Caught My Eye…

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Happy Friday! Here are the stories that caught my eye this week:

  • Public Service Commission
  • State Rep. Llew Jones
  • Great Falls Fireworks
  • One More Thing

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION:

Others have noticed the circus and the clowns at the Montana Public Service Commission. 

The Helena IR is reporting that a bipartisan pair of legislators suggested Wednesday that the commissioners be appointed rather than elected by voters. During Wednesday’s Energy and Technology Interim Committee meeting, Rep. Bob Carter, D-Missoula, and Sen. Gayle Lammers, R-Hardin, said they are backing a change in state law that would take these elections away from voters and install a gradual appointment process that would occur as current members’ terms expire.

I like this idea, and I hope other ideas are proposed so Montana taxpayers are represented to the fullest. 

STATE REP. LLEW JONES: 

Montana State Representative Llew Jones (R) won his last election with 73% of the vote. He has won several elections over the years, and many of his victories were landslides. He is running for State Senate District 9 in 2026. 

MAGAs want to defeat Jones because they consider him a Republican in Name Only (RINO). Jones votes with the Republican majority about 90% of the time. 

I saw that my friend, political consultant Jake Eaton, is putting some of his money into helping defeat Jones. This was his message on X:

After 20 years in the legislature, Llew Jones is dropping $25K of his own cash to buy a Senate seat. Eye-opening what some will do to cling to power. 

Every $ he spends to stay in power, I’ll match to defeat him. @BlissLlew  is a cancer on MT politics—time to retire. (Source)

Others on social media have relentlessly attacked Jones.

I have known Jones for many years and always thought of him as a representative who gets things done. Apparently, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy like his work, too. They have endorsed Jones in his 2026 race. (Source)

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) has the 2025 Capitol Tracker to take a closer look at Jones’ work during the last legislative session. Click HERE. 

Click HERE to visit his campaign website. 

GREAT FALLS FIREWORKS:

Voters in Great Falls passed an ordinance this month that limits what types of fireworks can be sold and discharged in Great Falls. (Source)

I voted for the ban. There were articles, like this one or this one, that explained the section about fireworks. 

Now I am seeing on social media that some (probably from the losing side) feel the ballot language was unclear, and that is why the ban on certain fireworks was approved. You can see a sample ballot HERE. 

Many of these same people can only read at a fifth-grade level. Just joking.

I vote in every election and research the people and issues on the ballot. 

Sounds to me like sour grapes. Boom! 

ONE MORE THING:

Today’s society is a good example of what happens when you let clowns run the circus. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##

10 thoughts on “Caught My Eye…”

  1. How many registered voters actually voted?

    Don’t have the numbers in front of me but I’d venture to guess that less than a third of those registered actually voted.

    As I recall, the turn out was appalling.

    The losing side is the side that never votes and always complains the loudest because they never got what they never showed up to vote for.

  2. It is always the same names on local social media claiming some ballot measure’s language was unclear. For other voters of course, not them personally. Library levy, local marijuana sales, abortion rights, you name it, and now fireworks. All unclear. All the time.

    Astounding.

    • The ballot measure’s language was unclear or else they wouldn’t have gone through such great pains to explain it all on the news.

      City usually presents this sort of language on the ballot when it already has it’s mind made up on the matter.

      • If it was unclear, then I’m sure someone will challenge it in court. That’s where we’re at in society today!

  4. In the legislative session earlier this year, two bills were introduced to restructure the Public Service Commission. Each of them would have provided for two election commissioners and three appointed by the governor. The house bill (HB363) was tabled in committee. The senate bill (SB561) passed the senate but died in the house.

    • Great info. I hope next time they can pass some meaningful changes to the PSC. Thanks, JmB

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