Resource industry: Change Montana Constitution's 'clean, healthful environment'

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Legislative supporters of extractive and other industries want to ask voters to change the Montana Constitution's "clean and healthful environment" provision to help aid development.

The declaration in the Constitution's inalienable rights has long been a sore point for those who say it gets in the way of development - while conservationists and others hail it as forward-thinking language that has helped preserve the state.

A Republican lawmaker told the House Judiciary Committee the provision needs to be changed to guarantee a "clean, healthful, and economically productive environment."

It is not easy to get the required 100 votes out of the 150 legislators to put such a question to voters. Even if all Republicans voted for it, the measure would fall short by four votes.

But both opponents and supporters agreed the bill has a chance to get enough support from Democrats depending how the debate over it and proposed changes to the Montana Environmental Protection Act unfold.

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_d4e02be4-2993-11e0-ab5c-001cc4c03286.html

[neverforget]

1. My home state is going in the shitter

[glinda]

2. I am sorry.