Charles S. Johnson
missoulian
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Past articles by Charles:
Montana's elected officials will see bigger paychecks on July 1
HELENA – Most Montana statewide and district elected officials will receive pay raises on July 1, with Supreme Court justices, District Court judges and the Supreme Court clerk seeing the → Read More
Former Montana Gov. Tim Babcock dead at 95
HELENA — Former Gov. Tim Babcock died in Helena Tuesday morning. He was 95. → Read More
Montana Senate panel OKs coal tax bills on party-line vote
HELENA – On a party-line vote, a Senate committee on Monday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment to change the distribution of the coal severance tax and use some of the → Read More
Montana House panel backs bill abolishing death penalty
HELENA – By a slim margin, the House Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill to abolish the death penalty in Montana and replace it with life imprisonment without parole. → Read More
Stiffer campaign finance disclosure bill divides speakers
HELENA – Supporters of a bill to tighten Montana’s campaign finance law said Wednesday it would shine needed sunlight on “dark money” groups, while opponents said it would chill free → Read More
Montana Senate passes bill creating new process for filling U.S. Senate vacancies
HELENA – The state Senate on Tuesday endorsed a bill to require a special election for a U.S. Senate vacancy, as the law currently does for House vacancies, but it → Read More
Montana legislators ground governor's plane
HELENA — On a partisan vote, a budget subcommittee on Monday stripped away the money to pay for operation of the airplane used by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock from the → Read More
On 35th legislative day, little progress to show in Helena
HELENA – The 2015 Montana Legislature is about a third over in terms of days, but it’s really just getting rolling when it comes to deciding the major issues. → Read More
Panel OK’s U-system budget with 3% increases in each of two years
HELENA — A budget subcommittee on Thursday approved 3 percent budget increases for the Montana university system in each of the next two years combined, including another two-year tuition freeze → Read More
Zinke says ground troops are essential to beating IS terrorists
HELENA – Disagreeing with President Barack Obama, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke said Wednesday it will take ground operations for the U.S. armed forces to defeat Islamic State terrorists in the → Read More
Governor warns: GOP tax cut proposals would leave state 'upside down'
HELENA — Gov. Steve Bullock and Democratic legislators are upset that the Republican legislative majorities are pushing through bills to cut taxes without taking a comprehensive look at them, along → Read More
Bullock, Ankney announce bills to disclose campaign money
HELENA – Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and Republican state Sen. Duane Ankney are teaming up on a bill to fight “dark money” by requiring all political organizations to fully disclose → Read More
Panels tabling Motl’s campaign finance bills
Legislative panels have rejected a series of bills to beef up Montana’s campaign finance reporting laws, although a comprehensive disclosure bill by Gov. Steve Bullock is expected to be introduced → Read More
Missoula lawmaker wants to raise gas tax by 5 cents a gallon
HELENA – A Missoula lawmaker has introduced a bill to raise the state’s tax on gasoline by a nickel a gallon, dividing the proceeds between local streets and roads and → Read More
Montana legislators likely to again debate marijuana
HELENA – Marijuana once again will be an issue at the Legislature, with a number of bills anticipated, from possibly decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of pot to banning → Read More
Secretary of State McCulloch asks legislators to OK mail elections
HELENA – Secretary of State Linda McCulloch again is asking legislators to pass a bill requiring all Montana elections to be conducted by mail, except for school elections. → Read More
Montana Democrats blast Zinke for chief of staff hire
HELENA – A Montana Democratic Party official on Tuesday criticized new U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., for hiring as his chief of staff the former treasurer of a political action → Read More
Legislative leaders pledge to work together as 2015 session opens
HELENA – The 2015 Montana Legislature kicked off Monday, with top leaders from both parties pledging to work together for the public good during the 90-day session. → Read More
Barrett wants GOP unity in Senate as 2015 Legislature convenes
HELENA – Incoming Montana Senate President Debby Barrett wants to have a united Republican caucus in the 2015 legislative session after the bitter split that divided the GOP two years → Read More
Judge blocks new medical marijuana restrictions in Montana
HELENA — A state district judge late Friday permanently blocked enforcement of key provisions of Montana’s strict 2011 medical marijuana law in a drawn-out legal case that began shortly after → Read More