Chaos erupts in Montana Legislature as Senate Democrats try to stall referendums {Video at link}

[Ptah]

Chaos erupts in Montana Legislature as Senate Democrats try to stall referendums

HELENA — Democrats in the Montana Senate attempted to pull off a parliamentary
procedure Friday that could dramatically impact the remaining three weeks of the 2013
Legislative session and reunite a sharply divided GOP caucus.

Sen. Shannon Augare, D-Browning, left the Capitol on Friday in order to set the stage
for a “call of the Senate” motion, a parliamentary procedure that allows a minority
body to call on a missing member before business can resume. Sources say Augare
may have headed to Browning. Augare’s disappearance was designed to force a stop
to all business in the Senate on a critical deadline day for bills proposing referendums.

At issue is a pair of proposed referendums the Senate passed on second reading Thursday,
which Democrats say could dramatically impact access to the ballot. Both measures,
which are sponsored by Sen. Alan Olson, R-Roundup, must pass the Senate by the
71st legislative day, which was Friday, or they are dead. The Republicans passed the
proposed referendums during third reading Friday as Democrats refused to vote.

<snip>

The showdown led to a raucous and unprecedented scene on the Senate floor where,
after nearly three hours of stalled action, Republicans resumed Senate business and
moved forward with the third reading of bills as Democrats pounded on their desks in defiance.
Sen. Mike Phillips, D-Bozeman, repeatedly read from the rule book demanding that the
Democrats be recognized as Senate President Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, tried to conduct
the third reading business over the loud objections of Democratic supporters in the gallery.
Meanwhile, the House did not convene for several hours as the drama in the Senate played out.


http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20130405/NEWS05/304050029/Chaos-erupts-Montana-Legislature-Senate-Democrats-try-stall-referendums?nclick_check=1

[SkyDaddy7]

1. I truly truly...

HATE Republicans!!

[Scuba]

2. Shades of the "Fab 14".