This week on Capitol Talk , restrictions on abortion and trans rights dominate the House Judiciary Committee while that same committee's Republicans bar reporters from a meeting. All that as old fissures reappear in the Republican caucus. Listen now on Capitol Talk with Sally Mauk, Holly Michels and Rob Saldin.

Capitol Talk

Capitol Talk: Abortion, Transgender Rights And Open Meeting Laws

Montana's congressman votes as expected against impeachment, and Montana's two senators are having a very public spat. Gov. Gianforte has a rocky rollout of new orders lifting some pandemic restrictions. Attorney General Knudsen gets into a legal fight with a county attorney over local COVID-19 regulations. And university administrators keep a wary eye on a bill headed to the State Senate that would allow guns on campus. Listen now on Capitol Talk with Sally Mauk, Holly Michels and Rob Saldin.

A Senatorial Spat, Rocky Rollout Of COVID Orders And A Familiar Gun Debate

Montana lawmakers had very different takes on Wednesday's insurrection and the unfounded claims that fueled it. Gov. Gianforte released his budget proposal. And the Legislature started out with confusing and contradictory COVID-19 protocols. Listen now on Capitol Talk , with MTPR's Sally Mauk, Lee Newspapers State Bureau Chief Holly Michels and UM Political Science Professor Rob Saldin.

A Coup Attempt, A Budget Proposal And COVID Confusion

Tonight on Capitol Talk: Big bills that passed, and ones that didn't; the split in the Republican party — and its consequences; Gov. Bullock's pending big announcement; and Attorney General Tim Fox's fondness for chicken.

'Capitol Talk': Legislature Wraps-Up; Campaign Season Heats Up

Tonight on Capitol Talk : It was hard-fought, but Medicaid expansion will continue in Montana, and Gov. Bullock is celebrating the big legislative win. Moderate Republicans once again tipped the scales on Medicaid and other big items. Greg Gianforte appears ready to leave Congress, giving Democrats a glimmer of hope of retaking the seat. The Legislature is ready to wrap up after the Easter break.

'Capitol Talk': Medicaid Expansion Passes; Republicans Divided; The Race For Governor Begins

Bills to continue Medicaid expansion — and to buy more coal — have nothing in common, unless you want one, or both, to pass. That fight, and whether transparency is good or bad for legislating top our discussion tonight on Capitol Talk.

'Capitol Talk': Horse-Trading On Medicaid And Colstrip; Government Transparency

Tonight on Capitol Talk: The state budget sails through the Legislature; Gov. Bullock says he's "skeptical" about the "save Colstrip" bill; a Colstrip senator launches a vitriolic video slamming press coverage of the Colstrip bill; Attorney General Tim Fox opposes ending Obamacare; and three more candidates enter the races for governor and U.S. House.

'Capitol Talk': Tempers Flare Over Colstrip Bill; 2020 Elections Heat Up

It's been a busy week at the Montana Legislature . Medicaid expansion and a bill to help NorthWestern Energy acquire more coal are still alive; A bill to fund preschool education is killed; And a bill to help find missing and murdered Native American women is passed, then killed, then revived. Learn more now on Capitol Talk with Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels.

'Capitol Talk': Medicaid Expansion, Colstrip Bill, Hanna's Act Survive; Preschool Funding Killed

Tonight on Capitol Talk : The state's utility regulators endorse a bill that appears to weaken the their own regulatory oversight. The cost of Medicaid expansion — and a new revenue estimate — complicate the state budget outlook. The president of the Senate wants to be the top election official. And the mayor of Helena wants to run for governor or Congress, but he's not ready to say if he'll run as a Democrat or Republican.

'Capitol Talk': Deadline Nears For Medicaid Expansion Vote; Controversial Colstrip Bill Advances

Tonight on Capitol Talk : State lawmakers are buckling-down on a number of issues, including increased oversight of non-profit schools for troubled teens; what infrastructure projects to support or reject; what to cut or support in the health department; and whether ratepayers should bear the burden of keeping Colstrip's coal plant going. Learn more now on Capitol Talk .

'Capitol Talk': Wilderness Schools; Infrastructure; Colstrip; And Columbus Day

Tonight on Capitol Talk : The state health department faces permanent job cuts; A sales tax proposal reappears at the Capitol; Sexual harassment allegations among lawmakers lead to a new anti-harassment policy; And with time running short, Gov. Bullock remains coy about his 2020 election plans.

'Capitol Talk': Health Department Cuts; Sexual Harassment; And Talk Of A Sales Tax

Tonight on Capitol Talk: Bills that are still alive, and bills that are gone at the midway point of the session. The effectiveness - and downside - of arguing "religious freedom" to get a bill passed. And the congressional delegation's tepid reaction to former Trump attorney Michael Cohen's testimony.

'Capitol Talk': Legislative Break; Infrastructure; Vaccines And Religious Freedom

Tonight on Capitol Talk : The state admits it needs to do a lot better job monitoring for-profit wilderness schools for troubled teens. Economics hold little sway in the effort to abolish Montana's death penalty. Money is being restored to the depleted Health Department budget. Another Montana campaign finance reform law is upheld. And lawmakers may have found a way to bridge the infrastructure impasse.

'Capitol Talk': Infrastructure Framework Advances; Health Department Budget Could Get A Boost

Tonight on Capitol Talk: Medicaid politics; how Sen. Tester has moved to the center; and what's Gov. Bullock doing in Iowa again? Tune in now for these stories and more from the state Capitol, with Eric Whitney, Holly Michels and Rob Saldin.

'Capitol Talk:' Medicaid Expansion Politics; Tester Moves To The Center; Bullock Visits Iowa Again

Sen. Daines equates Democrats to Venezuelan socialists; Lawmakers hear a massive sales tax bill; And House Democrats take a not-so-subtle dig at Montana's U.S. Rep. Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels discuss these stories and more, right now on "Capitol Talk."

'Capitol Talk:' Socialism, A Sales Tax, And A Swipe At Gianforte

Montana Public Radio's weekly legislative news and analysis program appears on Fridays throughout the legislative session. MTPR's Sally Mauk is joined by Capitol Reporter Holly Michels and UM Political Science Professor Rob Saldin to discuss the week's legislative news.

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Capitol Talk

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