In this case, that power falls to Rep. Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, whom House Republicans elected as their choice for speaker earlier this month.
Sales said he hoped to have those assignments done later Monday, but rebuffed an effort offered by House Democratic Floor Leader Art Noonan, D-Butte, to establish that Republicans will only have a one-vote majority on the committees.
During the 2005 session, a similar committee mandated that the committees would be evenly split between the parties. Back then, the House was evenly divided with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats.
Sales said he didn t want to "limit himself.
" House Majority Leader Mike Lange, R-Billings, also spoke against the idea, saying he didn t see any reason to treat the 2007 Legislative session any different from every other in which one party has had a clear majority over the other.
"I just don t see a need for this, myself," Lange said.
The committee voted unanimously to do away with the special rules that governed the 2005 Legislature when the parties were tied.
The rules adopted Monday were almost identical to rules of the past with a few minor exceptions to deal with the lone Constitution Party member, Rick Jore of Ronan.
The Legislature convenes in early January. Republicans have 50 seats; Democrats have 49.
Jore left the Republican fold to join the Constitution Party.
Jore s election marks the first time a third party has held a seat in the Montana House. Published on Monday, December 11, 2006.
Last modified on 12/11/2006 at 5:50 pm
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