Brain Initiative

Missoulian: Obama proposes $100M for brain mapping project
 Brain Initiative

"The BRAIN Initiative — short for Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies — builds on the President’s State of the Union call for historic investments in research and development to fuel the innovation, job creation, and economic growth that together create a thriving middle class.

The Initiative promises to accelerate the invention of new technologies that will help researchers produce real-time pictures of complex neural circuits and visualize the rapid-fire interactions of cells that occur at the speed of thought. Such cutting-edge capabilities, applied to both simple and complex systems, will open new doors to understanding how brain function is linked to human behavior and learning, and the mechanisms of brain disease."

Women's Health Care/ Life Insurance

Missoulian: Women's health funding faces cuts in Montana 

HB 2: General Appropriations Act

Missoulian: New Montana law targets life insurance companies

SB 34: Create unclaimed life insurance benefits act  

Gun Bans /State Employee Raises/ Revised Income Tax/ Cleaner Fuel

Missoulian:  Governor vetoes Montana bill that would bar enforcement of potential gun bans

HB 302: Prohibit state enforcement of any federal ban on semi-auto firearms/magazines

Missoulian: Montana House approves state employee rasies, pension fixes

SB 406: Statutory referendum on pension reform, new hires to DC plan, not TRS or PERS  

Missoulian: Montana House backs bill to simplify state income tax system

HB 581: Revise income tax using a tie to federal taxable income and repealing credits  

Missoulian: EPA takes aim at auto emissions, sulfur in gas

EPA Proposes Achievable Cleaner Fuels and Cars Standard, Slashing Air Pollution and Providing Extensive Health Benefits
“Based on extensive input from auto manufactures, refiners, and states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed sensible standards for cars and gasoline that will significantly reduce harmful pollution, prevent thousands of premature deaths and illnesses, while also enabling efficiency improvements in the cars and trucks we drive. These cleaner fuels and cars standards are an important component of the administration’s national program for clean cars and trucks, which also include historic fuel efficiency standards that are saving new vehicle owners at the gas pump today. Once fully in place, the standards will help avoid up to 2,400 premature deaths per year and 23,000 cases of respiratory ailments in children.”

Water Compact/ Sex Offender/ Medicaid/ State Employee Pay/ Missoula College/ Smoking

Missoulian:  Backers, opponents of Flathead water compact flood hearing

HB 629:  Implement negotiated water compacts with Montana tribal governments

Missoulian: Bullock signs sex offender bill into law  

SB 213: Revise sex offender registration laws 

Missoulian: Montana legislative panels kill proposals to expand Medicaid

HB 590: Implement the Access Health Montana Program 

Missoulian: Montana House OKs bills for state employee payraises, pensions 

HB 13: State employee pay plan  

Missoulian: Montana House moves to fund Missoula College project, others with cash 

HB 14: Bonding program   

Missoulian: US launches new batch of graphic anti-smoking ads

Tips From Former Smokers Ad Campaign 2013

“Continuing with the success of last year’s national tobacco education ad campaign, “Tips from Former Smokers,” a second series of ads was launched today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The ads feature compelling stories of former smokers living with smoking-related diseases and disabilities.  Beginning Monday, ads will run for at least 12 weeks on television, radio, and billboards, online, and in theaters, magazines, and newspapers nationwide.”

Gay Marriage/ Missoula College/ Cellphone Ban/ Referendum/

Missoulian: High court hears case on federal benefits for gays

Hollingsworth v. Perry, Transcript of oral argument 

                                      Audio

Missoulian: Legislator's lack of contact frustrates UM, Missoula College student leaders

HB 14: Bonding program

Missoulian: Statewide cellphone ban debated for Montana drivers

SB 390:  Prohibit useof hand-held electronic devices while driving 

Missoulian: Montana House panel hears bill to raise bar for referendums by legislators 

HB 615: Const. amend - 3/5 vote of each house to pass a statutory referendum 

Dark Money/ Rocky Mountain Front/ Sheriffs/ Medicaid/ Raw Milk

Missoulian: Montana Senate backs bill requiring 'dark money'groups to ID donors

SB 375: Generally revise Montana campaign laws  

Missoulian: Daines to hear Rocky Mountain Front proposals 

S.364: Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013

“Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013 - Establishes the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Management Area in Montana.

Designates specified land within the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana as wilderness and as additions to existing components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare a comprehensive management strategy for the prevention, control, and eradication of noxious weeds in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Authorizes such Secretary to conduct a study for improving nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities, including mountain bicycling, on land within the District that is not designated as wilderness.”

Missoulian: Montana sheriffs not to be law of the land, House says in final vote

HB 303: Federal law enforcement officers should communicate with sheriff 

Missoulian: Montana House endorses bill to study Medicaid expansion 

HB 604: Create Select Committee on Medicaid Innovation, Reform, and Expansion 

Missoulian: Montana House backs raw milk bill

HB 574: Establish "small herd exemption" tocertain laws related to the sale of milk 

Raw Milk Questions and Answers (CDC)