Greetings! Here are the topics for today’s common sense commentary:
- Montana Supreme Court
- Debates in Montana
- Baseless, Inflammatory Slurs
- One More Thing
MONTANA SUPREME COURT:
It was nice to see the Montana Supreme Court apply some common sense by finding four laws passed by the MAGA controlled Montana Legislature unconstitutional.
According to Lee Newspapers, the court unanimously struck down a quartet of laws it considered hurdles in the ballot initiative process, a decision intended to keep citizen lawmaking powers level with the legislative branch.
The decision upheld a district court ruling that found four laws passed by the 2023 Legislature were unconstitutional. One such law imposed a $3,700 filing fee to run a ballot measure. Another elbowed out some room in the process for the Legislature to weigh in with a “support or oppose” designation on a ballot initiative proposed in the citizen-led process.
After all that, I think it is very important for Montanans to vote YES on CI-133. Ballot measures protect the voice of the people, and CI-133 prohibits the government from taking sides on a ballot measure or using taxpayer dollars to sway our vote. More information can be found HERE.
DEBATES IN MONTANA:
I happened to catch a story in the Billings Gazette that has put together a list of debates that are scheduled for Montana’s federal races (U.S. House and U.S. Senate).
The Gazette also reported that there is not a debate scheduled for Montana’s 2nd Congressional District. That race features Democrat Brian Miller, Libertarian Patrick McCracken, Independent Michael Eisenhauer, and the incumbent, Republican Troy Downing.
MT-02 may lean solid Republican, but Downing’s refusal to debate or hold in-person town halls makes him look completely unaccountable to his constituents. He comes across as a coward.
As I mentioned yesterday, I want to applaud both Aaron Flint and Sam Forstag for agreeing to debate. I extend those thoughts to all those who are debating. In an era where many political candidates avoid public forums and unscripted questions, their willingness to openly share their views is commendable. It is unfortunate that this level of accountability isn’t standard practice for all candidates.
BASELESS, INFLAMMATORY SLURS:
I happened to see a post on X from Montana entrepreneur, investor, and consultant Jake Eaton that I think went too far.
Here is the post:
Forstag is that guy that literally traveled from Missoula to Helena in order to testify in support of sex changes for little kids. One can only wonder what other things his [sic] traveled for to do [sic] little kids.
The baseless slurs and toxic insinuations deployed by Eaton cross a line that cannot be ignored. In Montana, public service and political operation demand a basic threshold of professional decency. Eaton’s behavior completely fails that test. Any campaign, organization, or state entity that continues to fund or partner with him is actively endorsing toxic conduct. If he worked for me, he would be fired immediately.
ONE MORE THING:
I almost talked my way out of a ticket the other day by telling the officer she was attractive.
Things went south the moment I added, “and that’s not just the booze talking.”
## THE END ##
