Dems elect women leaders for 2021 session
Democratic women were elected minority leaders of both the Montana House and Montana Senate Wednesday, as both party caucuses held leadership elections for the 2021 session.
Women will make up two-thirds of the minority leadership positions in the upcoming session.
Montana House:
Minority leader: Rep. Kim Abbott (Helena)
Caucus chair: Rep. Marilyn Marler (Missoula)
Minority whips: Rep. Laurie Bishop (Livingston), Rep. Tyson Runningwolf (Browning), Rep. Derek Harvey (Butte)
Montana Senate:
Minority leader: Sen. Jill Cohenour (East Helena)
Minority whips: Sen. Diane Sands (Missoula), Sen. JP Pomnichowski (Bozeman), Sen. Pat Flowers (Bozeman)
Congratulations to all of these leaders, who will guide their colleagues during a tough session.
The incoming Democratic members of both the Montana House and Montana Senate met mostly virtually on Wednesday, in line with a request from county health official Drenda Niemann. Republicans met in person.
The Montana Free Press had more details:
As a local health official, Niemann doesn’t have jurisdiction over lawmakers when they are working in their official capacity within the Capitol building. The Legislative Services Division, Niemann noted, has written guidance for lawmakers on how to maintain a safe working environment if they choose to appear in-person, including wearing a face covering at all times and keeping at least six feet apart from others.
Few Republican lawmakers followed those precautions Wednesday, greeting each other with their usual hugs and back slaps, huddling maskless in small groups and sometimes leaving their masks around their chins during conversation. Most Democrats caucused remotely via video calls. Nearly all Democrats who attended in person wore masks for the duration of meetings and made efforts to sit several feet apart.
In a call with reporters after the caucuses concluded, (incoming Minority Leader Rep. Kim) Abbott criticized her Republican colleagues for what she described as “reckless” behavior.
“We’re excited to get to work, but we have to be able to do that safely,” Abbott said. “We cannot participate in that kind of recklessness.”