After passing the Montana House by a bipartisan 74-25 vote, the Great Falls Tribune reported on Friday that HB 579, a bill to create a statewide military task force, “died in the Senate.” HB 579 is listed as “Probably Dead” on the Bill Information section of the Montana Legislature’s website.

I had written about my support for HB 579 on April 11. You can read that column HERE.

The Montana Defense Alliance (MTDA), which is a committee (that requires $300 annual membership fee) out of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce, came out against the bill. The Tribune reported that MTDA believes, “they already filled that need” of the statewide military task force.

In my opinion, that’s not entirely correct. Several people do not believe that MTDA comes close to filling “that need.”  Continue reading →