Voter Suppression Brouhaha Ain't Over

by: Matt Singer

Tue Oct 28, 2008 at 16:00:13 PM MST

Joan Borneman
ADLC County Attorney
800 South Main
Anaconda, MT 59711
October 24, 2008

Dear Joan,

I'm writing to ask that you begin a formal investigation of voter coercion perpetrated against the people and voters of Deer Lodge County.  Specifically, I request you investigate the actions of the Montana Republican Party, Mr. Jake Eaton, and Mr. Max Hunsaker regarding the attached "Affidavits of Challenger".

I respectfully request you investigate violations of the following MCA statutes:

13-35-203, Interference with Officials;

13-35-207 Deceptive Election Practices;

13-35-208, Deceiving an Elector; and

13-35-218, Coercion/Undue Influence of Voters

177 citizens' right to vote were called into question in a premeditated, coordinated, and unprecedented voter suppression tactic in Deer Lodge County perpetrated by the aforementioned.  Nearly 6,000 other voters in heavily Democratic areas were also targeted by this Republican campaign of deceit.  Additionally, numerous innocent bystanders in these areas were inevitably impacted by the ensuing confusion and chaos which resulted from these false affidavits and their subsequent withdrawal.

The voters of Anaconda were targets of an extraordinary and deliberate voter suppression scheme.  This cannot and should not be tolerated.  Following your investigation, please prosecute these actions to the full extent of the law, thus sending a message that tactics like these will not be tolerated.

Let's hope that the voters of Montana are never victims of such a dishonorable plot.

Sincerely,

Dan Villa
1807 Ogden
Anaconda, MT 59711

Villa proposes to hold college loan lenders subject to open meeting laws

by: Jay Stevens

Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:15:17 AM MST

Rep. Dan Villa, D-Anaconda, said Thursday he will sponsor a bill in 2009 to require issuers and administrators of student loan bonds to be subject to the state's open meetings law and legislative audits.

Villa...said he decided to have the bill drafted in response to recent surprise announcements directly increasing the cost of higher education for Montana students.

In a press release, he said he wants Montana Higher Education Student Assistance Corp. (MHESAC) and Student Assistance Foundation (SAF) "to fully comply with Montana's open government, open meeting and full-disclosure requirements and subject these entities to legislative scrutiny through the legislative auditor,"

"When these two entities issue hundreds of millions in public bonds vis-a-vis the federal bond allocations to the state of Montana and Legislature, the Montana public and the Legislature have a very direct right to know what they are doing, how they are doing it and why," Villa said.

Why didn't someone think of this before?

Oops:

In 2007, Rep. John Musgrove, D-Havre, sponsored House Bill 587, similar to what Villa is proposing, to specify that constitutional requirements of open meetings and open government apply to MHESAC and SAF. The bill, backed by the administration of Gov. Brian Schweitzer, was tabled by the House State Administration Committee, with MHESAC and SA.

By the way, that was actually HB 578, not "587."

The report leaves out who was responsible for tabling the bill, but I won't. It was chair of the State Administration committee, Dennis Himmelberger (R-Billings).

(Look, media folks, killing bills through procedural maneuver is a common tactic in legislatures, largely because the media never holds anyone accountable for it. So shine a little light, eh?)

New Republican Leader Vows to Break Promises, Admits Minority Status

by: Matt Singer

Mon Nov 27, 2006 at 17:26:15 PM MST

My gut says that the far right's take over of the House Republican caucus is a good sign. Sales won't be able to keep his caucus unified. He's too crazy.

Senator Mike Cooney is set to be President and Representative John Parker is set to be Speaker. Senator Corey Stapleton will be minority leader.

Update -- Just heard most of the rest of the leadership teams. In addition to Speaker Parker, Dems will be led by Speaker Pro Tem Bergren, Majority Leader Art Noonan, Majority Whips Dave McAlpin and Margie Campbell, and Caucus Chair Dan Villa. In the Senate, in addition to President Mike Cooney, we have President Pro Tem Dan Harrington, Majority Leader Carol Williams, and Majority Whips Lynda Moss and Lane Larson. In the Senate GOP caucus, Dan McGee and Greg Barkus will be Minority Whips.