Is Rick Jore a Constitutionalist or a Republican? Right now, he seems to be a Quantum Politician -- appearing when and where he wants before disappearing again. He denies being a Republican (says the party became too liberal for him), but now, for the purpose of having all House committees split half-and-half, he says that he should be considered a Republican.
Unsurprisingly, the Republicans agree, but you don't see them clamoring for Jore to actually be counted as a Republican. They've got a problem with enough nutjobs in their party, they hardly need a man whose political party stands for the sell-off of all public lands (goodbye hunting and fishing for most Montanans) to be affiliated with them when they're already losing ground over their bad stances on public access.
Apparently, in the Montana legislature, you have to go notify the Secretary of State's office if you wish to change party affiliation. That's what Sam Kitzenberg had to do to become a Democrat. If Rick Jore wants to be a Republican, he should head over to Brad Johnson's office and change his party registration. That's his decision.
Until he does, though, we should stop pretending that 50-49-1 is a "tied" House.
