Of course I am an organ donor. Who wouldn’t want a piece of this? –Unknown

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

• Montana Legislature – Grades
• Bullock’s Closed Meeting
• Ice Breaker Road Closures

Montana Legislature – Grades:

The Montana Legislature adjourned Thursday afternoon. Here at The Western Word, I posted a poll early Friday morning asking readers to grade the 2019 Montana Legislature.

Here are the results:

D-45%
C-19%
A-16%
B-10%
F-10%

Thanks to all who participated.

Over half of those participating (55%) gave the legislature a “D” or an “F.”

I gave the Legislature a grade of “D.” They addressed a few major issues that were good, like Medicaid expansion and infrastructure. They failed again to do anything about drunk driving in Montana. The state is always ranked near the top on DUI stats. It’s embarrassing.

Bullock’s Closed Meeting:

MTN News reported that Montana Governor Steve Bullock held a town hall meeting, which was closed to the media, in Butte at the Carpenter’s Union Hall Friday afternoon. MTN also said the governor arrived at the meeting with his own private film crew. Everyone who attended the meeting had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), meaning they could not discuss what was said at this meeting.

I think Bullock, a Democrat, would be the strongest candidate to take on Republican Steve Daines for U.S. Senate. If Bullock is running for President, he would be one of 22 candidates (so far) and probably be at the bottom of the pack for name recognition. His chances are pretty slim.

Ice Breaker Road Closures:

Great Falls was the place for the 40th annual Ice Breaker Road Race on Sunday and for the over 2,200 who participated, they were actually breaking some ice because of the blizzard that hit the area and a lot of Montana.

One article that I read a day before the race in the Great Falls Tribune caught my attention because of the negativity. It was about the inconvenience of navigating the various road closures on the day of the Ice Breaker.

It sounded like a cranky old man saying, “Get off my lawn, you damned kids.”

Two sentences in the very short article made me chuckle and shake my head:

So, if you absolutely, positively have to venture into the downtown Great Falls area on Sunday, here’s what you need to know:

In short, it will be a nightmare.

The street closures for the Ice Breaker are nothing like they are for a Presidential visit or even half as bad as navigating the streets in Great Falls during this past winter.

C’Mon man – stop the negativity. Your newspaper is even a sponsor.

There’s good news – the Tribune offices are close to the starting line so the reporter could walk and leave the car in the Tribune parking lot.

 

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