Keeping in touch with Rep. Pat Ingraham

December is a time when days are filled with bazaars, shopping plans, baking, eating, decorating, singing carols, gathering together with friends and families, school programs, opportunities to help others as we celebrate Christmas.  It’s a time to count our many blessings.  For legislators such as me, it also is time to prepare for the upcoming 63rd Legislative Session which will start on January 7th when we are sworn into office.

During this legislative session, I will once again chair the State Administration Committee as I did during the 2011 session. This committee is where much of my firsthand experience as the Sanders County Clerk and Recorder and Election Administrator relates to most of the legislation that passes through the State Administration Committee.   I had the honor to serve on this committee during the 2007 and 2009 Legislative Sessions as well.

In addition to my chairing the State Administration Committee, I was again appointed to serve as a member on the Human Services and Local Government Committees.  And I have had the privilege to serve on those committees in the last three legislative sessions too.

Bill submittal and requests have been in full swing in preparation for the upcoming session.  Currently, 1677 introduced and unintroduced bill requests are in the system in various stages of preparation.  Of those requests, 212 have actually been drafted of which ten are mine.  The drafts I’ve requested are: House Bill (HB) 38 which will transfer Geographic Information Systems (GIS) duties to the state library; HB 46 which will revise contribution limits for a candidate exploratory campaign; HB 49 which will exempt military pensions from state income tax; HB 53 which will revise State Administration and Veteran Affairs statutory duties; HB 54 which will revise the Teacher’s Retirement System administrative and tax qualification laws; HB 64 which will clarify requirements for report filing for the State Administration Interim Committee; HB 77 which will revise public assistance laws in order to remove obsolete language relating to counties; HB 120 which is a general revision of election laws;  HB 121 which will revise property valuation laws for tax purposes for certain timber lands; and, HB 126 which will generally revise ballot issues and petition statutes.

In addition to those ten drafted house bills, I have an additional nine bill requests in various stages of the process.  Those requests include:  LC0787 which will revise gambling laws adding an exemption for senior citizens centers bingo license requirements (the request is on hold as it is a work in progress); LC0220.01 which will require certain state district candidates, local candidates and political committees to continue filing reports of contributions and expenditures until filing a closing report; LC1145 which will increase the contract amount for which a local government project must be put to a bid if the project is funded with gasoline taxes; LC0737 which clarifies that any funds from cigarette taxes received by the Department of Public Health and Human Services to support the operation and maintenance of state Veterans homes must be distributed in equal shares; LC490 will revise the absentee ballot mailing date; and, LC0492 which will revise ballot preparation laws.  And I have bill requests yet to be processed that will revise the membership structure and duties of the Montana Public Employees Retirement Board, revise the county public auction law and dollar amount, and a request which will provide for a uniform storage location of Notary Public Journals.

While I have presented a brief overview of the bills I’ve submitted, like most legislators more may yet come forth because of requests.  I also may be asked to sponsor legislation for bills already in the system but need legislators with knowledge and expertise of a particular issue that might be able to carry it forth successfully through the process.   

This is just a brief overview of the bills I’ve submitted.  It’s important to know that as each bill progresses through the process, each bill may be changed through the drafting process or by amendments as they are introduced into committees.  There is a great deal of scrutiny by the many hands, eyes and ears which are involved in processing legislative bills and bill requests.   If you are interested in tracking bills, committee meetings or floor sessions, you can do so by going to the Montana Legislative Website at http://www.leg.mt.gov .

 It is important to hear from you during the Legislative Session, regarding proposed legislation, especially legislation you feel strongly about or have firsthand experience with, as you are very much a part of this process. So please share your thoughts, your support or opposition and the reasons why on those pieces of legislation which concern you by “Keeping in Touch”.

As I continue to prepare for my service in the House of Representatives in 2013, I want to thank you again for the opportunity to serve you as your Representative.  I’d also like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I can be reached during the session by leaving a message for me at (406) 444-4800, or by e-mailing me at pathd13@blackfoot.net  or you may mail your comments to me at Representative Pat Ingraham, Capitol Building, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400.  

As in the past, I’d like to hear from you regarding any proposed legislation you are concerned about, as your thoughts and experiences regarding specific issues are important in helping me to understand the impact that may result if a bill is passed.  So please “Keep in Touch!”  I can be reached via e-mail at pathd13@blackfoot.net, or call me at 827-4652 or by mail at P.O. Box 1151, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873.