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

14 April 2015

Legislative notes

At this point in the legislative session, citizen input has little if any influence on the decisions of legislators. We’re all spectators now, usually with little to cheer about.

Raw milk legalization, HB-245. The bill was amended and approved 5–2 by the Senate’s health committee late last week. It’s now in the Senate’s finance committee, which I’m sure will report it out with a do pass recommendation. I suspect it will pass the Senate, and then the House if time doesn’t run out. The best hope of stopping it may be a veto by Gov. Bullock. I’m very disappointed, incidentally, that Democratic Sen. Mary Caffero (Helena) is co-sponsoring this anti-public health legislation. How she can do that and still be thought a good person on health care escapes my ken.

CSKT water compact, SB-262. Yesterday the House’s judiciary committee festooned the bill with poison pill amendments, then sent it to the house with a do not pass recommendation. That sets the stage today for another silver bullet debate. A majority of the House supports the bill, but not a supermajority. I think the bill will pass, but if it doesn’t, expect Gov. Bullock to call a special session to get the job done. I find it remarkable that so many Republican members of the House think Montana’s Republican attorney general, Tim Fox, who supports the compact, is in bed with liberal devils on this issue. Perhaps there will be a far right primary challenge to Fox next year.