I just wanted you to know that somebody cares about you. Not me, but somebody does. – Unknown

Today’s quick hits deal with these important subjects:

• Hanna’s Act
• Wall Money
• Michael Avenatti
• The Meme of the Week

Hanna’s Act:

After passing the Montana State House of Representatives 99-0, you would think that House Bill 21, called Hanna’s Act, would have an easy time in the State Senate.

Nope.

The Great Falls Tribune reported that Hanna’s Act failed to advance out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 5-5 vote. The bill was tabled, where it will likely not be acted on this session.

Hanna’s Act would provide for a new missing persons specialist at the Montana Department of Justice. That person would work closely with local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies on missing persons cases. (MTN News)

I’m not sure if the 5-5 vote was along party lines, but since this Act was supported by Native Americans, the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee probably voted against it. Lee Newspapers reported that State Senator Jennifer Fielder, a Republican from Thompson Falls, voted against the bill.

You can see who is on the Montana State Senate Judiciary Committee by clicking HERE.

It’s disappointing, embarrassing, and shameful that Hanna’s Act did not sail through the state Senate – all because of five idiots.

Wall Money:

Reuters is reporting that the U.S. Department of Defense shifted $1 billion to plan and build a 57-mile section of “pedestrian fencing,” roads and lighting along the border between the United States and Mexico. Last week, the Pentagon gave Congress a list that included $12.8 billion of construction projects for which it said funds could be redirected for construction along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The President can declare an emergency that is not the point. I don’t agree with the President being able to redirect money that was appropriated by Congress to his pet wall project. I understand the appropriations process more than most. These projects in which the money is being taken were probably planned for years. They have been scrutinized and approved through a very thorough process.

It is my hope that the federal courts will stop Trump from redirecting this money.

Michael Avenatti:

CBS News reported that Attorney Michael Avenatti, who came to national prominence as the lawyer for adult film star Stormy Daniels, was arrested on federal charges in two separate cases in California and New York, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Here are the charges (reported by CBS News):

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York charged Avenatti for allegedly trying to extort Nike for nearly $20 million. Prosecutors said he and another attorney threatened to release damaging information about the company if it did not meet his demands.

The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles separately announced Avenatti faces bank and wire fraud charges for allegedly embezzling money from a client and defrauding a bank through fake tax returns.

I happened to catch the two press conferences on CBSN, one from the U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York and one from the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. It was nice that the two offices coordinated the press conferences so they were not happening at the same time. It was also nice that they had the paperwork done on both cases so they could announce them on the same day.

When they opened it up for questions, one of the first questions that they were asked was if politics played a role in charging Avenatti. Both U.S. Attorneys said politics did not play a role. Good answer!

I guess I’m skeptical. Maybe I’ve seen and heard too much.

Each district has a U.S. Attorney who runs the office and he/she is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, so it is not too far-fetched that politics could play a role in cases they decide to handle.

Stranger things have happened.

The Meme of the Week (So far):

I said, “Alexa, list Trump’s lies.”
She hasn’t shut up for three freaking days.

 

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