Meet the MTGOP’s New Speaker of the House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
CONTACT
hadley@montanademocrats.org
Matt Regier’s election to Caucus Leadership foreshadows an extremist policy agenda
Helena, MT – Wednesday morning, House Republicans elected Matt Regier as Speaker of the House for the 2023 Legislative Session, sending a clear signal to Montanans that their policy agenda will be radical, out-of-step, and ill-equipped to solve the pressing issues facing Montana. Meet the new Republican Speaker of the House:
Matt Regier:
Spent last session on a single minded mission to destroy reproductive autonomy. Matt carried the ballot initiative LR 131 which sought to politicize the pain of losing a newborn and insert the government into private and intimate health care decisions. The ballot initiative was resoundingly rejected by Montanans this November.
Carried a bill that would establish a first-of-its kind “abortion court” to review and intimidate women who sought reproductive care on Medicaid.
Proposed a bill that would eliminate all emergency pandemic aid to cities and counties that had implemented protocols to try to slow the spread of the virus, a policy proposal that some lawmakers called political “extortion.”
Is a key architect of the GOP’s efforts to undermine the independence of judiciary, and proposed HB 342, which would require judges and justices to run on a partisan ballot).
“The MTGOP House caucus have chosen their new captain: a hard-right extremist, who’s too busy flaming the culture war to work towards solutions for Montanans,” says Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “While Rep. Regier struggles to get his caucus to fall in line behind his deeply unpopular and radical agenda, the Montana Democrats will be listening to our constituents, working to pass legislation that will cut costs for working families, and holding the Republicans accountable.”
The Democrats elected their leadership Wednesday morning as well, re-electing Kim Abbott (D-Helena) as Minority Leader of the House for a second term, and electing Pat Flowers (D-Belgrade) as Minority Leader of the Senate. The Senate Democrats selected the following legislators as Democratic Whips:
Sen. Susan Webber (D-Browning)
Sen. Shannon O’Brien (D-Missoula)
The House Democrats selected:
Rep. Derek Harvey (D-Butte) for a second term as a Democratic Whip
Rep. Tyson Running Wolf (D-Browning) for a second term as a Democratic Whip
Rep. Katie Sullivan (D-Missoula) as a Democratic Whip
Rep. Alice Buckley (D-Bozeman) as Democratic Caucus Chair
A fact sheet detailing Democratic legislators’ session priorities can be found HERE. A video of the event can be viewed HERE.
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