesday over plans to cut more than $11 billion in grants by the Department of Health and Human Services, on the same day thousands of HHS workers reportedly found they’d been swept up in a mass layoff. In Washington, the Repu...

Businesses brace for 'Liberation Day' tariffs, as they say instability is causing a downturn in their own customers.
04/02/2025

Businesses brace for 'Liberation Day' tariffs, as they say instability is causing a downturn in their own customers.

WASHINGTON — American business owners and consumers are bracing as President Donald Trump teases, with few details, the announcement of sweeping tariffs expected Wednesday afternoon. Trump has dubbed April 2 “Liberation Day,” his self-imposed deadline to fulfill his campaign promise of taxing ...

Republicans say they'll vote on a large budget bill later this week, but Democrats say when that happens, it will showca...
04/02/2025

Republicans say they'll vote on a large budget bill later this week, but Democrats say when that happens, it will showcase just how far the party is willing to go to hurt Americans.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans hope to approve a budget resolution this week that would clear the way for Congress to enact an extension of expiring tax law as well as sweeping cuts to federal spending later this year. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday the chamber will ...

Press secretary defends Trump administration's mistake to deport a man who was in America legally, but sent to notorious...
04/01/2025

Press secretary defends Trump administration's mistake to deport a man who was in America legally, but sent to notorious El Salvador prison.

WASHINGTON — The White House Tuesday defended the deportation of a national from El Salvador to a notorious mega-prison in that country, despite Trump administration officials admitting in court filings that the removal was a mistake. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia of Beltsville, Maryland, was order...

Montana censures Ellsworth, stripping him of every privilege but voting by proxy. Still, some Republicans accuse Democra...
04/01/2025

Montana censures Ellsworth, stripping him of every privilege but voting by proxy. Still, some Republicans accuse Democrats of not going far enough.

Censure motion is ‘everything but expulsion,’ removing access to office space, Senate chamber, and legislative staff

New parents in the U.S. House score a win. But House Speaker Mike Johnson cancels the rest of the votes for this week.
04/01/2025

New parents in the U.S. House score a win. But House Speaker Mike Johnson cancels the rest of the votes for this week.

This story was updated at 3:02 p.m. EDT. WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republican leaders on Tuesday were unable to use a procedural maneuver to block a Florida Republican and a Colorado Democrat from bringing a resolution to the floor that would allow expecting mothers and new parents to vote by proxy....

Unlimited wolf hunting bill dies quietly in final vote.
04/01/2025

Unlimited wolf hunting bill dies quietly in final vote.

After a relatively subdued floor debate — at least as far as wolf-related bills go — the Montana Senate on Friday voted to pass three wolf-hunting bills that originated in the House. One bill would extend the current wolf hunting season to align with the spring black bear season, one would allow...

Address

Helena, MT

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Daily Montanan posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Daily Montanan:

Shortcuts

Share

Category