Rosendale on hand to christen Montana Freedom Caucus

Helena — U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, fresh from a bitter intra-GOP battle for the House speakership, swung through the state Capitol on Thursday to officially christen Montana’s homegrown version of the Freedom Caucus.

Formation of the right-wing voting bloc was announced Jan. 3, but the group’s launch party was held Jan. 19 at the Montana State Capitol. The group is modeled after the U.S. House Freedom Caucus, of which Rosendale is a prominent member.

“If you want change, you have to make change,” Rosendale told attendees, which included Northwest Montana’s Sen. Mark Noland, R-Bigfork, Carl Glimm, R-Kila and Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libby.

Rosendale’s stance as a holdout in the multiple rounds of voting prior to the ascent of Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to House speaker earned praise from his emulators in Helena. Rosendale backed McCarthy’s rivals until the final roll call vote — the 15th round — in the early morning hours of Jan. 7. It was then that he voted “present” along with allies like Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., to allow McCarthy to take the coveted position.

Many members of the state caucus commended Rosendale’s actions.

“How many people were paying attention to what Matt Rosendale just did for us?” said Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton, who serves as chair of the Montana Freedom Caucus.

Manzella highlighted a few of the caucus’ areas of interest during the ongoing legislative session in Helena, including the state’s budget surplus, judicial reform, parental rights, election integrity and ensuring no foreign ownership of property in the state. Eighty percent of the caucus must agree before taking action on the floor, she said.

Manzella also urged the public to connect with caucus membership to ensure the legislators hear from their constituents.

“What [the caucus is] going to provide is information and education and a unified voice,” Rosendale said to the crowd.

He told attendees that it is critical that the caucus plans together, stays involved with the Legislature and the public, and presents a unified front.

The public members of the caucus also got an opportunity to lay out their aspirations for the caucus. Gunderson said that he hopes he can make a difference as chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. Other legislators, like Noland, voiced their reasons for joining the caucus.

“I am grateful that I have the opportunity to fight for the cause of my country, fight for freedom, and fight for my God,” Noland said.

While the caucus has yet to make moves within the Legislature — the GOP holds a supermajority after last year’s election — members have high hopes.

“We are the watchman on the wall … We’re the firewall for freedom,” Manzella said, closing the event.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com.