House endorses carbon sequestration compromise
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The Montana House is endorsing a compromise for carbon sequestration, the technology many see as the future for the coal industry.
Senate Bill 498 would set rules governing how carbon dioxide is stored underground in Montana.
Although no company currently has a plant capable of stripping potentially harmful carbon out of coal during the burning process, many say it will have to be done in the future to meet potential greenhouse gas rules.
Both the coal industry and environmentalist groups have pushed for different versions of the bill.
Critics say lawmakers are writing rules for a technology that doesn’t even exist, and talking about a complex issue they know nothing about.
The House gave initial endorsement to the idea on a 77-23 vote, and it faces a final vote in the chamber.
"I think that it’s going to all work out, with the changes that we have agreed to. It’s not as much (spending for some programs) as I would’ve hoped, but apparently it’s more than other people wanted. As usual, we are trying to find the middle.” 
"[On term limits:] You empower the executive, you empower the lobbyists and that's not good for the system because then we lose what the citizen Legislature brings.” 