Montana House of Representatives Rescinds Dress Code, Other Controversial Rules

Montana State Legislator Democrat Tom Woods of Bozeman has been protesting a bevy of new rules proposed in the Montana State House of Representatives. This week, most of the laws Woods was contesting have been rescinded.

"We no longer have a dress code, which the speaker rescinded, and I'm pretty darn happy about that. It's allowed me to wear my family kilt on the floor on the first day of session here," Woods said. "As well, the revoke and party rescinded their attempt to create a super-majority hurdle when the speaker decides to re-refer a bill to appropriations."

Another rule that went out the window dealt with the public’s access during floor sessions.

"They've gone back on their attempt to bar the public from the House floor and I'm pretty happy about that," Woods said. "They also reinstated the titles for the minority party fvice chair. So those are all good things."

Today Woods was advocating for a new rule that would make it easier for legislators to vote on bills that had been tabled. The new rule would make blast motions possible with a simple majority rather than the super-majority rule that has been in place since the eighties.