Hearing has negative outcome but is positive experience

Editor’s note: Due to a misunderstanding on the part of the Havre Daily News, regular submissions from state Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, have not been printed.

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I hope this article gets into the paper this week in Havre. Each week I sent an update on what is happening in the Legislature to my District 14 newspapers. The Liberty County Times and the River Press Paper had been publishing the articles but I recently discovered that the Havre Daily News didn’t understand my intention. It’s too bad that the articles didn’t make it into the paper but I hope you’ll be able to see them moving forward.

After putting forward my first bill, a motorcycle safety bill to do with lane splitting in highway traffic congestion, I found out this week that it did not pass through committee. Getting a feel for the process and presenting in a hearing was a positive experience for me, even with the negative outcome. I only regret that I wasn’t able to spend more time before my hearing speaking to one of my opponents, a State Farm Insurance lobbyist, to explain to him further that my bill was for everyone’s safety so he could understand that it was in insurance’s best interest to support it, not oppose it.

Committee updates: In the Taxation Committee, we’ve dealt with a couple bills to do with land valuations and the escalating taxes on them. The biggest hearings we’ve had in Energy Committee was another net metering bill, which in its original form, it was suggested that utilities pay wholesale price for metering. The bill was amended to allow the Public Service Commission to determine cost reimbursement for electricity prices. Lastly, during Education Committee, we looked at a bill to allow schools to bond 30 years, out from the prior allowance of 20. This will make it easier for schools to afford remodeling and construction. There was also a proposal to allow expansion of first aid training in schools.

Last Sunday night, I went to the chamber meeting in Chester and I visited with a lot of folks from up home. This Saturday I spent the day watching my grandkid wrestle. He and his team did very well. Have a great week.

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State Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, can be reached via email at [email protected].