Montana is best served with the Democratic Party performs well.
Montana is best served when the Green Party, the Constitution Party and the Libertarian Party perform well.
Unfortunately, Montana's first two legislative sessions in 2007 were defined by parliamentary shenanigans and tomfoolery. I thought, therefore, that it might be useful to propose New Year's resolutions to minimize such shortcomings in the future. Because the resolutions “rock the boat” by moving senators and representatives from entrenched comfort zones, so far they have been dismissed as unnecessary.
The logic goes something like this: The first two sessions of 2007 were gross aberrations of the norm. They should not be catalysts for change because when great leaders serve, the longstanding rules work well.
I reject this logic. Of course great leaders obviate the need for most rules (just as law-abiding citizens obviate the need for many laws). But, since extraordinary leaders are too uncommon to count on, we adopt rules to restrict the actions of more ordinary leaders who cannot resist the opportunity to unfairly exploit circumstances to the detriment of many.
During normal legislative sessions when parliamentary shenanigans and tomfoolery are uncommon, the resolutions I offer will do no harm. In contrast, they will serve Montana well whenever the Legislature is saddled with incapable leaders.
Below are the resolutions, five in total. For these to be adopted, legislators will probably have to be nudged by their bosses - you, the voters. Let your representative and senator or your favorite candidate know if you like one or more of them. And then hold all legislators accountable for proper implementation. I promise you that your opinion and expectations about such issues truly matter.
As state representatives and senators, we should resolve to:
- Pass a law preventing the Senate or House from adjourning without the consent of the other. This will ensure that we all remain in Helena until our work is done.
- Pass a rule requiring each of us to be assigned to a committee for each morning of the week. This will ensure that we have a chance to do our work.
- Pass a rule requiring that we be present in person to vote on passage of a bill out of a committee. This will increase the odds that we do our work.
- Pass a rule establishing earlier deadlines for submitting legislation. This will eliminate countless bills that do not stand a snowball's chance in hell of passing and serve only to waste taxpayers' money by gumming up the workings of the Legislature.
- Pass a rule assigning our seats to ensure a mix of Democrats and Republicans throughout the Senate and House chambers. This will promote collegiality and cooperation and squelch the useless “us vs. them” mentality that pollutes the Legislature.
You can be better served by the folks you send to Helena. All it takes is a little resolve.
Mike Phillips is a state representative from Bozeman.
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