29 March 2019 — 1615 mdt
SB-331 suffers surprise defeat on 3rd reading in MT Senate
Update. The bill was reconsidered 30–19, then passed 27–22. I’ll post an analysis of the vote changes tomorrow. Meanwhile, there are a dozen or so legislators who have a ton of explaining to do.
Senate Bill 331, Sen. Tom Richmond’s sweetheart bill for Northwestern Energy, was defeated on its third reading in the MT Senate today after 11 Republicans and one Democrat changed their votes from Aye to Nay. The bill had been approved 32–18 on its second reading. Whether the bill is truly dead remains to be determined as there are reports it may be reconsidered. Meanwhile, here are the legislators who changed their votes:
Butte’s Sen. Jon Sesso again voted for the bill. He was joined by fellow Democrat Susan Webber, who switched her vote from Nay to Aye (I find myself wondering whether she hit the wrong button while voting).
This morning, I reckoned the bill would be whooped through the legislature. I was wrong — and more than a bit surprised.