Welcome! Thanks for starting your week here. These are the topics for today’s column: 

• Sanitation Rate Increases
• Group of Nine
• Trump’s Weekend
• One More Thing

SANITATION RATE INCREASES:

The Electric reports that the Great Falls City Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on proposed sanitation rate increases during their May 6 meeting. The proposed increases are for the next two years and would go into effect each June 1. City public works staff are proposing an 8 percent residential and 10 percent commercial increase for each of those years.

The reasons reported about the request for a rate increase is because of increased expenses, largely due to the increase in operations, equipment, fuel, and landfill costs. 

I thought the President was bringing down fuel costs. 

I saw that Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves wrote in a Facebook post, “It takes courage to do the unpopular thing, and raising fees is never easy. But it’s necessary. These adjustments aren’t about creating a burden—they’re about investing in the future of Great Falls.” 

I’m pretty sure this fee increase request will pass. I don’t think a majority of the commissioners have the guts to say no. 

If I were a commissioner, I would vote against the fee increase. Great Falls residents are tired of having their taxes and fees raised. 

GROUP OF NINE:

MTN News reported on how the split in the state senate (group of nine) shaped the 2025 session. Check it out HERE. 

MTN found that over the 85-day session, the nine voted along with the 18 Senate Democrats to rearrange senators’ committee assignments, move bills to different committees, and “blast” bills that didn’t make it out of committee to the floor.

The nine took a lot of crap from the MAGA Republicans and those who are up for reelection may face a primary opponent. Even some of the other Republicans have the MAGA crowd ticked at them if they did not support the party above their constituents. Heck, even the super-conservative Governor felt the wrath of the MAGA idiots throughout the session. 

These nine are patriots. That is the bottom line. 

TRUMP’S WEEKEND:

President Donald Trump, asked during an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press” whether he believes that he needs to uphold the Constitution during his presidency, responded, “I don’t know.” (Source) (Source)

Here is the oath that Presidents take:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Trump also said that he was not running for a third term. (Source) 

Late Sunday, Trump posted on social media that he was going to reopen the Alcatraz prison:

REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets. That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! 

I’m thinking that Trump will next try to reopen Shawshank State Prison!

Trump will be pissed about the latest episode of 60 Minutes. They aired a segment about how law firms targeted by Trump are responding to White House pressure. Check it out HERE. 

ONE MORE THING:

Today I broke my personal record for most consecutive days lived. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##