Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever. – Charles Lamb

Today’s topics include:

• Honor & Dishonor Rolls
• AG Tim Fox & Obamacare
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• Tom Winter – U.S. House
• Kathleen Williams for…

Honor & Dishonor Rolls:

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) ran a story this week about a website (legislatorloyalty.com) that ranks whether elected Republicans in Montana are “Loyal Republican” or “The RINO” which means “Republican In Name Only.” Those who are ranked as “The RINO” are deemed by the website as “Republicans that Democrats can count on.”

The MTFP reported that the site was developed by the late conservative activist Trevis Butcher of Winifred, and was mentioned in his obituary after his 2017 death. The site is now run by Ed Butcher, Trevis’s father, and a former state legislator.

I consider myself a moderate/independent. I think those on the far-right have ruined the Republican Party. I like to see elected officials on both sides of the aisle work across party lines and compromise on the issues. That is how things get done. The political party should not come before constituents.

If Montana would make it easier for Independent candidates to get on the ballot, we probably wouldn’t have silly loyalty tests and political parties would be weaker.

One thing for sure is that this website will be great for me – I can find the RINOs in my area and cast my vote for them because I know they will actually work to get things done.

AG Tim Fox & Obamacare:

Maybe it’s because Tim Fox is running for Governor of Montana or maybe it’s because he actually cares about the healthcare for Montanans, but I was happy to hear that Fox does not think the entire Affordable Care Act should be thrown out because one part was deemed unconstitutional.

MTN News reported that Fox and Ohio Attorney General David Yost, both Republicans, said in a filing with the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals that a federal judge’s decision to invalidate the entire 2010 health-care law is judicial overreach that could set a dangerous precedent.

According to MTN News:

“The court’s decision, if affirmed, will deprive millions of non-elderly Ohioans and Montanans of coverage for pre-existing conditions,” Fox and Yost wrote. “It will also negatively affect countless others who organized their affairs in reliance on the Act’s many unrelated provisions.

“The District Court’s ruling is wrong, and its errors threaten to harm millions of people in the Buckeye and Treasure states. That is why Ohio and Montana are filing this brief.”

I’m sure that many of Montana’s far-right wackos are upset with Fox over this brief. Then again, it’s nice to see Fox putting constituents above political party.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day:

Yesterday I posted the following message on The Western Word’s Facebook page:

Q: What’s the difference between an intelligent Montana Legislator and Bigfoot?
A: Maybe someday, we’ll find Bigfoot.

They seem to prove over and over that there are not too many intelligent people serving in the Montana Legislature. It’s embarrassing.

The Great Falls Tribune reported that a bill that would have sent Columbus Day packing and replaced it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day was defeated by a state Senate panel whose chair said she hoped to see the proposal return someday with a solution more lawmakers could support. House Bill 219 sponsored by Rep. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula, was defeated 5-3 Monday, then tabled, by the Senate Administration Committee.

I’m not sure how the votes fell, but there are five Republicans and three Democrats on that Senate Administration Committee. I think we can all guess how the votes fell, though.

The Tribune reported that the bill passed the House, 62-35, in February. It seemed the House liked the solution.

Once again we see that just a few (in this case, five) backward-thinking people on the Senate Administration Committee set Montana back another 100 years.

Disgraceful.

Tom Winter – U.S. House:

Lee Newspapers reported that State Rep. Tom Winter, a Democrat from Missoula, is running for Montana’s sole seat in the U.S. House in 2020. The seat is held by U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, a Republican who is expected to announce a 2020 bid for governor.

The best chance Winter (and any other Democrats) have of winning the Montana At-Large House seat will be if Gianforte does run for Governor and the race is for an open House seat.

If Gianforte decides to run for reelection in the U.S. House, he will be tough to beat. Winter is mostly unknown. He will need to raise and spend big bucks to get his name out.

You can visit Winter’s campaign website HERE.

Kathleen Williams for…

MTN News also reported that Democrat Kathleen Williams is kicking off her 2020 campaign Friday in Billings, but she hasn’t said which office she’s seeking. The former Bozeman legislator sent an email to supporters Tuesday announcing a Kathleen for Montana 2020 Kickoff Rally at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Yellowstone County Courthouse Lawn. She has three options: the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate or the open governor’s seat.

Since Williams ran for U.S. House in 2018, she has better name recognition than many Democrats.

On her campaign website, Williams has this message:

2018 was just the beginning for me — and for us — in this fight to unite and better serve the people of Montana.

I’m excited to start this next chapter in our journey together.

SAVE THE DATE: Join us this Friday, April 5th at 4:30 pm for a kickoff rally at the Yellowstone County Courthouse Lawn in Billings!

I’m leaning toward her announcing that she is running for Governor.

 

##END##