On March 27, the Montana House Administration tabled SB 117. This is the bill that had already passed the Senate, which would have provided that when a candidate is sued because his or opponent wants a recount, the government pays the court costs, regardless of which way the recount goes. The bill was retroactive and would have saved Rep. Rick Jore (the lone Constitution Party state legislator) from having to repay $18,000 court costs from the 2004 recount.

The same committee also tabled HB 760 on March 18. It would have instituted a “Clean Elections” system of public financing of candidates for state office.