Let The Good Times Roll – Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/12/12/news/state/30-speaker.txt" >House panel rejects plan to restrict GOP speaker</a> n n<blockquote>Republican leaders of Montana's closely divided House of Representatives quashed a Democratic plan Monday to limit the amount of Republican power on committees that influence hundreds of would-be laws, including the state's budget. n nOn a 5-5 party line vote, the evenly divided House Rules Committee rejected a Democratic plan of dictating that Republicans, who have a one-vote majority over the Democrats in the full House, will have only a one-vote majority on House committees.</blockquote> n nIt's going to get real interesting to watch the <acronym title="Legislators">children</acronym> in Helena play during the upcoming session. It will be interesting to see how this will turn out. Just because the Republicans rejected the Democrats proposed rule on how to form the committees doesn't mean Scott Sales can't willingly only give each Committee a one vote Republican margin. The article never says how Sales is going to structure them. n nDon't get me wrong, I am sure he is going to pack them with Republicans but it would be nice if he could see above the partisan squabbling to do the right thing. I think that would be too much to expect from the <acronym title="Legislators">children</acronym> though. n nI would be curious to know the proposed make up of the committees on the Senate side. Are the Democrats there only taking a one seat advantage or are they packing the committees in their favor? I wouldn't be to quick to slam the Republicans on this issue until we find out how the Senate is handling it. n nThe <acronym title="Legislators">children</acronym> are at play and us taxpayers better grab our wallets. The fun is just beginning. n nFasten your seatbelts because you will go through tough times. Don't say that things are difficult. Stick it out as much as you can. Eric Braeden