Rolling coal and crowdfunding

I remember when teens would drag race their souped up cars on the quarter mile markers up the North Fork Road or on Aluminum Drive toward the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant. Most of the cars were Ford Mustangs, Dodge Chargers or Chevy Camaros. Ask anyone who grew up in the 1960s and they will tell you about the engines and colors of their favorite hotrod. My kids would call it “back in the olden days,” but it was a way to have some fun and excitement and root for your favorite driver. We should have called it the C-Falls NASCAR.

Sen. Kristine Kaufmann, D-Helena, introduced Senate Bill 397 recently which focused on the newest teen trend called “rolling coal.” I was not the only one on the committee who didn’t know anything about the topic. A quick visit to YouTube was visual proof of the practice.

Rolling coal happens when a driver of a diesel pickup loads the engine chamber with fuel and stomps on the accelerator to burn it all at once. It creates a black cloud of smoke rolling out of the exhaust, often covering the bicycle rider or walker with soot and the smell of diesel fuel permeating their clothing. It’s becoming more popular as a lark used to irritate people sharing the roadways.

The automobile lobby opposed the bill since rolling coal can be created by any diesel truck. Most senators voted against the bill because many own diesel trucks which are “chipped” to get better mileage and can produce black smoke while pulling a heavy trailer under the right conditions. They didn’t think this was the way to address a teenager problem and thought there were sufficient ways to go after a public nuisance.

Another interesting bill the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee heard was House Bill 481 from Rep. Hunter, D-Helena. This bill would allow a citizen to solicit funding from other Montanans to invest in a good idea while not having to take it to public offering on the stock exchange.

Crowdfunding via Internet sites like gofundme and kickstarter have raised money for local business start-ups. This bill will allow entrepreneurs to convince investors to give money to grow their idea, while the investors get a portion of the eventual growth of the company. It has great potential for small businesses in the state and was supported by everyone on the committee.

HB 481 will be the Montana solution to investors getting in on the ground floor for all those great ideas being formed in Montana minds. It may be the way you can start the next great business for world markets using Montana investments.

I learn something new every day in the legislature, from rolling coal to crowdfunding. When it comes to good ideas, no party has a corner on the market. Many good ideas will become law this session so we can all be the benefactors.

Go to the state’s Web site at www.leg.mt.gov for more information on bills or to contact me and other legislators. We continue to do the people’s business and look forward to getting home by the end of April with a balanced budget.

Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, represents Senate District 2.