State of the state address

Last night we heard the Governor present the State of the State address and outline some of the top priorities that we must support in order to build strong families and strong communities.  These priorities included infrastructure, early education, Medicaid expansion, mental health, campaign finance reform, and public lands.

Infrastructure

The ‘Build Montana’ plan helps us bridge the urban-rural divide and unite East and West as one Montana. The infrastructure projects that will be funded through the ‘Build Montana’ plan are not about politics, they are about the people of Montana and the lives that they will impact and improve.

“The projects that are incorporated into HB 5 are important for our people and Montana’s future. It is our responsibility to keep HB 5 as one bill so the Legislature cannot pick winners and losers.” Rep. Chuck Hunter.Early Education  

We are responsible for the next generation of Montanans and we must give them every opportunity to succeed.  In order to prepare Montana children for the jobs of tomorrow, we must invest in them at an early age and ensure access to pre-k education for all of Montana’s children.

Healthy Montana and Mental Health

On behalf of the 70,000 Montanan’s currently uninsured we stand with the Governor in passing Medicaid expansion. Passing the ‘Healthy Montana’ plan is the right thing to do for hard-working Montana families. The current shortage of Mental Health care is impacting our Montana families and communities and it is our responsibility to ensure that all Montanans suffering from a mental health disease have access to adequate care both institutionally and through the community.

Campaign Finance Reform

Government accountability and transparency is another top priority we are supporting. Campaign finance reform is essential to get dark money out of our campaigns and protect your right to elect candidates that will work on behalf of all Montanans, not special interest groups.

Public Lands

We will stand alongside the Governor to keep public lands in public hands.  For generations we have been able to take advantage of the beautiful Montana public lands and we will work to protect and preserve Montana for future generations.

Standing with the Governor on these issues is standing for strong families and strong communities.

Republican Response

The Republican response, in contrast to Governor Bullock’s speech focused on Republican ideology. Senator Moore, who offered the Republican agenda, spoke frequently about our President and what is happening in Washington D.C., instead of the work we were elected to do here in Montana.

“I was very disappointed to hear the Republican’s refusal to even consider working with the Democrats on meeting the infrastructure needs of Montana, to use bonding, and to expand Medicaid. I hoped we could move past our party politics and work together this session to meet the needs of all Montanans. Instead, we received a partisan response filled with party rhetoric that focused solely on the Republican agenda.  I am still hopeful that there will be more collaboration as the session moves on.”  

Senator Christine Kaufmann.