The three Montana Republican gubernatorial primary candidates fielded a lot of questions, most often dealing with the economy, taxes and crime and drug abuse, last Thursday evening at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, during a debate sponsored by the Yellowstone County Republican Women’s organization.
U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte frequently answered questions referencing his close ties to President Trump, his business experience and his proposed business plan for Montana, which includes a tax cut. Gianforte was founder of Right Now Technologies in Bozeman, which he sold to Oracle.
State Sen. Al Olszewski emphasized more the social issues associated with health care, drug abuse and his life long experience as a surgeon and serving as a medical officer in the military. Placing bill boards at the state border announcing $50,000 rewards for any information leading to the prosecution of drug dealers and human traffickers, was a proposal to address crime that Olszeweski frequently mentioned.
Tim Fox frequently underscored that he has already been dealing with many of the prevailing issues in Montana serving in his role as Montana attorney general, emphasizing his close ties to rural Montana as a native growing up in Hardin, and saying that the state needs a “principled person,” to serve as Governor.
Asked how they planned to cut state spending without shifting burdens onto local government, Fox said, We can find efficiencies…jump start our economy.”
Olszeweski commented that “we have a very strong economy thanks to President Trump…our government needs to go on a diet. We need to invite people on entitlements to go back into the workforce.” And, he added, “This is the treasure state, not the tourist state…we need to fight for our agriculture” and other basic industries and “we won’t have to shift costs.”
Gianforte, too, said he would rely on a strong economy. “Our state spending is up 60 percent over the last ten years,” he said. He suggested holding spending “flat,” and using increased future tax revenues to allow for a plan to cut taxes. “It is not easy but we have seen the results…Montana could take a page out of the national playbook.”
Question: Billings has struggled with the influx of drugs and crime from Mexico. As governor what would you do?
Olszeweski replied “It is a war. It isn’t going to go away with just education and prevention.” It was then that he recommend a $50,000 reward for anyone with evidence that leads to the prosecution of a criminal. In addition, he said, “We need to help people addicted, but we also need to make sure Montana can get healthy again…We have to do what it takes to do it.”
Noting that over 90 percent of crime in the state is associated with drugs, Gianforte recommended pursuing, to even a greater degree, the successful drug treatment courts that have been used in Yellowstone County. 70 percent of those treated “stay clean and are holding a job,” he said, “and they cost 10 percent of the cost of incarceration.”
“I have already been doing it as attorney general,” responded Fox, citing past efforts with drug treatment courts, treatment options. and other programs needed to combat the drug problems. “This is a Congressional problem to fix and until we get Congress to change we won’t see anything except play catch-up.”
The candidates were asked about their proposals to make drugs less expensive and health care more affordable.
Ganforte said that he has been working hard to get passed bi-partisan legislation that would do those things, adding “we have to protect patients with pre-existing conditions” and help support rural health care. “There has been very little accountability in Medicaid,” he added.
Olszeweski quipped, “The most expensive health care is ‘free’ health care.” He said that he helped pass a bill in the last state legislature that would have “shed a light” on health care companies (pharmacy benefit managers) and would have dropped cost five to seven percent. Also passed was another bill that would have given taxpayers a tax credit for out-of-pocket medical expenses. It was vetoed by the governor, he said, as were other bills that were passed that would have impacted accountability in the health care business. “Government has screwed up our health care system and it will have to fix it.”
Fox said that he has already been playing a role in challenging anti-competitive practices among drug companies. The Attorney General’s office won a case that resulted in the state getting reimbursed for drug costs. “Drug companies and distribution companies need accountability,” he added.
Asked what they would do to keep ineligible people from enrolling in health care programs, Fox said that the Department of Health and Human Services must be held accountable.
Olszeweski said that there needs to be an audit of the system and those violating the law “need to go to prison.”
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