New Speed Limit/ Libby Asbestos

Missoulian: New law will increase some highway speed limits to 80 mph
SB 375: Revise certain highway speed limits

Missoulian: Final EPA plan would leave some asbestos in Montana town
EPA Announces Proposed Plan for Cleanup
Proposed Plan for Libby Asbestos Site Cleanup
“The proposed plan addresses five of eight areas at the Site. Remedial action has already been completed at Operable Unit 1 (the former Export Plant, now Riverfront Park in Libby) and Operable Unit 2 (former Screening Plant). Operable Unit 3 (the former Libby vermiculite mine and forested areas) will be addressed in a separate proposed plan. Investigation and cleanup are being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in consultation with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under the federal Superfund law.

Because long-term management tools, otherwise known as institutional controls, are instrumental to the cleanup, we have divided this document into three sections. Part One provides background and explains alternatives considered for the construction portion of the remedy. Part Two explains why waste will remain at the site and provides additional information about institutional controls. Part Three summarizes EPA's and the state’s preferred remedial alternative.”

Bankruptcy Appeals/ Sex Change Surgery

Missoulian: High court: Debtors must wait to appeal payment plan denial
Bullard v. Blue Hills Bank
“After filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, petitioner Bullard submitted a proposed repayment plan to the Bankruptcy Court. Respondent Blue Hills Bank, Bullard’s mortgage lender, objected to the plan’s treatment of its claim. The Bankruptcy Court sustained the Bank’s objection and declined to confirm the plan. Bullard appealed to the First Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP).”

  Missoulian: Supreme Court rejects inmate's appeal for sex-change surgery
Kosilek v. Spencer
“This case involves important issues that arise under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We are asked to determine whether the district court erred in concluding that the Massachusetts Department of Correction ("DOC") has violated the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause of the Eighth Amendment by providing allegedly inadequate medical care to prisoner Michelle Kosilek ("Kosilek"). More precisely, we are faced with the question whether the DOC's choice of a particular medical treatment is constitutionally inadequate, such that the district court acts within its power to issue an injunction requiring provision of an alternative treatment -- a treatment which would give rise to new concerns related to safety and prison security.”

Vetoed Bills/ Generic v Brand Prescription Prices

Missoulian: Bullock vetoes 34 bills, all but 2 from Republicans
Vetoed bills

Missoulian: Medicare data show contrast in generic, brand prescribing
Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data: Part D Prescriber
“As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to make our healthcare system more transparent, affordable, and accountable, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has prepared a public data set, the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data: Part D Prescriber Public Use File (PUF), with information on the prescription drugs that individual physicians and other health care providers prescribed in 2013 under the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program.”

Small Business Health Veto/ Medicaid Expansion/ Defense Bill

Missoulian: Bullock vetoes extension of Insure Montana small-business health coverage
SB 99: Revise insure Montana small business health insurance laws

Missoulian: Bullock signs Medicaid expansion into law, but many steps remain
Governor Steve Bullock Signs Montana HELP Act Into Law

Missoulian: House committee approves defense bill
H.R.1735: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016

Whistleblower

Missoulian: Interior Department upholds whistleblower status for ousted tribal leader

Whistleblower Protection and Ombudsman Program
Finding of Whistleblower Retaliation Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Baltimore Riots/ Iran Nuclear Agreement

Missoulian: Guardsmen in Baltimore
Statement by Attorney General Lynch on the Situation in Baltimore
“The Department of Justice stands ready to provide any assistance that might be helpful.  The Civil Rights Division and the FBI have an ongoing, independent criminal civil rights investigation into the tragic death of Mr. Gray.  We will continue our careful and deliberate examination of the facts in the coming days and weeks.  The department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services has also been fully engaged in a collaborative review of the Baltimore City Police Department.”

Missoulian: Senate debates bill on congressional approval of Iran deal

H.R.1191 - Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act (H.R.1191 will be the legislative vehicle.)
S.615 - Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
Committee Unanimously Passes Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015

Robins v Spokeo

Missoulian: High court to consider lawsuits over personal data
Robins v. Spokeo, Inc.
“Spokeo, Inc. operates a website that provides users with information about other individuals, including contact data, marital status, age, occupation, economic health, and wealth level. Thomas Robins sued Spokeo for willful violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., related to its website. Although he asserted that Spokeo’s website contained false information about him, Robins’s allegations of injury were sparse.”