Ignorance Wins in Montana

Ignoring David Nieweurt's brilliant defense of hate crimes legislation and my promotion of his piece, the evenly-divided Montana House has, for the seventh time in seven legislative sessions rejected a hate crimes bill which would include sexual orientation in the list of protected classes in that state's hate crimes law. The vote was 54-46 despite partisan parity and Democrats' usual propensity to support civil rights measures. Even though they have a newly elected Democratic governor, this is Montana after all!