Highlights from Helena - April 11
Last Friday was a very frustrating day in Helena. One Senate Democrat, Shannon Augare from Browning, was absent from the senate floor when we started at noon. But he had been in committee that morning.
The minority leader, Jon Sesso from Butte, said they would do a “call of the Senate” if we started to conduct business because they were gravely concerned about Shannon’s whereabouts and wellbeing.
A call of the senate means that we are locked in the chambers and cannot pass bills until the missing senator arrives. The Attorney General can call out law enforcement to find and return the senator.
Many of us were actually concerned. Senator Augare has had body guards with him this session. He is on the Blackfeet tribal Council and they are having problems over there. Why were they so worried? He has been absent from the senate 11% of the time, often on tribal business.
It was a dirty trick. What was it really about? Friday was the last day to send referendum bills between the two chambers. So, if we didn’t vote on these bills, they die. Drama worse than a TV soap opera! And I am disgusted. This is no way to conduct the people’s business!
The Democrats objected to referendums that concerned voting. SB 405 would set the Friday before an election as the last day to register to vote. The other, SB 408, would call for only the top two vote getters in a primary to advance to the general election. That way the winner of an election would always have more than 50% of the vote.
These two referendums will go to the people for a vote. You, the citizens of Montana, will decide how you want your elections to be conducted. How can anyone object to having the people decide?
The Republican majority in the Senate decided to at least get third reading finished before the Democrats made their call. The Democrats screamed, clapped and pounded their desks in an attempt to shut us down.
The senate gallery was full of bused-in and some say “paid” agitators. Their activity is not allowed in the Capitol. I was embarrassed for Montana.
On another subject, I need to clear up a comment from my column two weeks ago. Right now the Montana Department of Revenue does not appraise by airplane. Senate Bill 398, sponsored by Senator Tutvedt, R. Kalispell, would establish an oblique imaging program where properties will be appraised by images from an airplane.
There would be an initial fly over and another two years later. Software would compare the two images. That way the Department of Revenue would know if you added a deck on the back of your house without having to send out an appraiser. They do still plan to visit each property once every six years.
Probably the major change SB 398 will bring is the two year reappraisal cycle. No more waiting for six years to show an increase or decrease in property value.
This week we work on the budget. Please continue to leave me a message at 406-444-4800, my cell s 253-8766, and my email is jannataylor@montana.com. Never forget that I work for you.
Sen. Janna Taylor