Rep. Alan Redfield (R-Livingston) introduced HB 327 to ensure that artificially produced meat is properly labeled.  It’s defined as “cell-cultured edible product.”

Sen. Tom Richmond (R-Billings) is sponsoring a bill to enable Northwestern to buy out its partners in the Colstrip plants without PSC regulation.  In 1997, a utility deregulation was rushed through the Legislature to benefit the Montana Power Company.  It was a disaster.

Secretary of State Corey Stapleton used state email and official letterhead to announce his bid for Governor.  As a result, the Commissioner of Political Practices fined him $4,000 for violating the State Code of Ethics.

Freshman Rep. Greg DeVries (R-Crankshaft) introduced HB303 to remove Montana’s legal requirement that children attend school.

Sen. John Esp (R-Big Timber) says he knocked on 4,800 doors during his campaign, and the biggest issue – besides not raising taxes – was getting rid of Daylight Saving Time. He introduced a bill to establish “Montana Standard Time,” which would remain constant year-round.

Our illustrious Superintendent of Public Instruction, Elsie Arntzen, spoke at a Capitol rally supporting “school choice.” She said, “Public and private schools work together.” It’s good to have her back in the loco arena.

Rep. Forrest Mandeville (R-Locoville) proposes that any state tax or fee increase require a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Besides the constitutional issues involved with this suggested statutory change, there are issues of simple sanity about how to operate government.

Freshman Representative Rodney Garcia (R-Billings) thinks it’s a good idea to buy the Colstrip generating plants and have state government run them.  I suppose if one wants to bankrupt the State of Montana, it’s not a bad idea.

It’s just the first week – it didn’t take long for weirdness to arise in the 66th Legislature. Senate President Scott Sales will introduce a bill to help fund The Wall, along with a resolution supporting Trump in his intransigent stance during the shutdown.

FORMER Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has bemoaned the “vicious attacks” that he claims drove him from office. As with most tragic figures, he need only look in the mirror.