Montana began this session with a $2.5 billion surplus—but is now projected to end with a $1 billion deficit. What happened?

In this episode, Senate President Matt Regier and Senate Finance and Claims Chair Carl Glimm break down House Bill 2, the state’s main budget bill. They explain how spending increased dramatically after nine Republican legislators joined Democrats to pass key funding measures, effectively giving Democrats the majority needed to push through higher spending.

Now, with Montana’s Constitution requiring a balanced budget, the conservative majority is calling on Governor Gianforte to use his line-item veto power to bring spending back under control and fulfill the legislature’s constitutional duty.