House bill 2 and a six pack, sounds like a line from a bad country song or catch phrase in Talladega Nights 2.  Unfortunately for Montana, its neither.    This week, the GOP is rolling out their vision of the State budget in a new, six piece format.  While publicly the purpose behind the break down is "transparency" and openness, the truth is closer to purely political and (believe it or not) what may have been thought of initially as practical.  

Once the outcome of the House was ultimately determined back in November, any keen political observer knew the House would have a very difficult time passing House bill 2.  Once Sales was elected Speaker, that possibility (passage) probably seemed impossible.  It is traditionally the job of the majority to pass a version of HB2.  With the conservative wing enjoying success, many of whom likely have promised not to vote for any spending increase, the challenge for this republican led house was evident.  Their solution, break it up into several pieces.  Democrats will have a difficult time voting against education and human services, and if they do, we'll tell their constituents they voted against a 5, 10, 13% increase.  We'll pull enough to pass the bills.   An out for our red button colleagues.

Now the ball is clearly in the democrats court.  What have they learned so far this session.  One amazing (still unbelievable) fact.  This republican house (+ Jore) can and will band together for the 50 votes when needed.  It was initially clear at the Speaker vote, as well with specific, important GOP bills.  The single most important bill (now bills) the House majority must pass is the budget.  Will the democrats make them use those 50 votes to do it.  Will they give the out to the opposition's red button colleagues?

Based on the assumptions & looking at the options, the idea of the six pack is, in all fairness, probably not a bad idea... if one leaves out the partisan, political process.   However, it's possible it was done exactly for that reason, knowing it would enflame partisan bickering.  It certainly has brought new attention to what was once a fairly long, tiring, and boring process.

Shake-n-Bake