SUNDAY, OCT. 4, 2020 Here are the questions we asked the candidates: SUNDAY, OCT. 4, 2020 COVID-19 has hurt Montana’s econo- program. Montana’s health care businesses 1.my. Montana’s Legislative Fiscal Divi- benefit from Medicaid expansion spending. sion projects a 13% drop in revenue to the Explain the outcome of your decision on state general fund this fiscal year, while both Medicaid patients and the health care economists don’t expect a return to pre- industry. pandemic growth levels until 2022. The Earlier in the pandemic, two Montana current governor has suggested that reserve 3.legislators asked that small businesses funding can cover the loss, though Republi- and health care providers receive immunity can leaders have called for budget cuts. from liability lawsuits related to the spread What budget steps do you think are need- of COVID-19. Nothing came of the request, ed to deal with this recession’s impact on but the issue isn’t dead. How you vote on state government? Would you support tax the issue in the Legislature? How would increases to balance the budget and main- Associated Press you balance the interests of businesses with tain current government services? In the al- The Montana House votes on bills during a final public safety? Would you condition liabil- ternative, what government services would day of a legislative session in Helena. ity waivers on businesses to taking certain you cut to make the budget balance? If you steps to avoid spreading the virus? Explain one concern your constituents intend to cut taxes, tell us what changes to Montana faces an energy economy 5.have told you about that you will at- government spending would be needed to law, or parts of it, including federal funding 4.crisis. Its biggest energy customers in tempt to address as a legislator. Tell us what accommodate both your tax cut and the for Medicaid expansion. What would you Oregon and Washington are banning coal you intend to do. current revenue slump. as a legislator do if federal funding of Med- power. Out of state power plants that burn On Nov. 10, the U.S. Supreme Court icaid expansion was eliminated? The state Montana coal are also planning to shut Editor’s note: Candidates were limited to 2.will hear oral arguments in California would become responsible for full fund- down in the next few years. What should 100 words per response. Aside from trim- v. Texas, a case concerning the Affordable ing of the expansion program if the federal the Legislature do? What steps would you ming some responses to meet the word limit, Care Act. The case is rooted in ACA’s indi- government backed out. Roughly 90,000 take to keep Montana in the energy export the candidate’s answers have not been ed- vidual mandate, but could undo the entire Montanans have enrolled in the expanded business, or should the state get out? ited. Most Montana counties file mail ballot plans By GWEN FLORIO judges tend to be older and at higher risk [email protected] for suffering severe symptoms from the coronavirus. Forty-six of Montana’s 56 counties Mail ballots have become a source of initially opted for mail ballots in the contention in some quarters. Earlier this November election, according to a tally week, the reelection campaign of Presi- posted by the Montana Secretary of dent Donald Trump, along with the Re- State’s Office. publican National Committee, the na- Gov. Steve Bullock gave the coun- tional Republican Senatorial Committee ties the option of using the mail ballots and the Montana Republican State cen- following a request in July from county tral Committee sued to block mail ballots clerks across the state. Mail ballots are in Montana. Friday, Bullock, a Democrat similar to the absentee ballots already who seeks to unseat incumbent Republi- used by roughly three-quarters of Mon- can U.S. Sen. Steve Daines in November, tana voters. said that request, if granted, would “in- In-person voting will still be allowed ject chaos into the election.” in all counties, and voters also have the Similar lawsuits targeting mail bal- option of dropping off their mail ballots lots have been filed around the country in person, either at county voting offices by Republican groups, while Democrats or in drop-boxes. have suits over voting regulations they Because of the pandemic, all Montana see as restrictive. counties used mail ballots in the June When the suit was announced, Bull- primary election, which saw near-record ock cited support from the Montana turnout. Senate president and speaker of the Counties had until Friday to turn Montana House, both Republicans, for in their ballot plans. Only Broadwater, the June primary. Carbon, Fergus, Mineral, Petroleum, House Speaker Greg Hertz, R-Polson, Powder River, Powell, Stillwater, Trea- pointed out in an email that Bullock is- sure and Wibaux counties did not submit sued the primary directive in March mail ballot plans, according to the Sec- when the pandemic was still in the early retary of State’s Office. stages, but that he could no longer sup- County clerks have cited difficulties port a general election mail ballot “now SARA DIGGINS, Missoulian in finding enough election judges for we know COVID isn’t as bad as once an- An election aide sorts through ballots arriving at the Missoula County Elections Office by mail during traditional poll elections, given that the ticipated.” the June 2020 primary election. 