And so ends the most benighted, regressive legislative session I can remember.

With bills like HB 258 (prohibiting enforcement of federal gun restrictions) and SB 277 (authorizing the Attorney General to overrule a Presidential Executive Order), the GOP is putting Montana on a collision course with federal courts.

The Republicans have mounted a feckless inquisition into the Supreme Court and its administrator. Once again, they’re wasting our time and money on their playground games.

After Rep. Jennifer Carlson’s HB 415 failed, she introduced HB 702 with the same language – prohibiting “discrimination based on vaccination status.” Sen. Tom McGillvray carried it in that chamber.

Sen. David Howard (R-Paucity) saw his SB 162 get tabled, so he slipped the same language into Rep. Julie Dooling’s HB 689. It would exempt religious organizations from reporting any political expenditures.

The ongoing pissing match between the three branches of government provides a high form of entertainment, along with a modicum of disgust.

Rep. Barry Usher (R-Bilious) is carrying a bill to elect Supreme Court justices by district, rather than all of them statewide.