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Sponsor urges proportional formula for interim committees in House Bill 188
Summary
Representative Ed Staffman presented House Bill 188 to make interim committee appointments proportional to the legislature's party composition, arguing the change restores fair access to committee service. A former legislator and a Helena resident testified in support; no executive action was taken.
Representative Ed Staffman of House District 59 opened the Legislative Administration committee hearing on House Bill 188, saying the bill would replace the recent statutory 3-to-1 committee assignments with a proportional formula tied to the legislature's party share.
Staffman said interim committees historically were balanced, noting, "For as far back as anybody could remember, our interim committees, were 50 50 Democrat Republican." He told the committee the hurried change last session shifted some appointments to a 75/25 majority rule and left some members without assignments.…
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