Now That's Ironic
Krayton Kerns
1.17.07
I survived my first public hearing…I think. With great honor on the 5th day of the 60th Montana Legislature, I stepped to the podium of the State Administration Committee, and presented House Bill 96, an Act to generally revise the establishment and funding of state veterans’ cemeteries. After my brief opening remarks, Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy rose as a proponent for the legislation.
Commissioner Kennedy explained in great detail about the 10.1 acres of ground adjacent to the Laurel Cemetery which has been identified as the veterans’ cemetery site. “There are over 15,000 veterans in Yellowstone County and voters resoundingly passed a mil levy this fall to fund this project,” he described.
State Senator Dan McGee, a veteran and my friend, also rose in support of HB96. “This cemetery will likely be my final resting place, and it means something to me that it is within sight of my home of the last 25 years,” Dan offered.
Chairman Himmelberger called for opponents of the bill to step forward and express their thoughts. Four did…All representatives of veterans’ organizations…All against HB96.
“Wow,” I thought as they talked, “I didn’t see this coming.”
I mentioned the irony of the situation in my close. Here I was, a freshman legislator who proudly professes my conservative philosophy, carrying a bill that requests a $200,000 statutory appropriation, and the very folks I am sticking my neck out to honor are against it.
HB96 survived executive action with a vote of 15 to 5 and is headed to the House floor for Second Reading. I have met with representatives of the opposition and we are working on an amendment to make the bill palatable to their interests without affecting our original intent. The floor session could be challenging, but so far the state veterans’ groups have not buried the State Veterans’ Cemetery Act. Now that’s ironic.
