Local legislators ride on BNSF's Blue Jean Special

St. Regis resident Curtis Cochran may be a freshman with the Montana House of Representatives, but he hit the ground running, long before January when the session began.

“I was ready for it,” he said when explaining his routine. “My committees start early in the morning with caucus meetings. About 90% of what we do is in committees. This is where the people come in for the hearings. This is where we meet the people and have discussions that bring the people up to speed on the issues. Very educational and needed.” 

Cochran’s State Administration Committee is every day of the week. His Transportation Committee meetings are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the Local Government committee on Tuesday and Thursday. 

“Actual voting on the floor is from 1 to 3 in the afternoons which is the fun part because we already know the bills. I’ve really enjoyed this. You get to meet people from all over the state.”

The language of the bills can be confusing on how they are written, but Cochran hasn’t had an issue understanding them. 

“That’s your job (to understand the bill) and after the meetings we have a grey sheet to show us the bills that are up to be voted on. You read them. You talk to the sponsors and co-sponsors for clarification before that 1 o’clock session when we start voting. You put in the time to truly understand it,” he said. “A lot of time it’s a party caucus preference but that doesn’t mean that’s where you are always going to vote. I mean, you vote thinking on how this affects your residents.” 

Cochran says he goes by the three C’s. 

“Constitutional. Is it constitutional because that’s a critical determining factor. Then my constituents. How will this affect the constituents in my area. What will this do for them, or to them. And then my conscience. I mean it could be a Democrat bill and we (Republicans) have the majority so very rarely do their (Democrats) bills make it to the floor, but they have good ideas, too.” 

He mentioned a few mentors who have been helpful, including Rep. David Bedee from Hamilton representing HD 86. 

“He’s one I’ve been in touch with for a long time when I was looking at running for office. He’s one of the good guys, and so many others are of good stock I’ve gotten to know.

“That first day. Going into that chamber. It was such a magnificent experience. That 35-foot-tall Charlie Russell painting. The floor and balcony seating. That was a big rush for me. That was probably the most exciting day for me,” he grins from ear to ear. “But the most fun thing are the floor sessions. You get in there with 58 Republicans and 42 Democrats, and we are all one body. We’ve got friends on both sides of the aisle, you know. We’re all a bunch of Montanan’s who are serious about this, and we all care.” 

Cochran was recently voted to chair the Mineral County Republican Central Committee which is hosting the Lincoln Reagan Dinner April 26.

Sen. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis, stopped by as everyone was gathering in Hap’s Bar in downtown Helena for the Blue Jean Special which is hosted by BNSF Railway each session. Ten to 12 privately owned passenger train club cars are filled with legislators and friends for a trip to Avon, Montana and back for a social gathering of 300-plus attendees. 

Loge termed out as a House representative from HD 14 (now HD 90 with boundary adjustments) and is now serving as a senator after winning the election for this seat last November. When asked what the big difference is between what he had done before to now, he said, “Half the people, so you’re exposed quite a bit more. When we get into our own committees, a lot of times we hardly have a quorum to vote on bills because they are all presenting in the other chambers. I see that as a big difference as it slows the process up and sometimes you have to do executive-action on a bill when you first get to a hearing.” 

He did say that ideological differences have created some turmoil in this session. 

“We are getting things done now, finally, and I’m sure glad that I’m here.”

During the train ride, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, Chair, Dave Strohmaier, strolled by thanking both Loge and Cochran for their support of HB 848 which would take a percentage of rental car fee receipts to be diverted to help pay for the railroad authority. 

The push for returning passenger rail service along the southern route of Montana is no longer a dream, but a reality even though residents may not see results for several years. Both stated they were behind it and Strohmaier then asked if they would approach the Mineral County Commissioners to write a letter of support as well, and Cochran said he would do so. 

Other politics were discussed throughout the train cars but mostly introductions to family members of the legislators took place with everyone enjoying the hospitality of BNSF, the brilliant scenery along the route with laughter and camaraderie.