Montana Lowdown

Rep. Kim Abbott, D-Helena, is in her second term serving House District 83, but she's been involved with the Legislature a lot longer than that.

Prior to serving in the House, Abbott lobbied in the capitol on behalf of the Montana Human Rights network, a state-based grassroots human rights organization that works to promote democratic values such as pluralism, equality, and justice.

From increasing access to health care to passing protections from discrimination to protecting public education, Abbott has been a leader in the Democratic policy arena for a long time.

In this episode, Rep. Abbott discusses the difference between lobbying and legislating, the challenges of keeping personal emotions in check during debate on hot-button issues, and some of the surprises she encountered since joining the House.

Abbott also weighs-in on Medicaid expansion proposals, a new sexual harassment policy for legislators, and the controversy over the disappearance of "legal review notes."

In his more than four decades reporting on the Montana statehouse, Chuck Johnson covered a lot of legislators.

Perhaps none was a memorable, effective and influential as the legendary Hi-Line lawmaker Rep. Francis Bardanouve.

"Representative Bardanouve overcame a severe speech impediment to become one of the most thoughtful, fair, and articulate members ever to serve in the Montana House of Representatives," reads a plaque in the east wing of the state Capitol honoring the 10-time chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

In this 10-minute bonus Montana Lowdown podcast, Johnson recalls the influence the Harlem Democrat had on the Montana Legislature, the respect he earned from members of both parties, and his enduring legacy.

In his 43 years reporting on Montana politics and government, Chuck Johnson covered 23 legislative sessions, eight governors, nine U.S. Senators, 12 U.S. Representatives, and more elections, controversies and political battles than you can count.

His reporting was always factual, fair, and infused with a sense history and institutional knowledge that gave readers a broader perspective on the most significant issues of the day. That's why Chuck Johnson is known throughout the state as the "Dean of Montanan Politics."

In Episode 5 of the Montana Lowdown podcast, John Adams sat down with Johnson to talk about what's changed, and what hasn't, at the Montana Legislature over the past 45 years.

Now retired from journalism, Johnson talks candidly about the current state of journalism, the "gross abuse" of the legislative process he's witnessed in recent legislative sessions by key lawmakers, and the untold news stories he hopes journalist will pursue in the weeks and months ahead.

Most lawmakers in Helena agree that improving and upgrading water systems, schools, and public buildings are good investments for the state and put people to work.

But despite bipartisan support for infrastructure, it's been nearly a decade since a bonding bill to pay for it has made it past the governor's desk.

Republican Rep. Eric Moore, who served two terms in the Montana Senate before moving over to the House, is leading a GOP effort to come up with a long-term solution to the state's infrastructure funding problem.

Can a new Republican plan to reshape the way the state funds infrastructure survive Gov. Steve Bullock's veto pen?

In this third episode of the Montana Lowdown podcast, we welcome Montana Free Press reporter Leia Larsen and independent freelance data journalist and designer Eric Dietrich into the studio to talk about what inspires them to pursue the news, what's surprising about the Montana Legislature, and their hopes for the future of nonprofit journalism.

Democrats haven't had a ruling majority in the Montana House of Representatives since 1991, and yet they still manage to get some of their legislative priorities passed each session.

How?

Montana Rep. Casey Schreiner says it comes down to pragmatism and bipartisanship.

"Through this whole time in the Legislature, I really have tried to focus my vision on being pragmatic and accomplishing goals," said Schreiner, the House Minority Leader in the 2019 Legislative session. "Let's make sure we're pragmatic. Let's make sure we're solutions-oriented."

It takes 51 votes in the House, 26 votes in the Senate, and the signature of the governor for a bill to become law. That means the success of any legislation relies on some level of bipartisanship. From health care, to education, to infrastructure, some across-the-aisle cooperation is required if the state is going to adopt a balanced budget before the 90 legislative days are up.

In Episode 2 of the Montana Lowdown podcast, House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner talks about the importance of working across the aisle to get work done that benefits the majority of Montanas.

It's a new year, and a new legislative session is upon us, but an old rift has re-emerged among Montana's Republican lawmakers.

For more than a decade GOP legislators have been at war with each other over the heart and soul of their party. On one side are hard-line conservatives who view their longstanding legislative majorities as a mandate to oppose Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock's agenda at every turn.

On the other side is a growing group of lawmakers, ranging from moderate to conservative Republicans, who understand that if they want to pass a budget, they will have to negotiate with Democrats.

Four-term Republican Rep. Nancy Ballance, of Hamilton, has chaired the powerful House Appropriations Committee the past two sessions and will co-chair that committee in 2019. Ballance, regarded by most lawmakers as a staunch conservative and an expert on the budget, now finds herself accused by some members of her caucus of supporting a liberal Democratic agenda.

In our inaugural episode of the Montana Lowdown podcast, host John S. Adams of the Montana Free Press sits down with Rep. Ballance for a candid conversation about the tensions in the House GOP caucus that threaten to boil over in the first week of the 2019 legislative session.