Why I'm Running

I'm running for a seat in the Montana state legislature because I believe that good policies make a difference, and with Governor Schweitzer's decisive win in November of 2004 and his approval rating this April of 74%, its clear that Montanans are ready for a change. In just eighteen months Governor Schweitzer and the Democrats already have an impressive record of achievements that have improved the lives of Montanans and their families. They have

  • Created Health Insurance purchasing pools and tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance
  • Fully funded the Children's Health Insurance Program
  • Provided $80 million more in education funding
  • Passed a Prescription Drug Plan that offers a discount for seniors and the disabled
  • Helped small business by increasing the cap on tax exempt business equipment
  • Made the Habitat Montana program to secure, develop, and maintain wildlife through the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission permanent


All of this was done with out raising taxes one cent. But there is much more to do. With a split Senate and a Republican-controlled House in 2005, several critical opportunities were lost including:

  • Property Tax Rebate that would have given 96% of Montanans a rebate in 2005 and 2006 by decreasing income tax cuts for the richest Montanans
  • Better and stronger Stream Access Laws when HB 560 was defeated, which would have allowed Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to rule on whether a body of water is a stream subject to the publics right to recreational use, and would have allowed increased public access
  • Fish and Wildlife Protection Act that would have recovered some of the losses to the MEPA after Cindy Younkin led the 2001 legislature to weaken Montanas Environmental Protection Act
  • Raising the Minimum Wage from $5.65 to $6.00

I believe in fiscal responsibility, which means looking at both sides of the budget and program equation. When someone proposes a new program I ask How will we pay for that? And when someone proposes cutting taxes, I ask What will that cost in program cuts? It is not responsible to cut taxes without asking what we will lose and who will pay the price. For example, when the legislature under Republican leadership cut its share of funding for higher education year after year, they passed the cost along to Montana students and parents in the form of increased tuition. That is not responsible. Nor is it responsible to try to buy public support by offering across the board tax cuts that for most Montanans would mean a savings of a few hundred dollars, while the wealthiest homeowners and corporations would save tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands. Without a plan for the permanent replacement of revenue lost to tax cuts, this would eventually lead to cuts in funding for K-12 public education.

I support tax reform for tax fairness. By making responsible decisions that reduce the tax burden on those living on fixed incomes, for example, we can close loopholes in other areas that currently cost us lost revenue. This way we can achieve more tax fairness and continue to strengthen, rather than weaken, the public services critical to our future, like education, which accounts for half of state spending. Fairness should guide tax reform and responsibility should guide our commitment to programs that invest in the future of Montana.

I am excited about working with the Democrats and the Governor to enact legislation that supports public education, economic security, environmental protection, and the development of clean and affordable alternative energy for Montana.