MOTTO's previous post threw out likely candidates for leadership in the Montana Legislature. Why is leadership so important this session, particulary for D's in the Senate?  Take a gander at a list of those the Legislature lost (some to the other house):

 Montana House

• Gary Matthews (D), Miles City, former Speaker
• Monica Lindeen (D), Huntley, former leadership & committee chair
  
• George Golie (D), Great Falls, former leadership & committee chair
• Roy Brown (R), Billings, former leadership
• Dave Wanzenried (D), Missoula,  former leadership
• Pat Wagman (R), Livingston, former leadership
  
• Kathleen Galvin Halcro (D)- Great Falls, committee chair
• Mark Noenigg (R) - Billings, former committee chair
• John Witt (R), Carter, former committee chair
  
• Ralph Lenhart (D), Glendive
• Rosie Buzzas (D) Missoula, former committee chair
  
• Dee Brown (R), Columbia Falls
• Tom Facey (D), Missoula, former leadership
• Joe McKenney (R), Great Falls, former committee chair
  
• Bernie Olson (R), Kalispell
  
• Larry Jent (D), Bozeman, former committee chair
• Gail Gutsche (D), Missoula
• Chris Harris (D), Bozeman
  
• Joan Anderson (R), former committee chair
• Paul Clark (D), former committee chair
• Tim Dowell (D), Kalispell, former leadership
• Verdel Jackson (R) Kalispell
• Jim Peterson (R), Buffalo, former committee chair
  
• Carol Juneau (D), Browning
  

Montana Senate 

• Jon Tester (D), Big Sandy, former President of the Senate
• Mike Wheat (D), Bozeman, former committee chair
• Jon Ellingson (D), Missoula, former leadership
• Bob Keenan (R), Big Fork, former leadership
• Duane Grimes (R), Clancy, former committee chair
• Brent Cromely (D), Billings, former committee chair
  
• Glen Rousch (D), former committee chair
• Ken Toole (D), Helena, former committee chair
• Jeff Mangan (D), Great Falls, former committee chair