In the days of a turbulent legislative session in the Capitol in Montana, Karl Jumm, a member of the state, and a member of the Freedom Freedom Assembly, witnessed an indignation as an other draft law supported by Democrats towards the clip.
“Do we not feel embarrassed?” Mr. Glim asked the Senate Hall in Helena. He added: “This thing is a big red,” not, “but I will tell you what-will be 23-27,” and he added expected his defeat. “Because, as we said before, the cake is baked.”
In the deep red Montana, the Republicans have taken control of the Legislative Authority since 2011 and the Ruler’s Office since 2021. They toppled the last democratic official at the state level, former Senator John Ter, in November.
This made it more worse for conservative legislators to find themselves effectively in the minority this year.
After an internal dispute in January, nine members of the Senate in the Republican states began secession from their main voices, where he stands with the 18 Democrats in the 50 -people room. The result: the majority of 27 people have all the Republican leaders detained from power.
Some or all nine, as well -known from the Republican fleeing, voted with the Democrats to re -delegate the expansion of medical aid, Establishing tax credit for childrenand Increased access to the mother’s health care and Pass the state budget. They helped prevent their bills The weakness of the trade unionsThe state made Judicial elections are more partisan And created Unlimited fishing season On wolves.
On Wednesday, the last day of the session, they erupted again with their party, and pushed to reduce the property tax to help the residents Struggle with the high values of the house.
The unusual alliance explains that despite the consensus in the Maga movement, Republicans can still collide on the goals of politics and Power. In an era when legislation often loses the irony of the opposition party, it indicates that some on the right remain more interested in the completion of things.
But it can prove something of importance: a reflux for the reactions that tend to a compromise that retracted the fixed drifting of Montana to the right.
Former state governor Brian Shawitzr, a democratic, said that politicians in other places can learn from the nine.
Mr. Shawitzer said: “What they did was said:” I will vote with the people I represent in the homeland – and this is not what the leadership of the party tells us. “
“We will move Congress here to see how this is done in Montana,” he said.
Politics on the party
Nine argued that they were simply giving smart policy for ideological matching – re -mandating the expansion of medical aid that would keep the open rural hospitals in their areas, for example – and support the agenda that the governor of the state Greg Giannvort, who is also a Republican.
But while President Trump practices almost almost severe control of the Republican Party, it seems that the country is bitterly divided along the party lines more than ever, it has attracted the attention of the Republican Party in Montana great attention.
As the session advanced, the other Republicans in Montana formed a pressure campaign against the fans, and published their photos on social media, demanding that they stop leading parties and gave them titles such as “nine bad”. In March, the Republicans tried to expel one of the heretics, Jason Esworth, from the legislative body An alleged ethical violations; The majority of Democrats helped prevent attempt.
Even the Republican Montana party controlled the nine, saying that they would not consider Republicans or receive funding from the State Party because of the “damage they were paid to in the Senate in Montana.”
Nine optimistic remained. Days before the end of the legislative session, seven of them sat to conduct an interview in the government of the cabetol, describing the voters, and exchanging stories of warning by the local republican groups and announcing that such criticism only strengthened their determination.
“I always looked at politics when I was younger and see that people work across the corridor,” said Jail Lumires, a Senate member of the first corridor. “I know that we are in this new era where the division is very hard, but why can’t we return to any reasonable legislation is reasonable legislation? If that is good for our Montana, if that is good for your region, why don’t you think about it?”
Although they voted with the Democrats, Senators say they remain conservative Republicans and strong supporters of Mr. Trump. All of them voted for a draft law Holding transgender restrictions The use of public baths, most of them stood with their Republican colleagues Several abortion control bills. Josh Kasmir, who has emerged as a nine leader, indicated that he had sponsored an invoice that reduced the income tax, which is a step supported by it Donald Trump Junior.
Since Mr. Jianfurt took office in 2021, Mr. Kassmier said, “We have reduced the budget, we have made the government more efficient – this is all Trump’s policy, right?” He added: “We vote on politics. It is not a deal we made with the Democrats.”
One of the nine, Windy McMe, keeps her office a pile of notes from Montananz thanks the group for her courage. “Give Hell”, read one card’s introduction, over a picture of a cowboy cabinet on a pure horse.
“They help me to have my vote,” Mrs. McMi said. “I will not offend my conscience.”
Although the political lines of the legislature seemed unclear, some legislators and analysts suggested that the real rift was among those who wanted politics and those who sought to obstruct it.
“It comes to more concerned with ruling,” said Jesse Benion, a professor of political science at Montana State University. She said that the right wing in Montana seemed less interested in conservative financial policy than providing controversial bills on social issues that moved the legislative process.
This put the scattered in a collision cycle with Mr. Jianfurt, who did not support Matt Regiar, the right -wing Senate, last year but he did It supports a group of relative moderates. Freedom of freedom has released the state’s discourse to Mr. Jianfurt in January, indicating that Montana should spend less money than the ruler wants to oppose some of his priorities, such as the expansion of medical aid.
Mr. Jianfurt has avoided talking directly about the nine, and the ruler’s spokesman refused to comment. But it seemed happy that he achieved many of his goals.
Intense reaction
Despite the last right drift, Big Sky Country has long been proud of its independent values and small values. Montana has voted for a democratic presidential candidate only once since 1964 – Bill Clinton in 1992 – but he had rulers and members of the Democratic Senate for decades.
In the previous legislative sessions, which occur every two years, a loose coalition of Republicans called Solutions Suucus She worked with Democrats to pass bills. But that was easier for Republicans to swallow when he made a democratic ruler necessary to settle.
What arises in the two parties this year is the hostility it produced.
The conflict began in the first week of the legislative session, when nine of what they say were a trick committee that would destroy them from the legislative process – part of the effort, they argued, to make it easier for Mr. Reg and his allies to unify power.
Senate members prepared, and they agreed with the Democrats in the tasks of the alternative committee. From there, they said, the Democrats were very happy to work with nine bills.
In an interview, Mr. Regerir called the “bowel punch” alliance. He said that none of the nine fears about the committee’s tasks when the Republicans met before the session, and suggested that the misery was a “discussion point” that provided “coverage for them alongside the Democrats.” He said that the efforts made to their denunciation had been rejected.
“We have tried and tried,” said Mr. Regerir. “It was clear to see that there was a kind of handshake, friendship and cooperation with the Democrats.”
Mr. Regerir denied that the right -wing Republicans were an obstacle and it seemed that through a nine round in their removal from the legislative process. He said: “You scratch your head like, are you even in our team anymore?”
He also argued that the unlikely alliance was out of the step with the voters.
“Voters want more and more conservative here in Montana,” said Mr. Regerier, which indicates that the episode was “increasing pain in becoming more conservative.”
Democrats also felt heat for their role in the alliance – from the left. Bill Lombardy, a senior former assistant with Mr. Tester, has disrupted the Democratic Senate members to vote with Republicans on issues such as maintaining a tax on social security.
“While working together, you cannot give up democratic principles,” said Mr. Lombardi. “The Republicans have strengthened their position in Montana, and some legislative Democrats believe that they should wander in the moderate Republican line to get anything.”
But frustration seems to feel more powerful on the right.
The Teresa Manzella, Freedom Foundation, said that the US members of the United States tried to get nine to decline, but at the end of the fighting.
She said, “We have resigned ourselves in life in the circus.” “Unfortunately, it will leave us, and this is our clown.”
