Updated Alert for Wednesday's Bills: Contact your representatives. Use our simple links, text, or call.

SANDERS COUNTY DEMOCRATS

OF MONTANA

March 28, 2023 Action Alert (Updated)

We’re in the last month of this 68^th Legislative Session, and it’s full of fast-flying deadlines. And with these deadlines comes longer days and tougher conversations. It’s going to feel awful and hard, because it IS awful and hard. But we’re going to get through it. One. Bill. At. A. Time.

Remember to make your comments by 5 the night before the hearings. Or call, 406-444-4800. Do what you can. Thank you for your support.

Contact your representatives regarding these bills today. Take 5 minutes and submit your comments NOW for the bills below.

Election Laws

What: HB 774 , Generally revise election laws (again and again …)

When: Wednesday, March 29 @3

Position: OPPOSE

Where: (H) Appropriations

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

HB-774: Generally revise election laws

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 03:00 PM - (H) Appropriations

Let them know you are an "Opponent"

Click to Submit Your Comment

This one is SO similar to HB 420 that I’m simply going to repeat the talking points.

· Adding additional races to the November ballot complicates and could potentially slow down the voting process for many individuals.

· We all know how important the work of our local government officials is to the everyday functioning of our cities and towns.

· If they’re at the bottom of the ticket and competing with Federal races, statewide offices, state legislative races, judge elections, county commissioner races, etc., how will they realistically be able to get public attention on their name and issues?

Election Laws

What: HB 905, Generally revise election laws creating an election integrity team

Position: Oppose

When: Wednesday, March 29th @9 am

Where: (S) State Administration - Sign up to testify or submit written comment

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

HB-905: Generally revise election laws creating an election integrity team

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 09:00 AM - (H) State Administration

Select "Opponent"

CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Talking Points:

It doesn’t get much nuttier than this. These 8 appointed individuals that form an integrity team would “ensure that an independent, full hand count of all ballots cast in all precincts in the state be conducted within a year of the election; (2) hire and oversee a team to conduct the full hand count”. Do these people have any idea how much money this would take?! Apparently at least the $100,000 each biennium that is appropriated in this bill. The team of 8 gets paid to pay election judges and the entire election department of every county in the state to conduct a hand count??? Why? Don’t we have some pressing problems of energy sustainability, housing, health care, public education to attend to and throw money at?

Natural Resources

What: HB 576, Revise laws related to water and coal mining

Position: OPPOSE

When: Wednesday, March 29 @ 3

Where: (S) Natural Resources Sign up to testify or submit written comment

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

HB-576: Revise laws related to water and coal mining

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 03:00 PM - (S) Natural Resources

Select "Opponent"

CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Talking Points:

· HB 576 is a coal mining company’s dream. The bill weakens a number of permitting requirements, but its worst changes weaken water quality protections, specifically regarding how much pollution can enter eastern Montana’s sensitive prairie streams. These changes would also allow mines to discharge water that exceeds pollution standards without repercussions.

· The bill would apply to coal mine permits that were found to be in noncompliance with pollution standards, meaning that mines that were once considered TOO polluting would now be given a free pass.

· Our water is too important to let coal mines pollute more and increase the damage they cause to water, agriculture, and wildlife.

Natural Resources

What: HB 656, Revise changes to coal mining operations

Position: OPPOSE

When: Wednesday, March 29 @ 3

Where: (S) Natural Resources Sign up to testify or submit written comment

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

HB-656: Revise changes to coal mining operations

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 03:00 PM - (S) Natural Resources

Select "Opponent"

CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Talking Points:

· HB 656 would allow coal mine expansions under 320 acres to avoid public notice and public comment, as well as be subject to only minor analysis by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

· This will likely result in mining companies expanding operations in 320 acre phases to avoid public scrutiny and environmental analysis, which could result in more water pollution from coal mining operations..

Abortion

What: HB 937, Provide for licensure of abortion clinics

Position: OPPOSE

When: Wednesday, March 29 @8 am

Where: (H) Judiciary Sign up to testify or submit written comment

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

HB-937: Provide for licensure of abortion clinics

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 08:00 AM - (H) Judiciary

Select "Opponent"

CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Talking Points:

This bill would hamstring abortion clinics to be over-regulated to become impossible to keep open. Among the restrictions in the bill is a vague reference that “the applicant is of reputable and responsible character”.

This bill is introduced by Rep. Sheldon-Galloway.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Hang on to your hats–

Just vote “no”!

· Call the switchboard and ask that the committees receive your request to oppose all 3 of these bills.

The switchboard is: 406-444-4800.

What: HB 915 Constitutional amendment to change process to select supreme court justices

Position: OPPOSE

When: Wednesday, March 29 @8 am

Where: (H) Judiciary Sign up to testify or submit written comment

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

HB-915: Constitutional amendment to change process to select supreme court justices

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 08:00 AM - (H) Judiciary

Select "Opponent"

CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Talking Points:

Strikes Supreme Court Justices from being elected; retains only District Court Judges as elected positions (part of an expected package deal here). The appointment component for Supreme Court Justices is expected, but has not yet been put into a bill at this time.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Just vote “no”!

· Call the switchboard and ask that the committees receive your request to oppose all 3 of these bills.

The switchboard is: 406-444-4800.

What: SB 272, Constitutional amendment to secure the office of county sheriff

Position: OPPOSE

When: Wednesday, March 29 @8 am

Where: (H) Judiciary Sign up to testify or submit written comment

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

SB-272: Constitutional amendment to secure the office of county sheriff

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 08:00 AM - (H) Judiciary

Select "Opponent"

CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Talking Points:

· Sets up the Sheriff as the undisputed chief of all law enforcement in the county. This will seque to 2^nd amendment counties and sheriff-first mentality. This is not needed as an amendment to our Constitution which already recognizes the sheriff’s duties to be the head of law enforcement.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Just vote “no”!

· Call the switchboard and ask that the committees receive your request to oppose all 3 of these bills.

The switchboard is: 406-444-4800.

What: HB 895 Constitutional amendment to require legislative approval of redistricting plan

Position: OPPOSE

When: Wednesday, March 29 @8 am

Where: (H) Judiciary Sign up to testify or submit written comment

When you submit your online comment before 5:00 the day before the meeting, you will choose:

Select One

HB-895: Constitutional amendment to require legislative approval of redistricting plan

Select a committee to send testimony to:

Select

2023-03-29 08:00 AM - (H) Judiciary

Select "Opponent"

CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Talking Points:

· This bill would change only one part of the redistricting process which happens after census years (every 10 years). Currently the Redistricting Commission is 2 majority party, 2 minority party, and one appointee from the Supreme Court. After considerable deliberation, they provide the Legislature with a final redistricting plan that the Legislature needs to simply adopt. This bill would allow the Legislature to provide additional recommendations, thus allowing the Legislature the final fine-tuning. No … the Commission has given ample opportunity for public comment and come up with a plan. We don’t need the partisan impact of the Legislature having more input.

sanderscodems@gmail.com

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