Montana Legislator wishes to Join Utah land grab, Resolution.

[cgasner1]

I didn’t realize it was my senator that introduced the terrible conservation easement bill. I think I will reach out to try to figure out what the heck he was thinking.

Write your letters but be nice guys. From my understanding he is brand new at this. One conversation shut it down. It was probably a single conversation with some shit talking points that got him to try. If he had doubled down on this then I’d say let it burn.

 

[BigHornRam]

I watched some of this Senate floor mess on PBS and was appalled at the rhetoric and the obvious hatred spewed by elected officials toward one another. Comments which really were appalling alluded to one party having the strong majority and thus chastising fellow party members for voting contrary to the "party line". It sounded as though that particular Senator thought that the minority party was just in the room to fill a seat and not be considered during any issue or bill debate. IMO, it was disgusting and embarassing to Montana!

Ellsworth voted with the minority on this one. The whole place sounds like Romper Room to me.

"Flowers’ motion was supported by all 18 Senate Democrats and by the nine Republicans – including Ellsworth – who have broken with their party leadership on several rules votes since the start of the session. It came after Senate GOP leaders announced they would hold a vote Friday on whether to remove Ellsworth from the Senate Finance and Claims Committee."

 

[Straight Arrow]

nine Republicans – including Ellsworth – who have broken with their party leadership on several rules votes since the start of the session.

Yes and that is why the one Senator was chastizing the nine for not voting in unison with the party line ... always!. "Romper room" is a mild characterization of the ugliness displayed at that time in the Montana Senate chamber.

 

[BigHornRam]

Yes and that is why the one Senator was chastizing the nine for not voting in unison with the party line ... always!. "Romper room" is a mild characterization of the ugliness displayed at that time in the Montana Senate chamber.

We will see what happens with the vote Ellsworth casted. Hope he regrets it.

"A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told MTN Thursday that they will review the referral from the Senate when they receive it, to see if there are possible steps for DOJ to take, but that it’s too soon to comment further now."

 

[Rogerdoger]

Bad ideas still get weeded out before they become law. Sky is not falling.

Ennis Lawmaker Tables Bill to Restrict Perpetual Conservation Easements in Montana - Flathead Beacon

During opening remarks Tuesday to introduce a bill aimed at restricting the terms of perpetual conservation easements in Montana, a Republican lawmaker from Ennis offered to table the measure before inviting dozens of opponents to the podium to testify against it. In what amounted to a...

flatheadbeacon.com

Thanks to all for acting like the sky was falling and took the time to show up to fight. Tells me I need to step up myself and make a showing.

 

[R.K.]

It’s beyond crummy to see so many of our elected politicians have so much blind faith to the party they belong to instead of the actual people they are elected to represent

The last time I emailed one of my local reps about PLT the very, very delayed response was essentially that I was wrong and stupid and she would vote the way her party bosses told her to

“No single raindrop thinks itself responsible for the flood.”

One person emails and can get ignored. But if everyone that thought “why bother?” sent opposition emails, that suddenly becomes a mass too large to ignore.

Send the email.

 

[Sytes]

We will see what happens with the vote Ellsworth casted. Hope he regrets it.

"A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told MTN Thursday that they will review the referral from the Senate when they receive it, to see if there are possible steps for DOJ to take, but that it’s too soon to comment further now."

The Montana State Senate Ethics Committee is a standing committee that investigates allegations of ethical and criminal misconduct.

Unfortunate they decline to investigate allegations of ethical and criminal misconduct.

Look forward to learning the DOJ's position on whether to investigate or not and if they do, the outcome.

 

[MT22]

In the last few election cycles I have chosen not to vote for anyone in favor of transfer or disposal of public land. I have let those candidates know that. They all won landslide victories. I do not understand how people can give them a free pass on this terrible idea.

I figure there are plenty of people voting on all the other issues out there. I'll support public land and conservation first. Yes, it's that important to me.

Amen

 

[Carnage2011]

Write your letters but be nice guys. From my understanding he is brand new at this. One conversation shut it down. It was probably a single conversation with some shit talking points that got him to try. If he had doubled down on this then I’d say let it burn.

I've known Tony a long time. He's a reasonable guy that is typically open to having conversations. I don't know for sure, but I'd guess he was asked to carry this for the party as a first-time legislator. If you have questions or concerns, I'd reach out and have a conversation with him.

 

[Beignet]

The Montana State Senate Ethics Committee is a standing committee that investigates allegations of ethical and criminal misconduct.

Unfortunate they decline to investigate allegations of ethical and criminal misconduct.

Look forward to learning the DOJ's position on whether to investigate or not and if they do, the outcome.

Ellsworth might’ve acted unethically and/or illegally, but it sure sounds to me like one faction of the Senate really wants to pillory him because of the earlier committee assignment issue. Doesn’t sound terribly impartial. “Ethics proceedings against the Hamilton Republican were launched after a brief investigation in which neither Ellsworth nor Eggleston were interviewed. Initially when selecting an attorney to prosecute the case, Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, chose Matt Monforton, a lawyer and former Republican legislator who had been disparaging Ellsworth on social media for several days.” (MTFP 2/6/25)

IMO it’s absolutely right they should refer to DOJ and get on with the business of legislating.

Kinda funny to watch these folks eat their own though.