Is ex officio really official?

Ramblings, mutterings, keen observations and things you ought to know out of Helena from the mind of a crazy man (That’s me, Phil Drake, who’s been told to hit the road).

HELP IS ON THE WAY: The state’s HELP Act oversight committee is scheduled to have its quarterly meeting Dec. 1. It may be interesting to check out as one of its members, Rep. Art Wittich, R-Bozeman, has complained about ex-officio committee members. Senate Bill 405, the Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act, makes health care benefits available to Montana residents beginning as soon as Jan. 1. “If we cannot follow the simple law on membership now, how can we expect to follow the law on the more important matters later?” Wittich states in a Sept. 28 letter to committee chairman John Goodnow. Wittich was not a supporter of the bill, but was appointed by GOP brass to the committee. Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, who wrote the act, was not. Instead he was named by the governor as an ex-officio member, as were several others. Goodnow, who is chief executive officer of Benefis Health System, told Wittich these ex-officio members, who can’t vote, add important voices to the discussion. “I want to get on with the task at hand, and I hope that we can put this behind us and do just that,” Goodnow writes to Wittich, adding, “Look forward to seeing you on Dec. 1.” I’ve met Rep. Wittich, I don’t expect him to blink. I don’t know Mr. Goodnow, but given his job I don’t think he’s in the blinking business either. Once again it’s time for me, God’s L’il Helper, to come up with the perfect solution, and here it is: Snowballs at 10 paces.

HIT THE ROAD, PHIL!: Well, this was a first. I’ve been surprised by the number of nice comments I’ve received since I’ve been at this job. Oh sure, I get the person who sends me a note about a typo or wrong word usage, sometimes with a personal dart attached to it, but that’s OK. I’ve been dealing with those folks for 35 years. In my “so-called” career (I say that because people have called me a “so-called” journalist. At least that’s what I tell my so-called attorney and so-called doctor), I’ve been booed, shoved and I even had people show up at my office to “chat.” But this is the first time someone has insisted I leave the state (you’d think he would have offered to help me pack, but didn’t). Last week I got an email that was so scathing that even I was surprised by its vitriol. This person, who quizzed me as to whether I had certain body parts, did not like my story about a group of grandparents at odds with the state’s Child and Family Services division. The writer claims the group is rooted by the tea party, questions my research abilities, says I did a disservice to the entire city of Great Falls, wants me to send the story to a journalism professor and demands I leave the state of Montana. Well, I don’t know if you read that story, but I think it’s a big mistake to try peg it with the tea party. Of course, I could be wrong, but it struck me as nonpartisan, cutting across party lines. I’ll see how it plays out, and if I’m wrong I will be the first to admit it. As far as moving, I wrote my critic that I like it here and I think Montana is a good fit for me. And now that I think about it, he can always leave. At 56, I am somewhat embarrassed that I am still looking for a home. I’d like to stay. He can think what he wants. Critics do serve a purpose, but the way that the message is delivered makes all the difference if it is going to be effective and bring about change.

VOWELL HAS SPOKEN: I waddle into the Lewis and Clark County Library every now and then looking for Sarah Vowell’s book “Lafayette in the somewhat United States” only to leave empty-handed. I find her funny on talk shows and watched her turn Jon Stewart into a big puddle of giggles on one of his final “Daily Shows.” But I’ve never read any of her stuff. I caught her on CSPAN on Thanksgiving night talking about this new book about the famous Frenchman and had no idea she was a Montana resident. Someone asked her if had any ideas of whose face should be put on the $10 and/or $20 bills (she says she is part Cherokee and hates Andrew Jackson for the Indian Removal Act, also known as “Trail of Tears”) and she said “Jeannette Rankin,” and then gave the audience a quick history on her. I was trying to figure out where she lived in Montana because several times during the interview I thought she made it sound like a small town. Turns out it was Bozeman. She also chatted about Malcolm Story and the statue of him with the checkered coat.

ON DECK: The following state and legislative committees meet this week:

•The Law and Justice Interim Committee, always a lively meeting, will gather 8 a.m. Nov. 30 in Helena, in Room 137 of the state Capitol.

•The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee will meet 1 p.m. Nov. 30 and 8 a.m. Dec. 1 and 2 in Room 317 of the state Capitol.

•The Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act Oversight Committee meeting is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Dec. 1 in Room 172 at the state Capitol.

•The Economic Affairs Interim Committee of the Legislature meets Dec. 1-2 and will discuss air ambulances, licensing boards, Montana State Fund, and the Department of Livestock in Room 102 of the Capitol.

The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Dec. 1 and at 8 a.m. Dec. 2.

•Here’s another meeting to keep your eye on: The Protect Montana Kids Commission will have its first meeting 8:30 a.m. Dec. 4, in Room 152 of the state Capitol.

These meetings will be broadcast online at www.leg.mt.gov and also over the state’s public broadcasting station, TVMT. For more information about TVMT, visit www.leg.mt.gov/tvmt.

Dome Lights appears Sunday, unless the villagers catch me. Email me at pdrake@greatfallstribune.comor call 406-422-0772. I’m based in Helena. Mail me at P.O.Box 1601, Helena, MT 59624.