Greetings! Here are the topics for today’s column:

• Great Falls City Commission
• Lawsuit Time
• State Employee Suing Gianforte
• One More Thing

GREAT FALLS CITY COMMISSION:

I watched most of the Great Falls City Commission meeting on Tuesday night. I don’t think we’ve had a more out-of-touch commission in the last 30 years. Two commissioners, Rick Tryon and Joe McKenney, should probably just shut up. It would make the meetings pass more quickly. They seem like cranky old men telling stories from their past that nobody cares to hear. 

The commission decided (unanimously) to raise our property taxes again, with some commissioners saying it was only a small increase. Mayor Cory Reeves, who is running for reelection, compared the increase to a “single combo meal.” (Source) 

I thought about inserting a combo meal joke about Reeves here, but decided against it. 

The problem is that all these small increases add up, especially when they raised utilities 27% last month. Previously, the sanitation rates were increased by 8% for each of the next two years. I think they raised property taxes in the past two or three years. 

The commission also voted to place the fireworks issue on the November ballot. 

The Electric reported:

As proposed, the ballot measure asks voters to approve or disapprove an amendment to city code that would restrict the use, sale and discharge of certain fireworks within city limits.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of aerial devices, such as shells, rockets, and cakes, and devices designed to explode, such as Roman candles, salutes, firecrackers, and similar items.

I did learn why the commission did not place other options on the ballot. Here is how The Electric reported that information: 

Many have suggested that commissioners put options on the ballot, but under state law, they aren’t allowed what is essentially a multiple choice question on the ballot and must ask in the form of a yes or no question.

By the way, McKenney is also up for reelection this November. 

LAWSUIT TIME:

The implosion of the Montana Republican Party continues.

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) reports that State senators Jason Ellsworth, Denley Loge and Shelley Vance weren’t allowed to vote for Montana Republican Party leadership at the June 28 convention in Helena, where a new party Chair Art Wittich and Vice Chair Stacy Zinn were elected. 

According to the MTFP, the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Lewis and Clark District Court asks for a legal determination of what the lawmakers’ rights are. The Montana Constitution grants legislators absolute immunity for legislative actions, which the plaintiffs argue should have prevented their disenfranchisement and earlier censuring by the Montana Republican Party executive board.

The two political parties in Montana are having problems. It’s fun to watch and a little bit like herding cats. 

STATE EMPLOYEE SUING GIANFORTE:

This lawsuit is very interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing what the court determines…

Lee Newspapers reported that Jordan Williams, a state employee for the state’s IT system housed in the Department of Administration, is suing Gov. Greg Gianforte and others, including the state agency that employs him, claiming that his state representative was recently unconstitutionally appointed to lead the Department of Commerce.

Williams is a resident of former Clancy Republican Rep. Marta Bertoglio’s legislative district. She was appointed by Gianforte to head the Montana Department of Commerce in mid-June and resigned as a state lawmaker.

It was also reported that though Bertoglio is the only gubernatorial appointee party to the suit, there were a number of legislators appointed to a job by Gianforte during their elected term.

I suggest readers take a few minutes to read the back and forth between the attorneys in the article. Be advised, it’s behind a paywall. 

ONE MORE THING:

May your life be as awesome as you pretend it is on Facebook…

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