Native American Issues Subcommittee/ US Employment

Missoulian: Montana U.S. attorney to serve as Native American subcommittee chair
U.S. Attorneys Michael Cotter and Damon P. Martinez to Lead Attorney General’s Native American Issues Subcommittee

Missoulian: Pace of US hiring weakens with just 126K jobs added in March
Employment Situation Summary
“In March, the unemployment rate held at 5.5 percent, and the number of unemployed persons was little changed at 8.6 million. Over the year, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons were down by 1.1 percentage points and 1.8 million, respectively.”

Bat Threatened/ MT Budget/ Prisoner Savings/ Right to Try/ Physician Assisted Suicide/ FWP Habitat

Missoulian: US gives threatened status to northern long-eared bat
Northern Long-Eared Bat

“The northern long-eared bat is one of the species of bats most impacted by the disease white-nose syndrome. Due to declines caused by white-nose syndrome as well as continued spread of the disease, the northern long-eared bat will now receive protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.”

Missoulian: Bullock, Senate leaders work out deal on Montana budget
HB 2: General Appropriations Act

Missoulian: Legislature advances bill requiring inmates to save money
SB 101: Allow the Dept of Corrections to set minimum percentage of inmate earnings saved

Missoulian: Governor signs Right to Try bill
SB 142: Revise laws related to health care options for patients with terminal illnesses

Missoulian: Senate panel rejects making physician assisted suicide a crime
HB 477: Clarify offense of aiding or soliciting suicide

Missoulian: Montana House GOP defunds FWP habitat programs
HB 403: Provide for long range building appropriations

Guns On Campus/ Asbestos Awareness/ Infrastructure Bill/ School Funding/ Supreme Court Judge Shea

Missoulian: UM administration glad to see bill to allow guns on campus defeated
SB 143: Clarify constitutional provisions and law related to board of regents/u-system

Missoulian: Senate's Asbestos Awareness Week resolution takes special note of Libby
SR 125: A resolution designating the first week of April 2015 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week"
“Whereas people in the small community of Libby, Montana, suffer from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, at a significantly higher rate than people in the United States as a whole; and…”

  Asbestos

Missoulian: Bipartisan infrastructure bill passes Montana Senate
HB 416: Provide for statewide infrastructure

Missoulian: Montana schools superintendent details cuts after state House kills bill
HB 3: Supplemental Appropriations

Missoulian: Montana Senate confirms Shea as state Supreme Court justice
Senate Floor Session

Mine Pollution/ MT Budget/ School Choice/ State Infrastructure

Missoulian: Bill prohibiting perpetual mine pollution voted down
HB 626: Prohibit perpetual care of metal mine after remediation

Mssoulian: Montana House Republicans kill bill financing $31M of state spending this year
HB 3: Supplemental Appropriations

Missoulian: Montana Senate endorses 'school choice' bill on close vote
SB 410: Provide for tax credits for contributions to public and private schools

Missoulian: Montana Senate backs major infrastructure bill
SB 416: Provide for statewide infrastructure

Radio Repeaters/ Church & Schools/ Flag Shirts Appeal

Missoulian: U.S. Forest Service considers radio repeater upgrade in wilderness study area
Forest Service Considers Converting Status of Communication Sites
Forest Service Radio Repeaters

Missoulian: High court rejects church appeal over use of public school
Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education

Missoulian: Justices reject appeal by US flag-wearing students
Dariano v. Morgan Hill Unified School District