Here are some of the issues that caught my attention recently:

• Resignation
• Stepping Back 60 Years
• Red Flag Bill
• Deep State
• Hello, Wyoming
• Montana Weather

RESIGNATION:

At the top of The Western Word column today is the interesting read about Montana State Representative Mallerie Stromswold resigning her position. She was representing HD-50.

It looks like the MAGA Republicans can carve another notch on their belts. It appears that Stromswold was a little too moderate for the MAGA folks, so they made it hard for her to do the work she was elected by her neighbors to do.

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) reported that she cited “significant backlash from members of my caucus because I did not fall in line” and that, “Too many have experienced an openly hostile work environment and understand the strain it takes on your life and mental health.”

In other words, the MAGA folks were being assholes. They don’t like strong women.

I kind of wish she would have held on and become a thorn in the sides of the MAGA folks in Helena. I am not in her shoes, and only she knows how tough it was to deal with the nutjobs.

You can read the full story from MTFP HERE.

STEPPING BACK 60 YEARS:

The Daily Montanan reported this:

If your spouse cheats on you and you get a divorce, your pocketbook will suffer.
With House Bill 204, Rep. Bob Phalen, R-Lindsay, wants you to be able to recover financially.
“This bill does one thing,” Phalen said. “It gives adulterated victims of divorce a means of recouping losses caused by the adultery.”

The Daily Montanan reported this response from Robin Turner, representing the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. He said such laws were established when women were considered property, and society has evolved.

“They were established back in a time when female spouses were considered a husband’s property, and therefore, a loss of their usefulness to a husband created a cause of action for monetary damages.”

It never ceases to amaze me what these right-wing legislators introduce to embarrass Montana.

Read the full report from the Daily Montanan HERE.

RED FLAG BILL:

I think the Democrats in the Montana Legislature have an angle to go after the Republicans and cause them some hardship down the road.

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) reported that Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted Friday to table a gun-control bill after hearing emotional testimony from activists and members of the public who have been impacted by gun violence.

The MTFP says House Bill 202, sponsored by Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, is a “red flag” bill — a policy that allows for a court to order that an individual surrender their firearms if a family member, partner or law enforcement agency can make the case that the person presents a danger to themselves or others.

I’ve read the bill and as an independent voter and moderate, I support it. Many people across the country support Red Flag laws. (Source)

The Democrats in the Montana Legislature should shout from the Capitol dome about the House Judiciary committee tabling this bill. The Montana Democratic Party should raise hell (and money) from it. The only way the Democrats can gain ground in this MAGA circus is to show how extreme they are.

Read the MTFP report HERE.

DEEP STATE:

Full Disclosure: I worked in the federal government for over 25 years and was never a member of the “Deep State.”

I have often wondered if the “Deep State” has anything to do with chemtrails…

Lee Newspapers reported that Western Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke accused Democrats on Tuesday of weaponizing the federal government to persecute Republicans, using himself as an example and calling for a House investigation.

Lee Newspapers said that Zinke had this to say:

Tuesday, the representative pointed to nonprofit, issue-based advocacy groups funded by largely anonymous donors as instigators of the investigations, calling them dark money groups funded by liberal billionaires and foreign investors that “repeatedly attempt to destroy the American West. In many cases, they want to wipe out the American cowboy, completely remove public access to our lands and turn Montana into a national park,” Zinke said.
Zinke named the Western Values Project specifically in his prepared remarks about the non-profit groups that attacked him. An employee of WVP passed on a chance to comment for this article.

My favorite cowboy is Woody from Toy Story. I hope the “Deep State” keeps their filthy hands off of Woody.

Read the full Lee Newspapers article HERE.

HELLO, WYOMING:

The Hill is reporting that a group of GOP Wyoming state lawmakers want to end electric vehicle sales there by 2035, saying the move will help safeguard the oil and gas industries.

I imagine we’ll see something like this introduced, if it is not already, in the Montana Legislature.

You can read the report from The Hill HERE.

MONTANA WEATHER:

On Friday, January 13, in Great Falls, Montana, the high temperature was 54 degrees.

So here I am resting my bad knee from my fall and the neighbors had the audacity to MOW THEIR YARDS. In January. In Montana.

Great googly moogly.

Mowing your yard in January in Montana only causes one thing to happen: Snow. It is now snowing.

Don’t mess with mother nature.

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