To the Montana Republican Legislators, led by Senator Jason Ellsworth:

In response to your recent letter to The Seeley Swan Pathfinder, I am writing to express my profound disappointment and deep concern regarding your recent track record in the Montana state legislature. Your penchant for crafting bills that ultimately wind up in court, clogging the system and ultimately crumbling under the weight of the Montana Constitution, is not only irresponsible, but it is also a blatant disregard for the taxpayers’ money and the well-being of our state.

Every time you push through a poorly conceived, unconstitutional bill, it wastes precious time and resources. Not only do legislative staff and legal minds scramble to defend these flimsy propositions, but courts become overrun with lawsuits, delaying justice for other crucial cases. This creates a cascading effect, impacting not just the legal system, but also the ability of Montanans to receive timely and effective representation.

But the true cost extends far beyond wasted time and money. Each unconstitutional bill represents a broken promise, a betrayal of the public trust. You, elected to uphold the very laws of our state, choose instead to gamble with those laws, jeopardizing the stability and predictability of our legal system. This breeds confusion and distrust, chipping away at the very foundation of a functioning democracy.

Senator Ellsworth, you stand as the symbolic head of this worrying trend. As Senate President, it is your responsibility to ensure the quality and constitutionality of the legislation that reaches the Governor’s desk. Yet, under your leadership, the Montana legislature has become a factory for unconstitutional bills, churning out one failed attempt after another.

Enough is enough. We, the Montanans, deserve better. We deserve a legislature that respects the Constitution, prioritizes sound policy over ideological crusades, and uses its power responsibly.

I urge you, Senator Ellsworth, and your fellow Republican colleagues, to take a serious look at your legislative process. Implement better legal vetting measures, prioritize bipartisan engagement, and remember that your oaths bind you to the Constitution, not to your own narrow agendas.

The people of Montana deserve a legislature that works for them, not one that creates legal chaos in the wake of its own flawed designs.