Welcome to a new week! Here are the topics for today’s common sense commentary:

• MT GOP & Ellsworth
• Legislature Pay Raise
• HB 551(Fund School Meals)
• Opening Day
• One More Thing

MT GOP & ELLSWORTH:

On Sunday the Montana Republican Party called for Republican State Senator Jason Ellsworth to resign. On a Sunday! (Source) 

The press release claims that they are calling for his resignation because of the findings of a recent State Senate ethics report.  

According to the Montana GOP: 

The report has raised serious concerns regarding his conduct, and we firmly believe that for the good of the state and the well-being of his constituents, Senator Ellsworth should step down from his position. 

We urge Senator Ellsworth to resign voluntarily in order to restore trust in the Senate and allow for a focus on the work that lies ahead for the people of Montana.

They also contend, “This stance was reached following a unanimous vote by the Montana Republican Party’s Executive Committee.” 

The Montana GOP has been upset with Ellsworth from the beginning of this legislative session. Ellsworth and eight other Republican State Senators were rebuked by the Montana GOP for siding with Democrats. (Source)

You can bet if Ellsworth’s vote was needed in the state senate, the Montana GOP would remain silent on the ethics issue. 

The whole legislative session has been lacking in leadership from the Republicans. It’s been a circus from the start. This week will be interesting.  The Republican Party’s Executive Committee has given the Senate Republicans the green light to throw Ellsworth to the curb. 

The Daily Montanan has a report about the actions of the Montana Republican Party’s Executive Committee HERE. 

LEGISLATURE PAY RAISE:

The Montana State Senate voted themselves a pay raise with a vote of 38-12. Earlier in the session, the Montana State House voted 71-27 to give themselves a pay raise. (Source) 

I am against the pay raise for legislators. I believe the voters should approve all pay raises for elected officials. It is our money! 

One of my readers noted:

According to the fiscal note attached to that bill for legislators to give themselves a 170% pay increase, the cost to taxpayers will be approx. $55 million per year. To start. 

So much for the idea of a citizen legislature. Now they’ve made themselves paid professionals with the equivalent of a $58,000/yr salary. The median per capita income in Cascade County in 2023 was just over $39,000. Bad enough that most of them are in Helena unabashedly pursuing their own self interests to begin with.

It is now up to Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. To contact the Governor with your opinion, click HERE. The Montana Governor can use a line-item veto to disapprove of the pay raise for legislators.

HB 551(FUND SCHOOL MEALS): 

Montana State Representative Melissa Romano has introduced House Bill 551 which is:

An Act Establishing A State Program To Provide Replacement Funding For School Districts That Eliminate Reduced-Price Copayments For School Lunch And Breakfast…

This is an important bill for children from low-income families. The Montana Legislature should pass this bill. Read more about the bill HERE. 

OPENING DAY:

Here is something to make you smile! 

Major League Baseball (MLB) opening day is this Thursday (March 27). Two teams already played two games that count. On March 18/19 the Dodgers played the Cubs in Japan. The Dodgers won both games. 

Check out the opening day schedule HERE. 

ONE MORE THING:

When a judge rules against a President’s illegal or unconstitutional orders, that’s not a failure of democracy. That’s democracy working. (Source)

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##