Outburst may cause rule change

HELENA — Republican leaders want to change Montana Senate rules to prevent a handful of legislators from halting a floor session when one senator is absent.

The previous rule required the vote of only five members to make a call to the Senate. With the change, a majority of senators would have to request it.

The change comes in the wake of Friday’s raucous session in which Democrats attempted use the parliamentary procedure in a move that likely would have blocked two Republican referendums.

Democrats said they were concerned about the absence of Democratic Sen. Shannon Augare of Browning.

The Senate Rules Committee approved the change Thursday. It now goes to the full Senate.