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

24 April 2017 — 0638 mdt

Legislative notes

Montana’s legislature will adjourn sometime this week, but it won’t be until mid-May that we’ll fully know how much damage was done, and how much mischief was avoided. There were some minor victories:

Raw milk. For the third legislative session in a row, an attempt to legalize some sales of raw milk — a dangerous fluid — was beaten back. But Rep. Nancy Ballance (R-Hamilton) might give legalization another try if she’s re-elected in 2018.

Anti-opioids hysteria. Rep. Zach Brown’s (D-Bozeman) bill to impose draconian limitations on prescriptions for medications such as codeine and hydrocodone died in the MT House. It was opposed by most of the medical community, but supported by cops and all too many Democrats. Brown might try again in 2019 if he’s re-elected next year.

Daylight saving time. After being whooped through the MT Senate, Sen. Ryan Osmundson’s (R-Buffalo) bill to repeal DST died in the MT House after school officials testified that reverting to Mountain Standard Time could kill off sports in Montana’s high schools.

Traditional regalia at high school graduations. For some educators, nothing is more beautiful than hundreds of graduating seniors, all identically clad in medieval gowns and mortarboards, all lined up like rows of headstones in a military cemetery. These anal retentive educators hate expressions of individuality and pride, such as feathers lashed to the tassels of American Indian students. But thanks to Sen. Jen Gross (D-Billings), those expressions of individuality and pride now are protected by law.

Absolute abortion ban. Rep. Derek Skees’ (R-Lakeside) attempt to put on the 2018 general election ballot a constitutional referendum defining personhood in a way that would ban abortion even to save a mother’s life didn’t receive enough votes to go before the voters. If re-elected, Skees might try again.

Ban on bicycles on two-lane roads. Rep. Barry Usher (R-Billings), owner of a motorcycle dealership, tried and failed to move a bill that would have moved bicyclists off two-lane highways and out of the way of fast moving automobiles and motorcycles. Perhaps Usher and Sen. Scott Sales will conspire over the interim to confiscate and ship to the third world all bicycles in Montana.

Local option sales tax. Carried by Rep. Dave Fern (D-Whitefish), this regressive measure, mislabeled an “infrastructure tax,” died in committee in the MT House. Fern worked hard to lessen the tax’s regressiveness, but in the end, it was still a sales tax, still regressive, and too dangerous to lower income people to let live. This issue, and a similar proposal, will be back in 2019.

Child election judges. Rep. Kathy Swanson’s (D-Deer Lodge) bill to allow 16-year-olds passed the MT. House, but was tabled in the MT Senate’s state administration committee. Voting is an adult activity, and so should be the administration of elections. This foolish bill will be back in 2019.

All-mail ballot elections. Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick’s (R-Great Falls) bill to allow county clerk and recorders to conduct the 25 May special congressional election entirely by mail ballot failed. So did a clever attempt by Gov. Bullock to accomplish the same thing with an amendatory veto to HB-83. The all-mail ballot crusaders, led by Democrats and county clerk and recorders (most C&Rs are Republicans), will try again in 2019.