Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.

 

1 January 2014

Montana political reforms for the New Year

If I had almighty powers, these are the reforms I would make. Unfortunately, such powers are not mine, so I’ve identified what needs to be done to make these proposals fact.

Happy New Year!

  1. Eliminate term limits. Needed: a constitutional amendment.

  2. Reduce the size of the legislature. Needed: a majority vote for a small reduction, a constitutional amendment for a large reduction.

  3. Require annual legislative sessions, and remove limits on the length of sessions. Needed: a constitutional amendment.

  4. Require all electronic campaign finance reporting, and more frequent reporting. Needed: a majority vote.

  5. Repeal 13-35-402 of the Montana Codes Annotated (fair notice period before election). Needed: a majority vote.

  6. Repeal 13-35-301 of the MCA (adoption of code of fair campaign practices). Needed: a majority vote.

  7. Repeal all durational limits on political signs. Needed: a majority vote in a lot of jurisdictions, or a lot of aggressive lawsuits.

  8. Establish a political “Don’t bring your campaign to my door” list with criminal penalties for violations. Needed: a majority vote.

  9. Repeal “no excuses” absentee voting. Needed: a majority vote.

  10. Allow early voting only on the two days prior to election day. Needed: a majority vote.

  11. Outlaw mail ballot elections. Allow mail ballot voting only for voters with proven disabilities that prevent their casting ballots at a polling place.

  12. Require that all elections other than primary elections be held as part of the general election in even-numbered years. Needed: a majority vote, but it might be best to hard wire this into Montana’s constitution through an amendment.

  13. Raise the minimum age for the Montana House of Representatives to 25; for the Montana Senate, to 30; for Governor, Lt. Governor, and justices of the Montana Supreme Court, to 40; for all other statewide elected officials, to 35; for all other elected officials except judges, to 25; for judges, to 35.