Freedom Caucus fought against tax relief

Montanans are being crushed under the weight of skyrocketing property taxes. Longtime residents are watching their tax bill soar as wealthy out-of-staters scoop up land and inflate home values across Montana. Families, seniors and working people across the state are pleading for relief. 

This session a group of Montanans — Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals — came together to deliver meaningful property tax relief. Unfortunately, a group of Montana lawmakers stood in the way and are now actively campaigning to get Gov. Greg Gianforte to veto meaningful property tax reform for you. That group is the Montana “Freedom Caucus.” 

You deserve to know their names: Barry Usher, Nelly Nichol, Jerry Schillinger, Theresa Manzella, Carl Glimm and Bob Phalen all fought to prevent you from receiving a property tax cut. These legislators — all members of the Freedom Caucus — voted against cutting your property taxes from 1.35% to 0.76% on your primary residence. Instead, they wanted to offer you a token $240 rebate and call it good enough. 

It’s not just them. Jeremy Trebas, Daniel Emrich, Ken Bogner and Daniel Zolnikov all seem to want you to pay high property taxes. Jeremy Trebas wants to serve on the Public Service Commission. If he won’t protect you from high property taxes today, how can you expect him to protect you from high utility costs tomorrow? 

Instead of fighting for Montana residents, these lawmakers chose to protect the pockets of wealthy nonresidents who own second homes in exclusive enclaves like the Yellowstone Club and the shores of Whitefish Lake.  Every one of these legislators voted against bills that would cut tax rates on your primary residence — just so wealthy, nonresidents don’t have to pay more. 

That’s not conservatism. That’s not freedom.  That’s protecting the elite at the expense of everyday Montanans. 

It should be no surprise these legislators don’t want to cut your taxes. When it comes to protecting the taxpayer, these legislators are missing in action. All are supporters of Senate President Matt Regier. Regier wants to spend more and grow government, rather than save you money.  Regier tried to get the part-time Legislature to build a $160 million office building, and he has spent large sums on high priced lawyers, new office furniture and a fancy electronics suite. 

Montana’s property tax system is broken. We need reform and Regier, the Freedom Caucus, and Trebas, Emrich, Bogner and Zolnikov said, “NO!”  

The next time those legislators campaign on low taxes and standing up for Montana, remember they didn’t want to cut your property taxes.  They wanted to stick it to you and force you to pay the same exorbitant tax rates you are paying today.   

When it mattered most, they stood with wealthy outsiders and fought against real property tax relief for you.  Whereas I stand with you. 

Sen. Wendy McKamey, R-Great Falls.