Montana lawmakers were told Tuesday that new state health clinics appear to be helping reduce costs.

The Montana House on Thursday backed proposed pension fixes from both sides of the aisle and delayed a final decision on which way to go.

The Montana Legislature inched closer to finding a fix for its beleaguered pension system when a committee decided to advance both of the major proposed fixes.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer proposed an aggressive public pension fix Tuesday, a plan that comes as he nears the end of his term and one that faces a very uncertain future when it goes to his successor and the Legislature next year for potential implementation.

Health care cooperatives launching in eight states announced Tuesday they will receive a total of $638 million in loans from the Obama administration under the federal health insurance law.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday he will ask the U.S. government to let Montana set up its own universal health care program, taking his rhetorical fight over health care to another level.

The Obama administration says states that have not adopted their own insurance exchanges may get a second chance to avoid one run by the U.S. government.

Montana House Speaker Mike Milburn and Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Thursday that headway was being made in budget talks, but there is no deal in place yet as the governor tries to rewrite the Republican offering by Saturday.