Thread by @hollykmichels

Rep. Zephyr punched in to speak on this and wasn't recognized by Speaker Reger. Minority Leader Abbott rising in proest. Regier tells Abbott he denied her over rules/decorum. #mtpol #mtleg

Reiger says its because of this: helenair.com/news/state-and…

Abbott disagrees with how Regier handles this. Wants interpretation from Regier. Abbott asks about why Reiger didn't call Zephyr to order when she spoke previously.

Abbott appeals interpretation. This triggers House Rules meeting right now.

Abbott reiterating concern that a different rule should have been used where Zephyr was called out of order in debate and then censure was discussed at the time. Says not acknowledging Zephyr today is not appropriate.

Hamilton, D-Bozeman, now saying since the chair Tuesday didn’t call Zephyr to order, that says to him there was no violation of rules.

Bedey, R-Hamilton, is speaking now. He says speaker viewed not acknowledging Zephyr as a prerogative he has. Says Zephyr and others should have stood to object as proper response today.

This discussion is about the procedure, not what was said Tuesday in debate.

Committee chair Knudsen says he agrees with Bedey.

J. Hinkle, R-Belgrade, also says he thinks this should have been a vote on the floor.

Hamilton says that functionally impossible since Zephyr was never called on.

Bedey saying the rule he keeps citing is applicable here and that three people could have stood in opposition.

J. Hinkle says he thinks the appropriate time to stand was when the speaker went to the bill sponsor to close. Says that’s when it would have been obvious they weren’t called on.

Abbott asking for roll call vote to let other legislators not on the committee speak. C. Knudsen ruled no and vote is on his ruling.

Couldn’t hear all votes but sounded like they upheld the chaie on party lines

So we won’t hear from Zephyr here.

Bishop, D-Livingston, now says there’s no clear understanding of what would get Zephyr recognized again, and that there was no clear explanation of the breaking of the rules.

Stewart-Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, says as woman of color she has concerns about censorship and not allowing people to speak from their perspective. S-P says she’s seen bias in the Legislature and that she’s had to continually educate and re-educate people on Native issues.

She says we’re on a slippery slip and falls it fascism. J. Hinke starts objecting.

S-P says discrimination has happened this session, whether people want to admit it or not.

She cites concerns she’s seen this session with the tone/language in debate.

“Our freedom only goes as far as impacting someone else’s freedom. … it’s about everyone having equal access to this floor” to be able to represent their community. — S-P

Duran, R-Eureka, equates this to him being out of decorum by wearing a hard hat on the floor earlier this week.

R. Knudsen says “as another person from a minority group, that’s not what this discussion is about.”

R. Knudsen said not acknowledging Zephyr was speaker’s prerogative and duty. Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, tries to call a vote but now Bedey is speaking.

Bedey comes back to saying Zephyr should have rose.

Fielder again calls for a vote. He withdraws so more debate can happen.

Bishop says that behaviors and words used on the floor make it hard to not see this as an “exceptional circumstance” and says not allowing a member so directly impacted by the bill being debated is something to consider here.

Harvey, D-Butte, again saying the speaker failed to follow rules by not calling Zephyr to order when the first issue happened Tuesday.

Harvey calls it a compounding issue that speaker has not being following that rule.

“We have rules for a reason.” — Harvey

SP says leaders must be held accountable to a higher level.

SP says lawmakers need to check their bias and need to see what the trigger is. Says this should have happened yesterday, not today.

Hamilton says there’s lots of work left to do and he has concerns about how it’ll go. He’s asking if decorum was violated and says he doesn’t see where it was.

J. Hinkle says he feels SP was suggesting speaker is bias, and he says that’s a breach of decorum.

OK now we are moving to a roll-call vote. Abbott offering a closing now.

Says there’s a lack of clarity on the issue and this makes problems going forward as they’re in heightened awareness going forward. Says failed to set themselves up well going forward.

Roll call vote upholds the ruling of the speaker.

It’s upheld on a party-line vote.