[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6221475,"mediaKeyId","3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf","parentId",3613327,"title","Gambling industry resists electronic monitoring; age-change bill passes Senate, faces House hearing","audioSeconds",358,"startMs",642000,"endMs",1000000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf&start=642&end=1000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf/thumbnail_642000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221475/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Gambling-industry-resists-electronic-monitoring-age-change-bill-passes-Senate-faces-House-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221475-db4fea63eb8dc9f90b031faaea7311b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184090&Signature=EBPHfx8UZhIHRJ4N8T8Cg2TOn4Uh59rc4MLrB3o6t9BcHGBSNYQDoWw~QN3AlVX2STz17OcmvPn~z7C4iDXqH3bCJygV3AwJ4QcqYVA0FJg9lqAItlPBvDoz3--3Zkd2ksAYvp2PPkojHvB1CoxXSXzwjbFD5NbkNmDbfMDCeZbyrnlbSSIffxUaRp2zUhRxCUzLAx~YNO4VV7ty4QwTtZA8vaZXebU3eurN5wXaU859cuDG8QztmtDVIKujbNww2mTJS4vnL6OkLaNBkgSjYTrBmjl6ihL7IrYan-pHf4UEouXpanaAY-qNT7eWS5RXjztJn5rumEuCkha2P9uqBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Missoula, MT","date","2025-05-30T18:09:50Z","article","Commentators on a Missoula radio program discussed two strands of gambling policy in the current legislative session: an industry effort to block a statewide electronic monitoring network for video poker and keno machines, and a separate bill raising the legal gambling age that had passed the Senate.

The commentator said the gambling industry \"turned out in force\" to fight an attempt to create a computerized network for thousands of video poker and keno machines. The program said the attorney general had been trying to implement electronic monitoring since the last legislature and that, for conversion to the monitoring system to proceed, establishments would be loaned money to convert machines. \"The gambling industry is making lots of money, and they don't wanna pay any more taxes on that than they have to,\" the commentator said.

Separately, the broadcast noted a bill to change the gambling age in Montana from 18 to 21. A guest on the program said he opposed the age-change bill and said young people had argued on his behalf that they can vote, marry and make contracts and therefore should be able to gamble. The broadcast stated that the bill \"has passed the Senate\" and would be up for a House hearing later in the session.

Why it matters: the electronic-monitoring plan affects regulatory oversight and tax reporting for gambling establishments; the age-change bill affects legal access for young adults.

Formal actions referenced: the age-change bill was reported on air as having passed the Senate and slated for a House hearing; no House vote or final enactment was reported on the program. The electronic monitoring proposal was described as contested by industry; no legislative vote was reported on air.

Clarifying details from the broadcast included that the attorney general had been pursuing electronic monitoring since the previous legislature and that industry representatives offered to loan conversion funds to establishments to meet proposed monitoring requirements. Exact dollar amounts for conversion loans or penalties were not provided on air.

Ending: listeners were told to monitor Helena committee calendars for hearing dates and to follow both the gambling-monitoring proposal and the age-change bill as they moved through the legislature.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Under The Copper Dome A Public Conversation","oneSentenceSummary","Commentators on a Missoula radio program discussed industry opposition to a proposed statewide electronic monitoring network for gaming machines and reported that an age-change bill raising the gambling age from 18 to 21 had passed the Senate and awaited a House hearing.","taxTitle","Missoula, Missoula County, Montana","taxId",4050,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221491,"Critics Say Telecom Task Force Favored Industry; Helena hearing slated",163,132000,295000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf&start=132&end=295","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf/thumbnail_132000.jpg","/articles/6221491/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Critics-Say-Telecom-Task-Force-Favored-Industry-Helena-hearing-slated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221491-3c12c58bf16c79cd4253a4557333fe07/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184090&Signature=nEuMkwBfLJo7Wzju5kiYOAKnPjRx55ijTTKmUWsNEza-~R0dBAofPAHYC4-Nzq0-6r4nAT-iz6HvTomcOAwniy8VlqAUi9ZJUWRcLFsmxSefW~oKZgSdMtftiicAAYIrQkcDQmFn5lf07qQg~BPOLxv0HJQ87AqXZZN4bnxGIniCjznyVctV9CGTx6yEvjCu9HGABU7N~p-1U96GVhG4QEMzzLB5ClzfmLKK3h1~u6vCTnfZ5CVUYrKtqfC5v2oJ6RsBDqj3l74gQWpEw~QLz-YPEzAKqMQQIkKt390BSitR63HWQiAsPQiBpngsTOW0opXp0KkX2jEnY~DUEosz9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Blue Ribbon governors' telecommunications task force work and a related bill will be the subject of a Helena hearing referenced during a Missoula radio program, where commentators said the task force was heavily shaped by the telecommunications industry and omitted public access concerns.

