Bills on pit bulls, pancakes in Legislature
People from home are starting to show up for hearings in Helena. Last week I visited with Dan Smith who has concerns about new rules for fire inspectors which will be addressed in a bill by Rep. Glaser from Huntley. Barb Riley, the state president of the Montana School Boards Association, testified in the Education Committee on the need for all educational partners to work together for our kids and pledged her support toward that goal. Our committee will hear from child advocates like Barb from across the state throughout the session.
As of last week there were over 2,000 requests for bill drafts. The largest number of requests have been from Democrats: Michele Reinhard from Missoula, 72; Mike Jopek from Whitefish, 57; Jill Cohenour from East Helena, 52; Dan Villa from Anaconda, 50; and Republican Senate Leader Jim Peterson from Buffalo, 55. Many of these requests will be place holders for the “just in case” times either side needs a bill under a certain title. Thank heavens these are only requests since it costs about $2,000 per bill when drafted into law.
There are several bills working through the system right now generating a lot of comments. One is the ban of pit bulls as a pet. We’ve never owned a pit bull but our family was more concerned about Chico, the Chihuahua, who bit every ankle coming into my in-laws’ house. If it comes to a vote I certainly don’t think one breed should be singled out since it will only lead to others. Where would it stop?
Business and Labor heard a bill requiring the owner of a rental apartment to be required to heat the dwelling unit to a minimum of 70 degrees F between Oct. 1 and May 1. Here again, should we be writing laws about the temperature in rentals?
A bill draft to name the official pancake of the state has also been done. Silly as it may be, there’s also reference to the huckleberry syrup which will ooze down its sides. Though I like huckleberry syrup and appreciate it as a local cash crop, this crazy notion will have a red vote from desk 52 — mine.
Harry Klock from Harlowton sits next to me in desk 51. He was thrilled last week to share that he now has one grandchild, a little girl born three weeks early and doing well. He is now known affectionately at the capitol as Grandfather Klock.
Through years of teaching I’ve probably seen every odd spelling for a common name and every unusual name stuck on a kid. My own married name prompted a call right after elections. The caller asked if I was the author of “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.” When he found out the author was a male he quickly apologized and hung up.
My name also got giggles from third graders several years ago watching for my reaction to a Valentine given by a precocious boy in class. It wished me a ‘slam dunk of a day’ and pictured a huge African American basketball player showing his moves on the court with his name written across his jersey. It was obvious we were two different Dee Browns so we all had a good laugh.
Third-grade humor is a bit twisted as any parent already knows.
Your representatives in state government work hard for the taxpayers in Montana and a chuckle or two during the day is always welcome. I’ve always said, “If you can’t have fun, what can you have?” When it comes to bills on pit bulls and pancakes, however, the taxes used for drafting this sort of legislation are serious time and money.
Republican Rep. Dee Brown is the House District 3 Whip.