by Michael J. Marino
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed 86 of the 89 bills state lawmakers sent for his approval this week, while he vetoed three – House Bills (HB) 33, 693 and 748.
HB 33 sought to give County Commissioners the ability to initiate civil proceedings and remove officials from office if they violate a writ of mandamus, which is a court order telling an elected official to “properly fulfill their official duties or correct an abuse,” according to Cornell University Law School.
In a letter dated May 5, the Governor said he vetoed HB 33 because it subjects both elected and unelected board members to removal by a judge. An elected official should not be subjected to judicial recall, said Gianforte, because they “can be recalled by [the voters].”
HB 693 would have made it illegal for public agencies to refuse to disclose public information solely on the grounds that the information “is part of litigation or may be part of litigation.”
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