Comments on: Learning the Ropes
By Jack Stansbury on 02-25-09
“Steenson has voted in favor of all gun rights legislation…”
That’s a lie. Just last week she voted against TWO gun rights bills. Check the records!
By Leg Watcher on 02-25-09
Dan, this is a great piece. A really great analysis blended with an insightful personality profile of two up-and-coming lawmakers each within their own party.
To Jack Stansbury: instead of telling us to check the records, why don’t you tell us which bills she voted against… they usually have numbers next to them. Instead of calling the writer a liar, why not actually support your claim?
By Roark on 02-25-09
Steenson said,”“As an educator, as someone who is teaching in the public school system, I struggle with the decisions we are making today.” “—-She is most definitely a product of government controlled education. And she makes no bones about her socialistic leanings to use taxpayers to do whatever it takes to keep the government in control of education all the while screwing the taxpayer and homeschooler’s and / or private schools. In other words, freedom, to choose is NOT one of her tenants. The only decision I see Steenson “struggling” with is the delay of full fledged government occupation in all area’s of education. She’d make a great teacher in socialist Europe, though.
By starving student on 02-25-09
can someone tell me what web-sites I can go to and actually see the voting records of our local politicians? Thanks
By Dan Testa on 02-25-09
Starving: The Legislature’s Web site has a bill database you can search, for the current session, here: http://laws.leg.mt.gov/laws09/law0203w$.startup You can search previous regular and special sessions from separate, but identical pages, just go back to the Legislature’s main Web site. You can search by bill #, subject, sponsor, etc., then click on the actual bill, and it will show the vote tallies for committees and floor sessions, if you click on those numbers, it will take you to an actual list of how each lawmaker voted. Unfortunately, as far as I know, you can’t just click on an individual lawmaker and see how they voted on each bill, you have to search each individual bill. (Each bill is voted on several times, and sometimes lawmakers change their votes from second to third readings.) But if I’m wrong about that, someone can feel free to set me straight.
By Mary on 02-25-09
Dan, your above comment regarding the legislative website is correct. I do have a problem with Jack’s comment above. I am pretty sure the bill he is referring to is HB 427 which failed on 2nd reading 42 to 58 votes. Those 8 Republicans and 50 Democrats that voted against this bill did not vote against our rights to own or use guns, but voted against repealing of the law which disallows the use of a silencer when hunting. Rep. Steenson did the right thing when she voted with 57 of her colleagues.
By montanasue on 02-26-09
http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=104120Check out project vote smart for more info on how legislators are voting.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.