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Montana Lawmakers Choose Legislative Leaders

Montana Senate Republicans have kept the more conservative edge they adopted in the 2013

By LISA BAUMANN, Associated Press

HELENA — In electing new leadership Wednesday for the 2015 Legislative session, Montana Senate Republicans have kept the more conservative edge they adopted in the 2013.

Republicans retained control of both chambers after last week’s election. The Senate Republican caucus elected cattle rancher Debby Barrett of Dillon its Senate president after she was lauded as a “true conservative.”

Sen. Matt Rosendale of Glendive, who was elected majority leader, nominated Barrett, noting her lack of game playing and consistent action to preserve Montanans freedoms, especially surrounding property rights.

“She’s not afraid to assume authority,” he said.

Barrett, who’s served in the Legislature for the past 14 years, said she’ll listen to all senators regardless of party and in order to focus on her role as president will forgo sitting on any committees. She will be the first female Senate president in Montana history, according to Susan Byorth Fox, executive director of state Legislative Services.

Barrett said a personal goal includes ensuring a smooth and respectful session, with no “gotcha” moments allowed between senators. She also called the upcoming session a time to start over, referring to a rift in the party last session between conservative and moderate Republicans.

“Elections are about going forward,” Barrett said. “We’re going to start fresh and see what happens. There’s no retaliation planned.”

But newly elected Democratic House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter of Helena said they’ll look to moderate Republicans to align with them on several bills as they did last session. He said Democratic priorities include early childhood education and helping more low-income Montanans get health insurance coverage whether through Medicaid expansion or some other way.

“We’ll be looking to build majorities with those on the other side,” Hunter said, adding that Republican leadership appears even more conservative than in 2013.

In the House, Republicans chose Austin Knudsen of Culbertson to be speaker and elected Keith Regier of Kalispell as House majority leader.

Knudsen said he’s optimistic about working with Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on several issues and cited an infrastructure bill as an example.

“Obviously we’re not going to agree on everything but I’m hopeful that we can move forward,” he said.

Bullock spokesman Kevin O’Brien said in a statement Wednesday that Bullock looks forward to working with Republicans but takes issue with leadership claims that he supports larger government and hasn’t addressed job creation.

“Their rhetoric doesn’t level with reality. On one hand, you have Republican leadership who, the last time they were in town, forced the governor to cut $150 million because they couldn’t balance the budget,” O’Brien said. “On the other hand, under Gov. Bullock’s leadership, Montana has been called ‘the most fiscally prudent state in the nation’ and we’ve had record job growth in 2014.”

New Republican leaders said their priorities also include job creation and responsible natural resource development.

Other leadership positions picked Wednesday include Democrat Jon Sesso of Butte elected as Senate minority leader and Carolyn Pease Lopez of Billings as House caucus chair. Republican Eric Moore of Miles City was chosen as Senate President Pro Tempore and Lee Randall of Broadus as House was chosen by the GOP as speaker pro tempore.

The 2015 legislative session begins Jan. 5.