U.S. House candidates Tranel and Lamb discuss issues at Paradise debate

The Paradise Center last week hosted a debate attended by two of the candidates for Montana's District 1 U.S. House seat, Democrat Monica Tranel and Libertarian John Lamb. Republican Ryan Zinke did not attend.

Tranel is an attorney living in Missoula and is seeking her first elected position. She grew up on a ranch in eastern Montana.

John Lamb is a resident of Norris and a small business owner. He builds greenhouses for customers throughout the U.S.

Randy Garrison was the moderator for the debate and asked the candidates a series of pre-determined questions. Each candidate was given 2 minutes to answer and 1 minute for a rebuttal.

In Tranel’s opening statement, she said, “I have stood up for you against corporate monopolies keeping money in your pockets.”

She also spoke about fighting the rate increase proposed by NorthWestern Energy.

In Lamb’s opening statement, he said, “My main goal is to fight for liberty and freedom for my children and grandchildren on a limited basis. I don’t like big government telling me how to operate my farm and dictating how I live. I like the Libertarian model, no victim, no crime.”

The first question Garrison asked was: Montana families are struggling to make ends meet. Inflation is soaring. Housing in many communities is unobtainable. Montanans are leaving the state, not able to afford rent or purchase a home. What would you do to make the housing market more affordable for young Montanans?

Lamb spoke about homelessness in the state. He stated that, “I don’t believe that it is Congress’ job to get involved in state issues, and put more of a burden on our $31 trillion deficit we already have. I believe it is a state issue and that Montana already has the finances to fix this problem.

Lamb continued, “I would be putting pressure on the governor and the legislators here in Montana to fix this issue.”

Tranel spoke about the number of empty homes in Missoula and Bozeman. She went on to say that the population of Gallatin County is decreasing because people are not able to afford to live in the area.

“There are enough second empty homes in Gallatin County to house all the unhoused people,” she claimed.

Tranel said that one way to stop homelessness was, “stopping predatory ownership of corporations owning and investing in real estate in our towns.”

The second question asked about the Supreme Court’s recent decision on Roe vs Wade, which returned abortions rights to the states. Abortion remains legal in Montana based on the state’s constitutional right to individual privacy.

In her response, Tranel commented about how the public is being digitally tracked over their phones. Lamb, continued the narrative about the government spying on the public. He also said that he is “100% pro-life, and we cannot murder unborn babies” and continued with, “I will protect any which way I can, the life of the unborn.”

The debate continued with discussions on the increase of illicit drug use in the state. Lamb commented that the war on drugs was not working.

He said countless people are in prison for minor drug convictions and they should be released.

“We need people on the outside of the prison system that are helping these people,” he said.

Tranel commented that Butte is one of the big hubs in fentanyl distribution in the state, with the drug coming from China through the mail.

“We need better detection, drug dogs and technology to detect it,” she said.

The next question discussed the high cost of energy and how the candidates would help solve the issue.

“One of the things we need to do is take on corporate monopolies who are consolidating their efforts, who are realizing record profits and funding Ryan Zinke,” Tranel said.

She added that the U.S. is "producing more oil and gas at home in America right now than anytime that Ryan Zinke was in office.”

Lamb commented that “we should end regulations around the industry so that the government would not be in control. We could refine our own fuel closer here at home. We could then be more self sufficient and not send the oil into the global market.”

Tranel’s rebuttal said that “Colstrip plants one and two, begin closed, that generation has been totally replaced by wind.”

The public was able to ask additional questions which the candidates were given two minutes to answer. During the public discussions, Medicare for all was raised.

Lamb said he felt that the state should handle this issue and not the federal government.

Tranel’s response was, “We’ve got to get profit out of pain.” She also said that the pubic should have the option to choose their insurance provider. She added, “Big corporations want to privatize things because that’s more money for the giant corporations.”

In closing statements, Tranel said, “We the people are the power.”

During Lamb’s closing statements, he spoke about wanting term limits for those that serve in the government and that he wanted to be a citizen legislator.