Smith Is Frustrated With Legislative Session

Rep. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, says serving in the Montana Legislature under Republican control has been a challenge during the first half of this legislative session.

“It’s like I expected,” Smith said. “Republicans have controlled it pretty much. They’ve killed pretty much all of the Democrats’ bills.”

Of those bills killed, three were sponsored by Smith. “And they didn’t even print four other ones,” he said.

Probably most disappointing for him was the tabling of House Bill 324 that aimed to require a placard for Country of Origin on beef or pork products.

Smith noted that during the hearing, he was stopped after his first sentence when explaining his support for the bill. “And they then tabled it,” Smith said. “I wanted to go home.”

The Democrat was also disappointed in the treatment of House Bill 354. The bill wanted to provide state recognition for the Northern Tribes DUI Task Force, provide requirements for the tribal task force to obtain state recognition and provide an appropriation.

“It was a simple bill, but they wanted more information,” Smith said. The bill was tabled in the House’s judiciary committee.

There were bills passed by Republicans that Smith wasn’t pleased with the proposals. He felt some gun rights bills went too far.

“We really don’t need guns in the capitol, we really don’t need guns in churches, we really don’t need guns in bars,” Smith said.

He is against a bill that would require county commissioners give approval before bison are moved onto non-tribal land in counties.

“It’s an unfunded mandate that the counties will have to pay down the road,” Smith said. “It will fall on the counties. They say it will be paid for by the states, but it will end up on the counties.”

Smith hopes that bills that put more requirements on voting rights are not passed by legislators.

“I’m just satisfied with voting rights the way they are,” Smith said.

The second half of the session started on Monday, March 8, in Helena.

“I will go back, but it won’t be very pleasant,” Smith said late last week.

He isn’t confident about the future of the two parties working together.

“I don’t think it will work at all. I was discouraged last session, and I don’t think it has improved,” Smith said.