Beard chosen for leadership role in Legislature

The wheels of the 66th Montana Legislature began churning out government business Monday, Jan. 7 in Helena.

This session, the 58-member Republican caucus elected House District 80 representative Becky Beard to the leadership position of Majority Whip.

HD 80 is a rural district that encompasses Elliston, Avon, Helmville, Ovando and most of the Lincoln valley.

In the old days of smoke-filled rooms and backroom arm twisting, the office of Majority Whip used to be the "enforcer" for the majority party, keeping the maverick free-thinking Reps in line. But times have changed.

"My main goal is to be a funnel of information from the House Speaker and Republican leadership to the members of both parties. We're working for fair and transparent compromise on the issues that the people elected us to advance that promote the Republican agenda," Beard said to the BVD.

Now in her second term as a Representative, Beard is also Vice Chair of the House Taxation Committee. Her other committee assignments are Rules, Agriculture and Education.

Beard can be contacted at [email protected] or at [email protected]. She can recieve messages through the legislature website at https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/ or by calling the Session Information Desk at (406) 444-4800.