Issues

Several issues are particularly important for the Missoula community and for Montana: My reasons for running begin with the lack of responsibility of the Republicans in the last session on all global climate change bills. All were killed in the House. Other important issues include:

*Education: Funding for K-12 and for Higher Education remains low despite the help given to K-12 in recent sessions. The tuition freeze for a University education that we passed in 2007 was a great moment that we need to make permanent. I will continue to work for better funding of education.

*Protecting Our Environment. During my four terms in the legislature, I was proud to serve on the Natural Resources Committee (vice-chair in 2007), where I worked hard to prevent passage of laws that weakened environmental standards and harmed public health. If I am elected in November, strengthening our eroded environmental laws will be a priority for me.

* Affordable Housing. During the 2001 session I passed legislation to fund a revolving loan account for affordable housing. That account needs fresh funding, and I plan to sponsor legislation to do that.

Health Care for All. An astounding 20% of Montanans are without health care insurance. Health care is a basic human need, just like housing and food. We’ve made significant strides in helping to cover employees of small businesses and children living at or near the poverty level, but we can’t stop until all Montanans have access to affordable health care.

Global Warming. The most serious environmental problem facing the planet is global warming. Clearly major responsibility for dealing with the problem lies in Washington but that does not mean that Montana has to stand on the sidelines. The states must play a role in attacking this issue and there were a number of useful bills (including two of mine) from a half dozen legislators that would have made a difference in 2007. Given that coal fired power plants are one of the major sources of carbon dioxide (not the only greenhouse gas, but the one we can do most about), we must capture and store permanently all carbon dioxide from any future Montana plants. I will propose legislation to do that. California is ahead of us on progressive climatic legislation and we ought to emulate their leadership. Democrats will continue to place California like global warming bills into the process.

Fair Taxation A major disappointment from the last session was the Republican refusal to pass legislation requiring everyone to pay their fair share of taxes. There were ten such bills (broadly characterized as “tax cheat bills”), three of which were mine. All were killed and all are needed. We can have a fair and equitable tax system in Montana and I will work to see that it happens.