The man on the news said at the end of the day what’s going to keep you safe is common sense.

Some of y’all in trouble… – Pinterest

Today’s column takes a quick look at these people/issues:

• Gianforte & Masks
• Too Big To Read
• Public’s Mood Sours
• White House Meeting
• One More Thing

GIANFORTE & MASKS:

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is reporting that incoming Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signaled he won’t continue a statewide mask mandate in place since July, though he said he plans to wear a mask himself and get vaccinated against COVID-19.

KHN also reported that if Gianforte reverses outgoing Democratic Governor Steve Bullock’s mask order, Montana will be just the second state after Mississippi to lift its mandate. Thirty-eight states now have statewide mandates.

Montanans should not be too surprised at this news. I figured Gianforte would follow the lead of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. Noem’s mask-less state has more deaths and more cases than Montana.

With the Montana Legislature meeting in January without much, if any, restrictions, and with Gianforte’s laissez-faire attitude, look for the deaths in Montana to increase during the first quarter of 2021.

As KHN pointed out, Gianforte has spent about $12 million (over two elections) of his own money to buy his way into the Governor’s office (the job pays about $115,500 per year). Maybe in the tech world, Gianforte was at the top of his game once, but as an elected leader he can best be described as a buffoon.

The buck stops with Gianforte. Send him copies of the obituaries.

TOO BIG TO READ:

The Associated Press reported late Monday night that the $900 billion pandemic relief package that was rushed through Congress Monday created a familiar year-end conundrum for lawmakers: It was a bill too big to fail, and also too big to read. Delivering virus aid to the country required a leap of faith for lawmakers as they cast their votes, practically sight unseen, for a sprawling, 5,593-page bill that linked the pandemic aid with a $1.4 trillion annual spending bill to fund the government. The Senate Historical Office says it’s the longest bill they could find record of passing Congress.

Some of the elected folks in Congress can’t read, so if the bill does not have photos, they are out of luck.

A high-five goes to Montana’s elected leaders: U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D) and Steve Daines (R), and U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte (R) for setting the record for the longest bill that passed Congress. That’s something to campaign about! #Winning

PUBLIC’S MOOD SOURS:

Gallup is reporting that the public’s overall mood has soured since Gallup’s post-election measure in November. Specifically, satisfaction with the direction of the country and views of economic conditions in the U.S. have worsened significantly.

In part, Gallup found:

• President Trump’s job approval rating is 39%, down from 43% in November
• Approval of Joe Biden’s transition is 65%; higher than Trump’s in 2016
• Congress’ job approval rating, which, at 15%, is the lowest of the 116th Congress.

I can’t take much more winning.

Read the full report from Gallup by clicking HERE.

THE WHITE HOUSE MEETING:

There are reports that President Donald Trump met with several House Republicans Monday and reportedly discussed a plan to contest President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College votes when they’re counted in Congress next month.

Trump’s Chief of Staff tweeted:

Several members of Congress just finished a meeting in the Oval Office with President @realDonaldTrump, preparing to fight back against mounting evidence of voter fraud. Stay tuned.

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) told Politico there are “multiple” Senate Republicans who are now receptive to the effort to overturn the election results, though he declined to name names.

I imagine U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) will be one of those Senate Republicans. Maybe some reporter will ask him.

I really liked the response that U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) gave when asked about the House Republicans plan, saying it is “going down like a shot dog.” (Politico)

Can Montana trade Daines to South Dakota for Thune?

ONE MORE THING:

I’m going to stay up on New Year’s Eve this year. Not to see the New Year in, but to make sure this one leaves. – Pinterest

## WEAR A MASK ##