Quote for the Day…
I always regret the plans I made when I was in a five-minute extroverted mood. – Unknown
CME is the once-a-week column that is posted every Friday morning. This is when I look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week.
Here are some of the things that “Caught My Eye” this week:
- Violating the Montana Constitution
- Great Falls Police Department
- Omicron Surging in Montana
- One More Thing
VIOLATING THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION:
According to Lee Newspapers, State District Court Judge Mike Menahan on Thursday struck two provisions in a law passed by the Legislature last year.
Menahan ruled legislators violated the state Constitution when they added sections unrelated to the original intent of the bill in a late-session meeting without public participation.
Lee Newspapers reported that Senate Bill 319, sponsored by Republican Sen. Greg Hertz, initially dealt with campaign finance laws, joint fundraising committees and reporting rules. In a conference committee, however, lawmakers tacked on two other measures: one required a judge to recuse themselves if they received at least of half of the maximum individual contribution from a lawyer or party during the previous six years. The other new amendment banned voter registration, signature collection, voter turnout and other activities by political groups in certain areas of university campuses.
This was the right decision by the judge. Sunshine is always best.
The following was provided to The Western Word via a press release:
The plaintiffs were represented by Raph Graybill of Graybill Law Firm and Rylee Sommers-Flanagan and Constance Van Kley of Upper Seven Law.
“Today’s ruling is a victory for our constitution and the rule of law,” said Graybill. “It sends a clear message that the Montana legislature is not above the law.”
“The legislature failed to abide by the Montana Constitution’s few simple rules on lawmaking,” said Sommers-Flanagan. “The court has simply held that the Constitution remains supreme.”
Read the full report from Lee Newspapers HERE.
GREAT FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT:
“The Electric” reported this week that two civil cases have been filed regarding a former relationship between two people who were both officers at the Great Falls Police Department.
A case was filed in federal court by McKenzie Lyons against GFPD Chief Jeff Newton, Officer Travis Palmer and the city. Palmer has been with GFPD for more than 20 years and Lyons was hired as a probationary officer at GFPD in September 2020, according to court documents.
According to the report, on Nov. 9, 2021, Lyons was terminated from GFPD, and Palmer is still employed at GFPD.
Interesting. Is this a case of the “Good ‘Ol Boy Network” taking care of its own?
I guess we’ll see for sure when these cases make it through the court system. Some of the information is very damaging.
Read the full report from “The Electric” by clicking HERE.
OMICRON SURGING IN MONTANA:
On Twitter this week someone said that Montana Governor Greg Gianforte should “outlaw masks in public schools” and that “it appears the Omicron wave is subsided.”
Maybe other places, but Omicron has not subsided in Montana.
Meanwhile, here’s a headline from the Billings Gazette this week:
Omicron continues to surge in Montana
Of course, the person who posted those comments on Twitter probably believes it’s all a big conspiracy by the Biden Administration to control us.
We know that Montana Governor Greg Gianforte is doing little to fight the pandemic – and he is afraid of ticking off his base by leading.
As I mentioned in my column yesterday and this came from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
This means the risk of dying from COVID-19 was 14 times higher for people who were unvaccinated compared to those who received only a primary series.
For those who were boosted, the average of weekly deaths was 0.1 per 100,000 people, meaning that unvaccinated individuals were 97 times more likely to die compared to those who were boosted. (Source)
If you are not vaccinated – Why are you so dumb?
You should get vaccinated and boosted. You should wear a mask indoors when you are in public places. It’s that simple.
Read the report from Lee Newspapers HERE.
ONE MORE THING:
You know you’re old anytime you’re entering your DOB with a smartphone you get to the year, and you have to spin that bitch like you’re on Wheel of Fortune. – iFunny
The Western Word 
Finally. A little pushback against the anti vaxxers . Well done.
https://news.yahoo.com/toronto-freedom-convoy-protest-healthcare-workers-covid19-vaccine-mandates-174741183.html
Kinda sad for us old time Montanans. Our way of life is over. And if you don’t already own property, you’re screwed. I haven’t really ventured out of Montana in the last fifty years except for quick trips to Oregon, but I know what’s out there. And it’s ugly. You would think that those folks moving here would like to preserve what’s left of our environment, but apparently not since they seem to vote for the absolutely worst politicos possible. Ya gotta wonder why they want to move here then.
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/report-shows-more-people-moving-to-montana-than-any-other-state
Many are moving here to create their extreme right white Christian nationalist paradise and get away from those pesky minorities. Thus the far right red shift of state politics in recent years. To these people and the politicians they elect, preservation of the environment and wildlife and public access are simply obstacles that stand in the way of making maximum profits.
The item concerning the finding of the recent law as being unconstitutional is quite unsettling.
This ruling is based upon a most fundamental constitutional provision, one that every legislator is made aware of in thier orientation process and of course by the input from the legislative counsel.
What this demonstrates is that Republican members of the Legislature are deliberately violating Montana law in the process of trying to mold the new legislation to their views. The substance of these changes reflect the attack on the Montana judiciary and election processes that would not even be considered in the proper legislative process.
The members of the committee who participated in this unlawful act should be removed from the Legislature as they clearly are violating their oath and responsibility to Montana’s citizens in this regard.
This is not to mention the cost of having to have this matter determined by the Courts. No doubt they will rail and fundraise off of cries of “judicial activism”.
Right now, the Courts are the only institution keeping Montana from further decline into the morass of the radical republican agenda. I am fairly confident that most of Montana’s republican voters did not envision this type of activity when they cast their ballots.
A sad day for this state.
O-L-D: Great points. I don’t think the Republican voters care how they do it, just as long as they accomplish the mission of stopping supporters on the left from voting. I am also glad we have the judiciary to stop the madness.
Thanks, JmB