Update from Helena

Sunday was the memorial service for legislators that have passed away since the 2009 session. Senator Mowbray did a good job eulogizing Carl Seifert. Carl was a great legislator and represented our area well. My continued sympathy to Peggy and family. Carl will be missed.

This week was the annual Attaché party. Some legislators and staff are very talented at writing and performing skits and videos. We make fun of each other and laugh at ourselves.

The humor is needed because things are getting tense. The budget bill is going to conference committee. That means that representatives from the House and Senate meet to iron out differences.

The House reduced the funding for the Big Sky Rx program. The Senate returned all the money in an amendment using some of the Older Montanan Trust Fund. Also, the Senate amended more funding into Area on Aging, and salaries for direct care providers.

House Bill 161, the bill that would repeal the entire marijuana program, has passed both houses and is on its way to the governor’s desk. My guess is that the Governor will veto the bill.

We suspended the transmittal deadline date to allow Senate Bill 423 to come to the House. SB 423 has new medical marijuana rules. I have seen some of the House amendments and I think that this just might be the answer. The business end of marijuana is gone, but the people in real need can still have access.

The charter school bill passed out of the House 59 to 41 and is scheduled for the Senate Education Committee this week. The District of Columbia and 40 states already have these schools. According to those states, charter schools can improve dropout rates and lower the need for remedial classes for college bound students. HB 603 still requires local control.

Last session, SB 343 set up a program to help keep our waters clean and free from zebra and quagga mussels and Eurasian watermilfol weeds. This session, just by chance, the bill to improve the AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species) program has the same number, SB 343. This bill keeps oversight of the program under the Department of Agriculture. An appropriations sub-committee drafted a bill to move the oversight to the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. I believe that we should keep the Department of Agriculture in control.

There are bills that I don’t like sponsored by both parties. In fact, my party has some I consider a real waste. Still, we try to keep our debates civil on the floor. I wish that our Governor didn’t whip up the crowd by waving his veto branding iron. He now has three of them. He is in a very powerful position and he can veto, amendatory veto, sign, or let a bill become law without a signature.

Please keep your comments coming. I’m getting hundreds everyday, but I never forget that I work for you. Leave me a message at 406-444-4800, my cell is 253-8766 or email me at jannataylor@montana.com.