Water compact, death penalty in legislature
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Over the last month I have made notes about dozens of things I should write about in an article. This pile is so deep that I’m going to start here. Next week I will write about Medicaid expansion. I have received lots of comments pro and con about Medicaid.
Montana has more veterans per population than any other state. And Native Americans have an even higher percentage of veterans per population. Thank you to all who serve and have served. Our unemployment numbers are down (Montana unemployment 4.2 percent and the US 5.6 percent), but the unemployment rate for veterans in Montana is 12.3 percent — too high.
The Montana county with the highest unemployment is Lincoln with 11.5 percent. Lake County unemployment is 6.1 percent and Flathead is 6.2 percent. The lowest unemployment is the far northeast, the oil production area; Fallon County 1.7 percent and Richland County 1.8 percent unemployment.
You can follow the progress of bills on leg.mt.gov and here are few you might find interesting:
• Abolishing the death penalty is back again, HB 370 (Moore, R-Missoula). As in previous years, I will honor our former State Senator Ethel Harding, the mother of a murder victim and speak against this bill. Senator Harding was in favor of the death penalty but only for pre-meditated murders.
• Beer wars are the name given to HB 336 (also Moore) and HB 326 (Noonan, D-Ramsay). As always, follow the money. A brewing license cost $500. And a beer and spirit license is sold in a lottery by population in an area and often costs in the six figures. The issue is how much beer a brewery can sell and what hours.
• Raising the state share of the gas tax 5 cents per gallon (HB 275,Wilson, D-Missoula) failed in a house committee. Let’s hope the feds don’t decide to raise their share.
• As always, physician-assisted suicide is up again this week. Two bills. SB 202 (Barrett D, Missoula) grants immunity to physicians who provide end of life suicide care. The other bill, HB 328 (Tschida, R- Missoula) provides that consent to a physician is not a defense to a charge of homicide. But once again, follow the money. Last session, Compassion and Choices Montana spent a lot of money.
• The water compact between the state, the feds and the CSKT will be in Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, Feb. 16. Lots of money being spent and it is difficult to follow the money. I have seen tribal minutes where giving former Congressman Denny Rehberg and Helena lobbyist Mark Baker $800,000. I do not know the dollar amount spent on the advertising campaign.
It is difficult to get the money out of politics. Our governor just signed a bill against “dark money.” He is the chairman of the National Democrat Governors Association and just like the Republican Governors Association, they receive lots of corporate money. Like everything else, if money is spent for an issue you favor, it is OK, and it isn’t if you are against the issue.
I would like to thank everyone for the comments. I read every one and respond to as many as I can. Compassion and Choices has sent each legislator about 10 high gloss postcards, each one different, supporting physician assisted suicide. But those do not matter as much as the phone calls and emails from the people of our area. And so far, I have received only two that have been malicious out of the hundreds, but the phone operators do filter a bit.
Leave me a message at (406) 444-4800. My cell is 253-8766 but it is usually off. Email me at sen.janna.taylor@mt.gov. Remember that I work for you.
