New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been pleading with lawmakers for support and even threatening political retribution against Democrats who have criticized him in an aggressive effort to contain the political fallout from revelations that his administration had concealed the full extent of nursing home-related deaths during the Covid pandemic.
Senator Stan Stephens and Representative Jack Ramirez outmaneuvered Democrats when the Dems tried to close the Open Primary in the 1985 legislature. The Independent Record said the Republicans “successfully defended the Open Primary.” The IR went on to say: “Primary Bill Is Stuck in Big House Mud hole. A series of 50-50, party-line votes showed the House unable to pass it, kill it, or get rid of it in any fashion in an hour of wrangling. It was the second time in two days and the third time in a week that Republicans and Democrats had dead-locked on the issue.” Montana retained the Open Primary that year and two prominent Republicans earned bright futures as Montana Governors. The 16-year Montana Conservative Comeback had begun. Today, the Open Primary battle that is brewing bodes well for the 2021 Legislative Minority Leaders: Senator Jill Cohenour and Representative Kim Abbott. But, the debate this time will see statecraft rather than mud. The Republicans must close the Primary, as required in the GOP Party Rules. Sen. Keith Regier and Rep. Derek Skees will present L.C. 1570 which will require every voter to either declare a political party or be prohibited from voting at the Primary. Voters won’t have the privacy provided by an Open Primary. I think Sen. Regier and Rep. Skees may make Greg Gianforte a one-term governor as a Conservative Comeuppance unfolds among voters.
Carole Mackin
Helena
This article originally ran on billingsgazette.com.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.