By now you’ve probably heard about the Governor’s secret meetings in Anaconda that he supposedly has held every year with his staff and directors. Just because we haven’t ever heard of them before, doesn’t mean that they didn’t occur. Doesn’t matter. The topics on the “agenda” aren’t really THE topic of interest anyway.
Perhaps there really is a Santa Claus and Montana may get one of the best Christmas presents ever! Governor Schweitzer really is on the short list for Obama’s Energy Secretary. Who knew my wish might come true?
Of course, that’s left the Gov’s staff and the Democrat House leadership with a conundrum – John “I’m a Republican” Bohlinger. What to do, what to do? Kinda hands this side of the aisle a puzzlement too. We haven’t exactly overwhelmingly embraced the Lt. Gov for the past four years. Although – truth be told – in spite of the media accounts to the contrary, he was warmly welcomed at the L & C Republican Caucus in February – the only Republican function he’s actually attended since taking office. (I know, he couldn’t participate in the voting – he was a registered voter in Jefferson County – not Lewis & Clark – not our fault he didn’t show up at the correct caucus location. Guess it was because we had a bigger and better party with more TV cameras.)
So does John change his stripes and change his official affiliation to “D” – or stay true to his avowed party and sway the House to Republican control, and appoint fellow “R’s” to key positions within the administration?
RINO or DINO? It’s the big question for Montana politicos tonight.
“We do it every year. It’s on personal vacation time,” she said. “Just to be extra careful, we’ve always done it on our own time.””
Exactly when is the Governor, not the Governor? He’s got no “own time”. If he’s at a meeting that could be deemed of sufficient public interest, it’s a sunshine law situation.
Too bad the ethics laws’ teeth have been pulled by the last couple of AGs.
If anyone (i.e., reporter) was interested, they could request information (can we say FOIA?) about the dates, attendees, location, etc., of the three previous such meetings. I sure don’t remember anything about those meetings, do you? Of course, that could be a function of our ever-vigilant press…
I think Bohlinger will reveal his affiliation when he appoints a new Lt Governor.
Think of it this way. Three county commissioners take a vacation day, go off to another city and come back and announce decisions on three subdivisions and the county budget.
Three of five city commissioners take a day off, a “vacation” day, go off. When they come back, they’ve decided to sell the parks in town.
When people protest, they reply that “we were on vacation; it was on our own time”.
For a guy who just was found guilty of an ethics violation, the Gov is skirting the line with another.