The post below is a little longer than I like to share but it is well worth the read. It is a State Senator writing to her constituents telling them what went on in the capital last week. The issue was a couple of bills before the Senate that would give power to the Montana voters on a couple of issues. It would require the people to vote on them and not the legislatures.
Read this and realize what is happening in our society. One of the things you need to accept is this kind of chaos is going to be the norm. We are moving towards Third World behavior quicker than most realize. Learn from this and consider what you can do.
If you live in Montana ... let your Bozo know this is unacceptable behavior.
(Beginning of copied email to constituents)
Communication from your State Senate
By Senator Jennifer Fielder; April 10, 2013
(Feel free to share this story)
Capitol chaos staged to stop the vote!
I wish this week’s update could focus on all the good work we are accomplishing in the legislature, but I am sickened to have to share with you an experience unlike any in our state's history. It happened in the Senate Chamber last Friday.
In a disgraceful attempt to keep ballot referendums from reaching the voters of Montana, democrat senators staged unprecedented chaos in our state capitol to stop the vote. After an initial plot failed to disrupt senate proceedings, they resorted to mob rule -- yelling, ranting, raving, and repeatedly slamming coffee mugs on their desks. Their allies in the audience morphed into a mob, hanging over the balcony, screaming, stomping, and jeering. They did everything, just short of riot, to disrupt the legislative process. Security could not get them under control. It was unbelievable.
The mayhem began shortly after Noon on Friday, when the democrat minority leader declared one of his members “absent” from our daily floor session. This was strange. Normally an absent senator is simply excused. But on this day, democrats delayed proceedings and threatened a “call of the senate”. Such an extreme action would cause a lock down at the capitol and halt all business until the missing senator was found. We would be locked in the senate chamber and police would be sent to retrieve any and all missing senators. Initially we were very concerned for the safety of our colleague. We had been mislead to believe he was in danger.
After a 3 hour standstill, we learned democrats staged the “missing senator trick” to prevent two republican-backed bills from being voted on by the legislature before a key deadline that day. Unlike other legislation, the Governor would not be able to veto these bills because they are ballot referendums for the voters of Montana to decide. Democrats feared they didn't have the votes to defeat the legislation democratically, so they fabricated the missing senator story. When that failed, they erupted into rebellion unlike the capitol had ever seen before. The left side of the aisle and their agitators in the audience spun out of control. It was scary.
As events unfolded, the usually dignified senate chamber erupted into a deafening tirade by an unruly mob, now numbering in the hundreds. The stress was intense. We pressed on to conduct the people’s business. But we could not hear the President speak into the microphone. We could not hear the clerk read the bill or record the vote. All we could do was watch the reader board and try to push our “yea” or “nay” buttons at the right time. We had 20 bills to act on, but the noise and commotion became so overwhelming that some of us missed a few votes.
Knowing the interruption had been staged to cause the voter referendum bills to miss the deadline, the chairman exercised his prerogative not to allow the democrats to make the motion to "call the senate". Republicans had been forewarned to stay calm, stay seated, and focus on our business.
Democrat senators, intent on interrupting proceedings, didn't even vote on the agreeable legislation before the body. Some good bills failed because they would not do their duty. And some nice desks were ruined by the violent pounding which did not stop until all 20 bills had been voted on. It seemed like an eternity.
At issue were two ballot referendums that would allow you, the people, to decide on revisions to election laws. SB 408 would allow voters to decide if they would like to have a true open primary where one ballot is issued with all candidates listed on it. The two candidates in any given category who receive the most votes would advance to the general election for a run-off. The winner would have to receive over 50% of the vote to win.
SB 405 will ask voters if same-day voter registration should be discontinued. Last fall, same-day voter registration caused enormous delays at the polls, especially in bigger cities. Overcrowding actually drove some voters away, and in some cases not enough ballots were available for those who did brave the long lines. If voters approve the referendum, voter registration will close at 5pm the Friday before the election, allowing for more orderly elections.
The point is its up to you. I wholeheartedly support giving citizens more say in their governance. I've been working all session to increase the people's voice in a variety of decisions. Ironically, democrat legislators vehemently object to you, the people, having a chance to vote on these referendums. It seems they believe chaos at the polls is to their advantage, just as they believed chaos in the capitol would be to their advantage last week. Strange that democrats seem so opposed to democracy.
It was far from easy, but SB 405 and 408 passed the senate and are on the way to the House of Representatives. Who knows what shenanigans they will try next. Investigations of misconduct, abuse, and vandalism of state property are already underway. Video surveillance got most of it on film.
The mob mentality and intimidation tactics employed by the Democrats failed. The citizens of Montana prevailed. Your right to vote on the ballot initiatives was not stripped away by false statements, screaming mobs or misuse of the system.
Some say adversity builds character. I believe it reveals character. I’m grateful to be part of the Republican majority that held firm to civilized conduct so that you, the people, can have a voice. Now maybe we can get on with the business we were sent here to do.
In your service,
Senator Jennifer Fielder
Montana State Senate - District 7
Representing Sanders, Mineral, and western Missoula Counties
Email: sen.jfielder@legmt.gov
Web Site: www.getitrightmontana.com
________________________________________
(End of copied email)
Folks, there is a new America ... and its not going to be pretty.
Be Ready!
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