A Montana court has denied Gov. Greg Gianforte's attempt to stop the Legislature from having an opportunity to override his veto of a bill that passed with bipartisan support.

The measure would use marijuana sales-tax revenue to fund a handful of key programs. Montana veterans are now asking lawmakers to back efforts to overturn the governor's veto.

Senate Bill 442 would pay for wildlife habitat restoration, environmental programs, county access road maintenance, and veterans' assistance.

Ken Koehler, a Marine who served in the first Gulf War, said he supports the bill and the veto override.

"For veterans in the state of Montana, it goes toward exemptions for disabled veterans who are on a fixed income," said Koehler. "It'll make a huge difference to people like me."

SB 442 had bipartisan support and was backed by hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.

In his veto note, Gianforte argued using state funds to support local responsibilities like road maintenance was inappropriate - and said the measure would create a "slippery slope."

Beyond creating property tax relief, SB 442 would add money to Montana's HEART program, which provides veterans with addiction treatment and mental health care - which Koehler said is crucial.

"We send people overseas," said Koehler. "We see things that a lot of people don't see, will never see, have never seen, and it affects us. We need that treatment and that care, that support, when we come back."

Gianforte vetoed the bill just after the Senate adjourned, leading some critics to contend that he denied lawmakers the chance to reconsider the veto.

The court ruling says, "The public interest lies in removing any uncertainties which may lead to gamesmanship in the lawmaking process" - and orders the Legislature be given a chance to vote on an override by March 19.

Shantil Siaperas, communications director with the Montana Association of Counties, called the governor's attempt to stop the Legislature from a possible override of the veto a "frivolous motion."

"Once again, the court instructed the governor to stop playing games and allow the Legislature the opportunity to perform its its constitutional duty," said Siaperas. "And we expect the Secretary of State to initiate the polling process as soon as possible."

The Montana Secretary of State will mail ballots to legislators to vote on the veto override.




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A new Indiana law, starting today, allows school board candidates to list their political affiliation on the ballot.

Candidates may choose to register with a political party, as independents or not disclose any affiliation. Those who do not select will have a blank space next to their name and straight-ticket voting will not apply to school board races. Those opposed to the new law said it injects unnecessary politics into a role traditionally focused on education.

Leslie Jacobs, a school board member for the Fayette County School Corporation in Connersville, is against the new law.

"In my 10 years, I couldn't tell you the political leanings of anybody on my board. Never comes up," Jacobs explained. "Our discussions are purely about educational opportunities, picking a superintendent, looking at budget."

She warned requiring party labels might discourage qualified candidates from running. Supporters of the new law said it increases transparency.

Jennifer Blackburn, a school board member for the East Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, also opposes the new law.

"The scenario that there are four candidates potentially running and three are Democrat, one is a Republican -- this last school board election -- none of us were opposed," Blackburn pointed out. "As big as our county is, there are not a lot of people running."

The law will first affect school board elections in November.


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A three-part online training series on how to run for office and govern effectively begins Monday, designed for people running at any level of government office in Western states, including Wyoming.

The training is part of the Grassroots Democracy Program under the Western Organization of Resource Councils, a group organizing in rural parts of the West and includes Wyoming's Powder River Basin Resource Council.

Gwen Lachelt, political director for the group, said the series will help answer a broad range of questions.

"Everything from, 'Am I ready to run for office? How do I organize my campaign?' To, 'how do I govern, and how can I be an effective elected official?'" Lachelt explained.

As of Friday, Lachelt noted about 50 people had signed up for the training. Registration is still open until the event starts Monday at 5:30 p.m. MT.

Lachelt added she is seeing a lot of interest in running for office from people of all age groups and all backgrounds. She emphasized the group hopes to connect with Westerners who care about natural resources.

"Our goal is to build a bench of elected officials across our regions who will champion democracy and also work to protect the West's land, air, and water," Lachelt stressed.

Guest speakers at the event include Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, who is the House Minority Leader, and Kevin Williams, a board member of Colorado's Delta-Montrose Electric Association.


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President Donald Trump has renewed calls for a special prosecutor to probe false claims of fraud in the 2020 election but an election expert believes it is likely just a new effort to raise funds.

Earlier this month, FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media he had found new evidence implicating the Chinese Communist Party in 2020 election interference.

David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said Patel's approach is not typical.

"If the FBI has evidence of a crime, what they don't do is announce it on social media," Becker pointed out. "They don't send it up to the Senate to do further investigation. If the FBI has evidence of a crime, they investigate, they indict and prosecute. We are not seeing that here."

Despite dozens of lawsuits filed in the aftermath of the 2020 election, no federal judges cited a need to delay certification of the results, and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal brought by several Republican-led states to overturn the outcome.

Trump's insistence of voter fraud contributed to 1,500 of his supporters storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Many were convicted of crimes but were ultimately pardoned on Trump's first day in office. Friday night, the Justice Department fired at least three prosecutors involved in the Capitol riot cases.

Becker noted firings in the agency are worrisome.

"If you normalize this reshaping of the entire federal civil service in key agencies, based solely upon loyalty, that is soon going to become the new normal," Becker cautioned. "We're going to see it done by both parties, and that will be to the detriment of us as Americans."

One of the biggest proponents of the myth that the 2020 election was stolen was MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, recently found guilty of defamation by a Denver jury. Lindell claimed Dominion Voting Systems manipulated voting machines to favor Joe Biden and called a former employee a traitor. Becker noted Lindell is one of many who've made huge claims without concrete evidence.

"It is easy to grandstand on the steps of a courthouse or on social media," Becker acknowledged. "But every single time they've been asked to put up or shut up in a court of law, where their evidence would be subjected to scrutiny, they have shut up."


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