Democrats promise fight over CHIP cuts
ByMATT GOURAS of the Associated PressHELENA - Democrats promised Monday to stand firm against Republican plans to undo expansion of the children’s health insurance plan - while GOP leaders insisted they stand by the cuts.
The budget battle over the Children’s Health Insurance Program expansion approved last fall by voters is shaping up as the biggest area of disagreement. The budget plans head to the Senate floor Thursday.
On Friday, a committee controlled by Republicans advanced a budget that took about $30 million out of the CHIP expansion.
Under the plan, the state would increase eligibility to 200 percent of poverty level instead of the 250 percent approved in Initiative 155. Right now, families making up to 175 percent of poverty qualify.
If the full Senate approves the idea, the issue heads to a House split 50-50 between the parties.
"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.” 