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Montana Consumer Counsel may freely testify, per rules change in committee – Daily Montanan [1]

['Keila Szpaller', 'More From Author', '- January']

Date: 2023-01 

The Senate Rules Committee voted Tuesday to reinstate the Montana Consumer Counsel’s ability to freely give testimony to legislative committees.

In a unanimous voice vote, committee members approved Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick’s request to withdraw his earlier amendment, which would have restricted the agency from testifying on bills without approval of the Legislative Consumer Committee.

The Consumer Counsel is created by the Montana Constitution to advocate on behalf of consumers in utility regulation matters, such as energy rate increases requested by NorthWestern Energy.

The move to restrict its testimony drew controversy. Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, earlier criticized the rule change.

“The only entity that represents the public, the consumers — and the people who pay the freight — is the Consumer Counsel,” said Dunwell, who has sat on the Legislative Consumer Committee. “We cannot muzzle them.”

She and Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, also previously said it wasn’t realistic to get permission from the Legislative Consumer Committee during the session because it meets infrequently. Molnar has also sat on that committee.

Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, said he understood their argument about logistics, and it persuaded him to request the withdrawal.

Just one member of the public commented on the rule. Pat Mischel said he is a former railroad employee, and the Consumer Counsel testified on important transportation and safety issues, not just on power bills.

As such, Mischel thanked Fitzpatrick for reversing course.

In response to a question from Sen. Janet Ellis, D-Helena, Fitzpatrick said he had talked with House Rules Committee Chair Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, about whether the change would be palatable to colleagues in the House. He said Knudsen indicated it was a small matter.

“They have other issues to fight about in the House,” Fitzpatrick joked.

The committee voted to approve its overall rules in a separate unanimous voice vote.

The votes Tuesday in committee were an intermediary step in lawmakers finalizing their rules of order for the 68th Montana Legislature.

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[1] Url: https://dailymontanan.com/briefs/montana-consumer-counsel-may-freely-testify-per-rules-change-in-committee/

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