Legislative Initiatives

With new leadership in the Legislature, we can build on the progress made by Governor Schweitzer and the Democrats in improving the quality of life for Montanans. I will support and work with other legislators of both parties, co-sponsor, and sponsor bills that deal with the following issues. Many ideas come from the excellent conversations I've had with voters during the campaign. Thank you! Where initiatives may require new funding, I have indicated in italics where the funding could come from. Be sure to use the email form on the "Contact Us" link to share your ideas and feedback about these ideas.

ENERGY and CONSERVATION

State government is a consumer of energy. By choosing to buy more energy from alternative and renewable sources, we stimulate demand for those energies. In that light I support:

  • Increasing the use of biodiesel fuel by state-owned diesel vehicles including snow plows, fire trucks, and school buses
  • Increasing the use of renewable - solar and wind - energy in public schools to reduce energy costs (currently approximately $1.34 million per year). Savings can be split between repaying installation costs and the creation of a state-controlled education fund to offset differences in local funding. Expanding the use of solar energy in public school buildings is the kind of capital investment a budget windfall can be used to support.
  • Allowing the state of Montana to receive donations or purchase of water rights from willing donors and sellers to alleviate instream flow dewatering that threatens fish habitat and support stream flow protection for fish and wildlife endangered by drought

ECONOMIC and SOCIAL SECURITY

Economic and social security means meeting basic human needs for Montana families. I support:

  • Expanding health insurance for Montana's kids by raising ceiling on Children's Health Insurance Program
  • Expanding programs to extend affordable and accessible health care to all Montanans such as the small business health insurance pool and CHIP.
  • Increasing minimum wage to $6.15. Only 20% of those earning minimum wage are teenagers living at home. People who work full-time to support themselves and their families should be able to meet basic human needs including food, housing, and health care.
  • Also see "fixed rate property taxes for seniors and disabled veterans" below.

    • VETERANS

  • Montana must honor the service of our Veterans by doing all we can to support them when they get home.  I advocate strongly for increased professional and community support for post-deployed Veterans for whom combat has been a life changing experience.  As we welcome them home and honor their service we must ensure that they receive all of assessments and services they need to reintegrate into the peaceful and secure environment of their families and communities

TAX FAIRNESS

An increasing share of taxation has shifted to property owners. I support tax reform for fairness to reduce overall tax share paid by middle and working class families and individuals, and increase share paid by corporations and the wealthiest 1% of individuals taxpayers.
I support:

  • Tax Reform funded both by shifting relative taxation, and by tightening enforcement and close loopholes that cost Montanans millions of dollars in lost, unpaid revenue from corporations and non-resident taxpayers
  • Extending Local Option tax by removing qualifying restrictions on communities where local governments can enact a Local Option tax

SMALL BUSINESS

  • Promoting small and green business by phasing in capital assets/property taxes above the exemption level and developing policies that encourage development of green and socially responsible businesses.
  • Supporting small family-owned ranches and farms by offering tax deductions to offset increases in fuel costs and low-interest loans for development and use of alternative energy on ranches and farms.

EDUCATION

Quality education prepares new generations of Montanans to find creative solutions and adaptations to a changing economy and develop technological innovations and applications to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Education is our investment in the good citizens, entrepreneurs, workers, scientists, and public leaders of tomorrow. Education is our future. We need to:

  • Stabilize tuition for higher education by capping tuition and restoring state support in the funding formula for in-state students. 
  • We need more funding for K-12 education that can be budgeted at the state level to equalize spending between areas where the property tax base is in decline and areas where it is increasing. This can come from the savings in reduced utility costs by shifting to solar energy in public schools.
  • Make our state education funding formula less sensitive to changes in enrollment by increasing the per educator payment
  • Raise the reserves in local districts to 20% to allow more flexibility in how funding is spent in different communities with different needs and priorities
  • Pool school employees statewide into a single health benefits system, a proposal that was tabled in the last legislature (HB 124). Had it passed, this would have resulted in millions of dollars savings to Montana taxpayers.