Legislature has resorted to mayhem to disrupt the government's work
Letter to the Editor,
Every day at Montana’s Capitol is fascinating, but Friday took the cake as Senate Democrats disrupted the normal dignity and respectful decorum of that part of the 63rd Legislature by shouting and pounding their desks while Republicans sat at their desks and voted on bills even though they could hear nothing over the racket.
You have read details in news accounts, perhaps in this newspaper. I will leave the right or wrong arguments to others, for now.
I witnessed part of the spectacle which concluded only minutes before my House Bill 2 presentation to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. Needless to say, the committee hearing was an uncomfortable atmosphere as the senators, faces strained with conflicting emotions, gathered around the U-shaped table.
I tried to settle my nerves by opening with a few humorous lines but they went over like lead balloons. Quickly, the chairman ordered me to “Just speak to the bill.”
House Bill 2 is the big appropriations bill that covers all anticipated state government expenditures anticipated for fiscal years 2014-15. I chaired the appropriations joint subcommittee for Section C which deals with six departments: Agriculture, Transportation, Livestock, Environmental Quality, Natural Resources Conservation, and Fish-Wildlife-Parks. We spent eight weeks reviewing proposed expenditures, questioning procedures and trimming the budget.
I presented Section C proposals to both full House Appropriations Committee and on the floor of the House of Representatives a few weeks ago. At that time, we voted 100-0 to accept HB 2 with no bickering, although both parties sent proposed cuts and increases to the Senate. This was the first unanimous vote on HB 2 since World War II. Last session was a real dog fight as major reductions were made to the governor’s budget.
It is a big deal to help present HB 2 to the Senate. I had been practicing and psyching myself up all week, in between voting on other big legislation like the pay plan, pension deficit solutions, Indian Water Rights Compact, etc. Senate committee had ponderously questioned Sections A and B, so my presentation kept getting bumped back eventually to 5 p.m. Friday. I was ready.
Then came the big blow-up in the Senate, followed by a call of the Senate which stopped all business and locked senators on the floor until all were accounted for. One was missing. I was told the committee couldn’t meet. Suddenly, at 4:40 p.m., I was informed the committee would hear me at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, the House had delayed business so I was working late. That meant key final votes on several bills would be coming up while I was with the committee. The chairman refused my request for a recess to go vote at the agreed upon time but did call for public comment so I could run across the Capitol to vote. Got to the House floor and heated debate had slowed the schedule, so the speaker of the House sent me back to the senate committee to finish. About 7 p.m. the panel recessed until Saturday morning, and I went back to finish voting on the House third reading agenda. Hectic? Yes.
Saturday’s business on the Senate floor ran long, so the committee meeting was put off until 8 a.m. Monday.
Sunday I drove toward Fort Benton to scout routes for a Model T tour in June. Legislative staff called to say the Senate committee was planning budget cuts in Section C. If I wanted any control I should get back. So, I spent Sunday afternoon with my vice chair and financial staff at the Capitol.
Woke up early Monday, so got up at 4 a.m. to type this and get ready for my closing session with Senate Finance and Claims.
— Rep. Mike Cuffe,
House District 2