By a slim margin a Republican from Great Falls was able to get a campaign reform measure aimed at shining the light on so-called “dark money” sent to the House Business and Labor Committee for a hearing.
Representative Steve Fitzpatrick was worried it would not get a fair hearing in the House State Administration Committee.
"I think we all know why we’re doing this. It’s to avoid adverse committee reports and give the bill a fair hearing. Let’s give this bill a fair hearing. It will get that in Business and Labor," Fitzpatrick said.
An adverse committee recommendation would mean that supporters could not bring the bill from committee to the House floor for debate by a simple majority vote. It could only advance if a supermajority, three-fifths of House members, voted to bring it to the floor.
There were several unsuccessful motions to keep the dark money bill out of House Business and Labor, all failed. The bill was sent to that committee by a one vote margin.
Republicans hold an 18-vote majority in the state House.