History in the making in Montana Senate chambers

Being part of Montana history in the Senate certainly wasn’t on my radar screen when running for office a year ago.

Frustration boiled over today, April 5, when we convened at noon and Senate Minority Leader Jon Sesso, D-Butte, asked for a recess because of his concern for an absent colleague. His reference was to Sen. Shannon Augare, D-Browning.

I, too, was concerned when the leader noted he was absent and sought to find him. Shannon has been embroiled in the tribal leadership problems in Browning, and I knew he had two body guards at the beginning of session. I had also heard of him using a safe house in Billings because of threats. Yes, it was concerning to all of us.

As time went on, however, it became apparent that Sen. Augare was safe and the tactic was meant to block voting on some important measures in the legislative process. Rules were pored over several times. It was decided to go back into session and go through the order of business without them.

As the Democrats screamed and pounded on their desks, along with gallery observers, we sat quietly and voted on a third reading so the bills could be transmitted to the House. Without passing a third reading, they would have died at transmittal today.

Senate President Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, recognized Sen. Larry Jent, D-Bozeman, who requested a “call of the Senate,” which virtually locks the doors and sequesters all of us to the chamber. At this point, we decided we should have brought our sleeping bags because the cops outside the doors were making sure we would stay.

Calmer heads prevailed an hour later when we adjourned until 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, to continue our business. It certainly wouldn’t be my preferred way of doing the business of the taxpayers, but drastic choices call for drastic decisions.

The transmittal deadline is now behind us, so we can all hope for the games to stop and the hard work to continue.

Sen. Dee Brown, R-Coram, represents Senate District 2, Columbia Falls and Whitefish.