Tuesday’s Quick Hits

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Welcome! Here are the topics that made today’s column:

  • GF City Commission Annual Goals
  • Montana HB 121
  • Official State Sport
  • Super Bowl Thoughts
  • One More Thing

GF CITY COMMISSION ANNUAL GOALS:

I happened to read a report from The Electric about the Great Falls City Commission’s goals for the next year. The report was enlightening. 

In the article, it was reported they wanted to create an advisory group. The Electric reported: 

The purpose of the committee, according to their goals document, is “to gather input from the community and establish a city-wide philosophy regarding the level of general fund support for city services. This approach ensures the most effective use of public resources.”

I don’t think they need any more groups or committees. They have Neighborhood councils and the commission to do the work. 

One of the more interesting things that was reported is that the city is spending $18,000 for a lobbyist during the Montana Legislative session. I think that is a ridiculous waste of money. It is as ridiculous as when they decided to spend “up to $150,000” to promote the safety levy. 

If we don’t have the money to properly fund public safety, as they say, why are the commissioners spending money on this? 

There’s a lot of great information provided by The Electric in the article – like maybe using city vehicles to advertise on (except not for Viagra) or maybe doing something about fireworks in the city. Check out the article HERE.  

MONTANA HB 121:

MTN News is reporting that a bill that would require transgender people in Montana to use the bathroom that aligns with their sex at birth has cleared one of its last legislative hurdles before going to the governor. On Monday, the Senate endorsed House Bill 121 on a 32-18 party-line vote, with all Republicans in support and all Democrats in opposition. During the debate on the Senate floor, supporters said it was a commonsense measure, but opponents warned of unintended consequences.

I am pretty sure the Governor will sign the bill.  I am also pretty sure the courts will declare the law unconstitutional.

Once again, the Montana Legislature is wasting time and money. 

OFFICIAL STATE SPORT:

Speaking of wasting time, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy, Congressman Ryan Zinke, and Congressman Troy Downing sent a letter to the Montana State Legislature expressing strong support for establishing American Rodeo as Montana’s official state sport in recognition of its cultural and historical significance for Montanans. (Press Release)

I think Texas, Wyoming, and South Dakota list rodeo as their official state sport. 

All I can say is, Yippee-ki-yay!

SUPER BOWL THOUGHTS:

My Kansas City Chiefs received quite a butt-kicking Sunday night, losing to the Eagles 40-22.  The Chiefs will not be the first team to win the Super Bowl three straight times. The Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to win consecutive Super Bowl Championships and return to the Super Bowl the following year.

Sometimes, a butt-kicking like that can motivate a team. I hope so. 

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was under pressure most of the night. The Eagles only blitzed once in the entire game. This off-season, the Chiefs need to draft or find two or three offensive linemen to fix this problem. 

As for the Chiefs defense, they held the great Saquon Barkley to 57 yards rushing on 25 carries (2.3 per carry), which is pretty good. (Box Score)

The Eagles played great, so congrats to them for their win. 

Now we enter that long, dark period of no NFL football. Excuse me if I am cranky. The NFL Scouting Combine is later this month. The NFL Draft is April 24-26. The NFL regular season starts September 4. 

If you like baseball, Spring training is starting this week. (Source)

ONE MORE THING:

Getting old is weird because you’re still that same enthusiastic kid trapped in a shitshow of a body. 

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6 thoughts on “Tuesday’s Quick Hits”

  2. Chiefs: One silver lining of the Super Bowl outcome is now that Patrick Mahomes is a loser maybe other celebrities get a chance at earning some commercial money.

    GF City Commission: They may go through the motions of this new advisory committee but then they they will simply ignore its findings and do anyhow what they already plan to do, just like they did with Crime Task Force and Public Safety Advisory Committee. Though they might get material for a few future whereas clauses to preface proposed motions.

    Official state sport: Our proposed state sport has nothing on Wyoming and its official state sport, running over and killing wildlife with snowmobiles.

    https://wyofile.com/struck-down-again-lawmakers-reject-ban-on-wyomings-tradition-of-killing-wildlife-with-snowmobiles/

    • I thought our “unofficial” state sport was drunk driving.
      I doubt we see less of Mahomes. Seven seasons. Three rings. Only Brady, Montana, and Bradshaw have more.

      • Possible good news on that DUI front:

        New law would send someone to jail for at least three (3) whole years and up to thirty if they kill someone while DUI. IF the killer is 2x over the BAC limit or above that is.

        That’s a huge increase over the current 18 month max, the existing indication of how very much our legislators value human life once it is no longer a fetus.

        Bill does not appear to address increasing penalties for DUI’s 1-5 and beyond that might have led up to that fatal one.

        https://missoulacurrent.com/montana-dui-laws-2/

  3. It’s always entertaining to watch a legislator delicately tip-toeing through the intricacies and obstacles of creating a committee or advancing a bill that would establish some personal goal, yet shield them from any accountability for violating the clearly expressed expectations of a strong majority of the voting public.

    HB 121 is demanding that sort of finesse and, so far, the GOPers in the Legislature are displaying all the grace and delicacy of a cow in a hammock.

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