HELENA – The Montana House has rejected a plan to link state coffers to electronic payments of gold.
Republican Rep. Bob Wagner of Harrison says the Montana state government should trade with some taxpayers and contractors in units of gold.
Supporters say the new currency exchange would be “separate and parallel” to the traditional exchange of federal notes.
Democrats opposing the bill ridiculed it. They say a new currency and a local militia are components of a plan backed by people who would like to see Montana secede.
The bill failed Tuesday 52-48.
Supporters argue the measure has nothing to do with secession and say the federal currency is doomed without sound backing.
They believe states can help push the system back to a gold standard by unilaterally trading in gold.