Yesterday the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee of the Montana House of Representatives passed H.B. 527, the Defend the Guard Act, and the bill will proceed to the House floor. This bill would prohibit the deployment of the Montana National Guard into overseas combat missions without a declaration of war by Congress as required by Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.
The final vote was seven to six, with Chairwoman Katie Zolnikov (R-District 45), Rep. Steven Galloway (R-District 24), Rep. Paul Fielder (R-District 13), Rep. Larry Brewster (R-District 44), Rep. Greg Kmetz (R-District 38), Rep. Casey Knudsen (R-District 33), and Rep. Robert Phalen (R-District 36) voting in favor, and Rep. Paul Green (R-District 41), Rep. Laurie Bishop (D-District 60), Rep. Derek Harvey (D-District 74), Rep. Josh Kassmier (R-District 27), Rep. Kelly Kortum (D-District 65), and Rep. Katie Sullivan (D-District 89) voting against.