2 OCTOBER 2020 MONTANANS HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE IN THE RACE FOR U .S. SENATE GOVERNOR STEVE BULLOCK SENATOR STEVE DAINES A steady leader who Montanans can always count A multimillionaire who looks out for himself and his on to put them first – not the special interests. corporate backers in Washington – not Montanans. Brought Democrats and Republicans Voted repeatedly to let insurance companies together to expand healthcare for 90,000 deny health care for people with pre-existing Montanans, fought to lower costs and saved conditions like cancer, diabetes, and asthma rural hospitals Voted to risk the sale of Montana’s public lands Vetoed bills that threatened our public to out-of-state landowners and developers lands & fought out-of-state interests when they tried to overturn stream access law Voted for Mitch McConnell’s tax plan that gave a trillion dollars in breaks to big corporations and Cut taxes for small businesses wealthy Americans, like himself Balanced the budget and saved $600 million Spent six years in China setting up factories for in our rainy day fund – allowing Montana to an American corporation recover from this crisis faster than most states Taken $2 million in campaign cash from corporate Not taking a dime of corporate PAC money PACs, the health insurance and drug industries S TEVE BULLOCK S TEVE D AINES W ORKS FOR WORKS FOR ALL MONTANANS HIMSELF AND HIS CORPORATE BACKERS GET THE FA CTS BEFORE Y OU VO TE STEVEBULLOCK.COM P AID FOR BY MONTANANS FOR BULLOCK OCTOBER 2020 3 HOUSE DISTRICT 30 CINDY PALMER many infrastructure needs. I would protect siders the US response too risky. I would the principal for future generations and not only support liability waivers for businesses Political party: Democrat raid this Trust. I would consider necessary following CDC guidelines. Place of birth: Great Falls cuts and tax increases: for example, I sup- The state should support the energy Home: Geyser port a sales tax on rental cars because over 4.export business that is booming—re- Occupation: Rancher 90% are to out-of-state people. Then we newable energy. My farm sits at the base Family: Husband and two daughters. could reduce the pressure on property taxes. of the Spion Kop wind farm and I have in- Education: Bachelor’s degree in English For years, the Republican major- stalled solar power panels to power my farm Past employment: Special Projects for 2.ity would not pass Medicaid expan- yard and home. We can lament that the car the State Commissioner of Securities and sion even though the federal government put the buggy out of business or we can em- Insurance, Investigator for the Attorney covered 100% of the cost. They worried brace and profit from the change. The most General Office of Consumer Protection and we could lose funding. I felt that was a ter- frightening bill in the last legislature would English teacher. rible argument as decisions should be made have allowed Northwest Energy to pur- Military: N/A based on the current facts, not an imagined chase Coalstrip for $1 as it would have made Political experience: I volunteered for future. The Supreme Court has upheld the ratepayers responsible for $700 million in the 2008/2009 legislative session and in ACA before so I believe they will again, but clean-up, repairs and updates. 2018/2019 session I lobbied for Montana if funding is eliminated then Medicaid ex- Representative Wylie Galt only at- Farmers Union. pansion would have to be too. We would go 5.tended one Agriculture committee Endorsements: N/A back to where we were with uninsured peo- hearing. He led the charge to kill Coun- Ways voters can contact you: ple so angry that an all new solution will be try of Origin Labeling (COOL). All food, a.) Email: [email protected] demanded. except beef and pork are labeled. Before b.) Address: PO Box 41, Geyser, MT If the faucet is leaking I don’t spend my COOL was repealed ranchers made $2.50 59447 3.time trying to figure out how to fix the per pound on beef. Rep. Galt dismissed c.) Phone number: 406-735-4941 damages it is causing, rather, I fix the prob- COOL’s impact on price and said the price Most departments function on funds lem.