12 October 2018 — 1554 mdt
Is Randy Brodehl a Fahrenheit 451 fireman?
No. Not literally. The firemen in Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel burned books, but Brodhel, as a member and chief of Kalispell’s fire department, extinguished fires. If he encountered a burning book, he doused the flames.
Figuratively, however, the truth is more complicated. As a state representative, Brodehl (R-Kalispell/Evergreen) was one of three authors of the arguments in the 2018 Voter Information Pamphlet against approving Legislative Referendum 128, the ballot measure renewing the six-mil university levy that provides approximately $20 million a year for academics, including library resources.
In other words, Brodehl favors burning down a pillar of the funding for Montana’s university system.
And along with his co-authors Sen. Gordon Vance (R-Belgrade) and former Republican legislator Joe Balyeat, he makes some astounding arguments. Here are a couple:
- Others may object to HOW MUS spends these enormous sums. Those concerned about academic freedom may object that their tax dollars are used to discriminate against certain beliefs (e.g., conservative professors and students). People of faith may object to such things as UM’s attempted suppression of a Christian group while funding “Sex-a-Palooza.”
- Constitutional 2nd Amendment self-defense advocates may object to ill-advised university policies which disarm innocent students, leaving them defenseless and advertising that defenselessness as an open invitation to some crazed, cowardly killer.
Yep. Randy, Gordy, and Joe — reincarnations of Captain Beatty — evidently think liberals have converted Montana’s universities into godless enclaves where pencil packing students dodge bullets while debauching themselves at bacchanals — and want to add insult to injury by dunning upright (uptight?) Montanans a six-mil fee to underwrite the revelry. Their solution to this godless disrespect for authority? Burn down LR-128.
Brohdel, termed out, is running for Flathead County Commissioner. He promises “conservative fiscal management.” Thanks to his arguments against LR-128, we know what that means.
That’s why I’m voting for Tom Clark.