As GOP candidates jostle to reclaim the Governor’s office (after 16 years), Democrats have been strangely silent.  Who will run?

Sen. Terry Gauthier (R-Helena) sponsored SB 338, a bipartisan bill that, among other things, finally provides for building the Montana Heritage Center.

As the 66th session of the Montana Legislature draws to a close, we can reflect on all the bills that passed and all the bills that died – both good and bad. Overall, just another page in the journal.

Rep. Frank Garner (R-Kalispell) – in cahoots with Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick (R-Great Falls) – sponsored HB 318. The bill would put some legal fences around the egregious conduct of some party central committees in Montana counties. Pretty good bill; pretty big reaction.

Sen. Roger Webb (R-Billings) sponsored SB 304. It would allow legislators to carry concealed weapons into the Capitol and onto chamber floors. Similar bills have been shot down in the past by gubernatorial veto.

House Joint Resolution 28, sponsored by Dan Bartel (R-Lewistown), wants BLM to deny permits for American Prairie Reserve to graze bison on its land and leases in north central Montana. Many of the ranchers supporting HJ28 sold their land to APR to begin with.

Sen. Tom Richmond (R-Billings) trashed his SB 278 and introduced SB 331. It would still limit PSC regulation while leaving ratepayers on the hook for potentially $400 million. The all GOP PSC endorsed the bill, proving its impotence. Echoes of Montana Power 1997.

Rep. Ed Buttrey (R-Great Falls) was late in introducing HB 658 on Medicaid reform. It would require reporting “community involvement” hours, namely work, each month. It would also require asset and means tests. Seems like the kind of bureaucracy that Republicans normally abhor.

Sen. Duane Ankney (R-Coal Country) traveled to Washington to confer on Trump Administration plans to subsidize coal production and coal-fired plants. Kinda like having taxpayers support dial-up internet, but even stupider.

Rep. Derek Skees (R-Kalispell) sponsored HB 567. It would a establish a program of training and arming school district employees to be “school marshals.” The bill passed the House.