The program's commentator said the task force report, titled \"Connecting Montana to the World,\" will be heard in Helena this week and that, according to a public service commissioner quoted on the show, industry gave the task force about $75,000. \"The telecommunications industry, quote, contributed, quote, $75,000,\" the commentator said. The commentator added they had tried to get total cost figures from the Department of Administration but had not yet received them.

Why it matters: the report and any bill informed by the task force could shape statewide cable and telecommunications policy. On the broadcast, speakers said the report contains no discussion of public access cable communications and that Missoula Community Access Television was not consulted.

The commentator described difficulty attending earlier task force meetings in Helena, saying one meeting was held inside US West Telephone Company headquarters and required talking past security to reach the public session. \"I went to look for the meeting place in Helena. And where was the meeting? It was, like, in inside the US West Telephone Company headquarters,\" the commentator said, adding they felt shut out from the process.

Program guests reported that one public service commission member told them industry had a role in drafting the bill to be heard. The commentator said they expected the bill to be heard \"Friday, the 30 first on this,\" and that the task force booklet lacked any reference to public access cable.

Formal actions and next steps: the broadcast referenced a Helena hearing on the task force's bill/report; no formal vote or final outcome was reported on air. The Department of Administration's total spending on the task force was described as not yet provided by officials contacted by the commentator.

Staff and advocates in Missoula who work in public access television were described on the program as effectively left out of the task force's outreach. The commentator said, \"nobody on this task force, as far as I know, talked to, anybody from Missoula, from Missoula Community Access Television.\" The commentator urged public interest attention to the Helena hearing.

Less critical details: the program also included a broader conversation about the legislature's priorities and other statewide topics. The broadcast did not include formal legislative text or the complete bill; listeners were encouraged to follow the Helena hearing for official records and outcomes.","Blue Ribbon governors' telecommunications task force work and a related bill will be the subject of a Helena hearing referenced during a Missoula radio program, where commentators said the task force was heavily shaped by the telecommunications industry and omitted public access concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221481,"Montana AFL-CIO warns against right-to-work bills, backs broad tax discussion to shore up schools",570,1665000,2235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf&start=1665&end=2235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6221481/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Montana-AFL-CIO-warns-against-right-to-work-bills-backs-broad-tax-discussion-to-shore-up-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221481-5f8289a07336bcf37126221f3985bc82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184090&Signature=AHnLFUD6soWqDuy09NbbsYaLUnapWbf2l41tQVJq9xuMl-oHWtJESp-jH561UQAaRQ8Is6dBr4B8fI1GvqhDZdCDGePE7bpww0xPcmFuDjWAsrZ6c8ZXyvnkrJ4DNq224ZmgIrUs4pPwans9Trwhh7aYkBqbcQz6JagvxJ4yPZhR66aeLCQndXZbJYn6hvd0mGLLFg0SDaUdrmkmyofss4NQ9yRph2xWSKZqGJ8KVxDADIu5D~6P~EXrKEF7iz1G1d4JGpmczVEJ4-FmXvYiB~5jWEFXj-yCs5pFa6JCb7RvrH-61tPLdg1-K3rW7Ew9Z~Dk0IMvMFMwgG63WlfGYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Montana AFL-CIO executive told listeners on a Missoula radio program that the state labor movement opposes right-to-work proposals and will defend workers' compensation, public education funding and other benefits during the legislative session.

The executive, identified on air as Eric, described two right-to-work drafts introduced this year — one targeting public employees and a second that would apply to all workers — and said their passage would weaken unions and reduce living standards. \"The practical effect of that passage of that legislation is a weakening of the labor movement, a weakening of the unions, and a subsequent reduction in the living standards of all workers,\" Eric said.

Eric said federal law requires unions to represent all employees in a bargaining unit equally and that right-to-work measures would shift costs to non-union members. He said the Montana Labor Movement also opposes a sales tax and will engage to protect workers while acknowledging the state must solve property-tax issues. \"The Montana Labor Movement stands in adamant opposition to the passage of a sales tax in our state,\" Eric said, but he added the state needs a balanced approach to raise adequate and equitable revenue.

Why it matters: the guest framed right-to-work measures and any major tax change as central to wages, benefits and the funding of public schools and local government services.

Numbers and organizational details given on air: Eric said the association has about 10,000 members and an annual association budget \"a little less than $3,000,000.\" He said two right-to-work drafts were under consideration and that one of the gaming-regulation bills (discussed elsewhere on the program) had passed the Senate and would be heard in the House.

