'Partisan grid lock? Don't believe it!'
Pub Date: 1/1/2007
"We'll have our work cut out for us," Mark Staples, Montana Tavern Association Government Affairs Counsel, said two weeks prior to the convening of the Montana Legislature.
As of Dec. 18, over 50 bills or bill draft requests related to alcohol have been filed, and its is likely more will be filed prior to and during the session.
When asked about the bill line-up, Staples said, "It speaks for itself. We'll have our hands full. We need all MTA members state-wide to be at the ready when called upon to help."
Staples noted both chambers of the Legislature are nearly evenly divided between parties, with the Republicans effectively holding a one-seat advantage in the House, and the Democrats a two-seat edge in the Senate.
"I've heard over and over from the 'street corner political experts' that small business won't have to worry about this session because nothing will get passed due to partisan gridlock over every issue," Staples said. "I don't believe that."
"From my perspective there's more to it than that," he continued. "The major items--budget and policy--are the ones that get caught in the partisan crossfire.
"But there could be a whole raft of feel-good reformist measures that can slip under the crossfire because all the angst and battle is happening over the major issues.
"And some," Staples said, "will want to show they're not totally partisan so might throw a vote the other side's way on a lesser issue. And people who might otherwise stop a bill damaging to small business might not be able to because all the political energies are used up on the major issues.
"Down in the trenches is where most of the day to day stuff gets brought forth. That's where you have a lot of things that may look benign or innocent but in fact have enormous ramifications, and where the partisan divides aren't nearly as defined.
"You've got to stay on your toes all the time. There will be no time for complacency. You can't assume a stalemate. We'll have to be as vigilant as we've always been. We'll take these bills at their face value."
Staples said, "Some people don't care if others lose their investment or are damaged financially. They don't consider that their problem. They'll shoot you out of the water for their own benefit."
In the case opening up availability of liquor licenses, Staples said, "Some just don't want to understand the rationale of the social policy behind limiting the number of alcohol outlets, and yet these may be the same folks who simply can't give a green light fast enough to a bill that clamps down on the activities of the heavily regulated current licensees. They can't seem to--or don't want to--understand the contradiction of then turning around and proposing more and more and more alcohol outlets."
The session begins January 3. Readers are encouraged to check the legislative web site or contact their business association executive offices frequently to stay abreast of bills, and to contact members of the legislature when advisable after consulting with association political affairs directors.
Tracking bills using the internet has made the task pretty simple. Go to and you will find a page that allows you to enter a specific bill number, then find the bill's status or look at a draft or the actual bill. This page will also tell you who is the primary sponsor.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Jan., 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.