We Need NFL Officials In Helena

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As Montana legislators prepare to return to the Capitol in January, perhaps it’s time to admit the obvious: The Legislature needs referees. Not ordinary referees. NFL officials. Stripes. Whistles. Penalty flags. Instant replay. Headsets. The whole works.

After all, football and politics have a lot in common: there are plays, formations, turnovers, interceptions, questionable calls—and plenty of people insisting they didn’t do what everybody just watched them do. So let’s bring the NFL rulebook to the Capitol!

OFFSIDES! FLAG ON THE PLAY! Imagine a legislator elected as a Republican lining up on one side of the political field, then voting with Democrats on an important partisan bill.The legislator protests: “I’m just exercising independent judgment!” The referee responds: “But you still crossed the line before the snap.” Cross the line? FLAG!

ROUGHING THE PASSER! A conservative bill is moving. The bill sponsor drops back and pitches it.Suddenly—WHAM!! Someone unloads on the legislation. ROUGHING THE PASSER! The Capitol may need to buy penalty flags by the pallet.

INELIGIBLE RECEIVER! A last minute government contract is headed downfield towards a personal friend. FLAG! “INELIGIBLE RECEIVER!”

PASS INTERFERENCE! A perfectly good bill is running a clean route,Suddenly, somebody grabs the bill and knocks the legislation off course.The referee:”You can’t tackle the bill before it reaches the vote!”

PILING ON! This could become the Capitol’s most popular penalty.A bill is obviously going to pass.Suddenly everybody wants to be a cosponsor.”I’ve supported this all along!” Put my name on it!” PILING ON says the referee!!

BACKFIELD IN MOTION!!- Giving in to lobbyists, PACS, bribes, or worse. Refs rule this as unsportsmanlike conduct!

THE FINAL SCOREBOARD-At the end of the session, Montana could have a whole new set of statistics:
Offsides: 612
Pass interference: 286
Roughing the passer: 720
Piling on: 503
Backfield In Motion: Too many to count
Replay challenges: Constant
Legislators arguing with the refs: Everyone