Formal actions referenced: two right-to-work drafts were described as introduced; no on-air legislative votes on those bills were reported. Eric said he would be present in Helena during the session to advocate for workers' interests.

Ending: listeners were told the labor movement would engage the legislature on multiple fronts, including workers' compensation reform, education finance and opposing unfunded mandates on local governments.","A guest identified on the program as an AFL-CIO executive said Montana labor opposes proposed right-to-work measures and the group will defend workers' compensation and education funding; the guest also said the labor movement is open to addressing property-tax problems through broader revenue reforms including sales tax discussion.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221486,"Missoula voices criticize public-broadcasting censorship and proposed limits on arts council grants",373,2382000,2755000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf&start=2382&end=2755","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3613327-04eb82a987d1e1f6df9dcc3ef810a4cf/thumbnail_2382000.jpg","/articles/6221486/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Missoula-voices-criticize-public-broadcasting-censorship-and-proposed-limits-on-arts-council-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221486-dfa3cba9a1d0d1577d378464dc9f3fb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184090&Signature=JlcBXl5RJKvA6Li~RE3S6OQkRuup1OY~xAESdzc2Otn7JiuTwHIhkAtUjtu2RzYQ3z2E2hxAtSxHiei557sQ5ivNl~HDq4Y2OU0hhMh9-2mbKvY6DLBzHDro3lEIz8kgG4JJx8BordfYAwRuko3S18Nq1HjhDx5kA7Uxy5XES-2L8mgBn59BtbDbXAoQPr8EZ62BQIg17aROwEZqlvl~uI0s9cOG-3cKKZAJKZ3eDYj83nJ7LtHCMWmN0Z8P~I2HNxLd~XdWJ9uqqYCIIvyKBwoneICRBPRt7gnkvxUMk-3LgP70jlThEhLI5NbfnRtZB8BZdiD8-Myn5uYTenAF0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers on a Missoula radio program criticized programming decisions at Montana Public Broadcasting and a proposed legislative amendment that would limit Montana Arts Council grants to materials deemed \"appropriate for the entire family.\" They said the actions amount to censorship and risk shrinking opportunities for Montana artists and local producers.

The program's commentator said Montana Public Broadcasting has had limited coverage of telecommunications topics and that decisions about programming are sometimes made at a single station in Bozeman. \"How does 1 white guy decide what's appropriate for the Montana television audience? I mean, that's censorship,\" the commentator said.

Separately, the commentator described a legislative amendment reported in Helena that would require the Montana Arts Council to spend money only on materials \"appropriate for children or the entire family,\" and said that the amendment had been offered in committee and \"I think passed\" there. The commentator named the Montana Repertory Theater Company and said the amendment would bar funding for materials intended for mature audiences. \"That would force the Montana Arts Council to spend their money only on materials, that were appropriate for children or that were appropriate for the entire family,\" the commentator said.

Why it matters: supporters of the arts told listeners the Montana Arts Council is understaffed and demoralized after staff cuts, and that reduced state support would affect arts education and small theater and film producers across Montana.

The program promoted local community-access television as an alternative forum. The commentator described a new Monday-night live open-mic program at Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT) on Spruce Street and encouraged independent producers to bring work to the MCAT studio. \"It's live, and it's basically just an open mic. And anyone can come into the studio at MCAT...it's Monday nights live,\" the commentator said.

Additional context given on air: the commentator compared Montana's arts funding to Ireland's broader public support for arts and cited corporate giving as a potential source of increased support. The commentator said state funding amounts discussed on air were \"minuscule\" in comparison to the cultural value and that the governor had sought to boost support but that the legislature had not yet followed.

Formal actions referenced: the broadcast reported that a committee amendment limiting Arts Council funding to family-appropriate material had been offered and reportedly passed in committee; no final legislative votes were reported on air.

Ending note: guests urged listeners to track legislative action in Helena and to use MCAT and local libraries as venues for diverse programming.","Radio program guests said public-broadcasting programming decisions and a legislator's amendment to restrict Montana Arts Council funding for 'mature' material amount to censorship; Missoula Community Access Television launched a live open-mic show and advocates described the arts council as understaffed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gambling industry resists electronic monitoring; age-change bill passes Senate, faces House hearing

Critics Say Telecom Task Force Favored Industry; Helena hearing slated

Montana AFL-CIO warns against right-to-work bills, backs broad tax discussion to shore up schools

Missoula voices criticize public-broadcasting censorship and proposed limits on arts council grants