Commissioners, Others Testify Against Senate Bill
Area representatives, including county commissioners, testified in opposition of Senate Bill 254 during a state administration committee meeting in Helena on Monday, March 3.
Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, is the primary sponsor of the bill that seeks to prohibit the use of public funds for lobbying; prohibiting political subdivisions, judicial officers and school districts from expending public funds for certain lobbying activities.
Hertz explained that lobbyists do a good job of representing their clients. “They help us a lot of times,” Hertz said.
He added lobbyists can’t represent all of their constituents in school districts, counties and cities. Even though taxpayers might be unhappy with lobbyists, they are still paying for the services through taxes.
Opponents of the bill noted the distance some individuals must travel to testify in Helena.
Rep. Johnathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, noted that the Valley County commissioners requested him to testify against the bill. He explained those commissioners were in Helena on Friday before the hearing was moved to Monday.
Windy Boy said he hasn’t heard anybody in his six-county area that supports the bill.
Flathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl, who serves on the Montana Association of Counties’ executive board, said that 52 of 56 counties oppose the proposal.
Richland County Commissioner Shane Gorder reported that he drove 510 miles one way to testify against the bill. He said MACo’s lobbyists help legislators make informed decisions. MACo’s goals include developing relationships with legislators.
Richland County civil attorney Tom Halvorson said local governments have the right to lobby legislators, ban together with others and expend public funds to do so.
Roosevelt County Commissioner Gordon Oelkers said commission- ers and other associations are here to protect taxpayers and they count on effective lobbyists.
On Wednesday, the measure was voted down in committee by a 28-22 vote.
