My Hopes

As someone who grew up in a conservative republican environment, I can honestly say that it influenced me.

This is the third time I have run for a state office. The first time I ran against Joe Reid and lost in the primary. I did not put much effort into the run as after filing my candidacy I found out I filed in the wrong district and It was too late to withdraw. I am a firm believer that one should live in their district and only those that live there should have a vote.

The second time, I filed at the last moment won my primary by a few votes and won the general on first count. Later when the contested votes were counted from the Blackfeet side of HD15 I had lost to Marvin Weatherwax by a 50.5% to 49.5% . However, having this happen to me was a good thing as it gave me the opportunity see how the process works and what is expected when you get to Helena. Basically, this run gave me an awareness to realize what was really involved when you run for office.

This time is my third time and I can say that I am running for a reason. It is because I believe in accountability and believe that it is time to have more fiscal conservatives in our representation. In much the same manner as Ronald Reagan, one of the last true fiscal conservatives, I believe in smaller government, lower taxes, less services and letting free enterprise be our hallmarks. I am also about using some common sense.

But as I mentioned before, I found out what is expected when you go to Helena, and one of them is the politicians expect you to have seven bills or proposals ready as there is a small time to introduce bills and get organized and the Republicans try to do this before you are even sworn in and the contested votes are counted. Because of this I have some general l thoughts about potential bills.

The ones I would like to introduce are …

1. An accountability bill where if any politician misses more that ten days of session, he/she is barred from running for office for the next two terms.

2. All State/County/Local elections in the State of Montana may only be voted on by residents of the locality and all candidates must reside in the locality being voted on.

e.g. Currently County Commissioners are elected by all the county residents. This should be changed to only residents of the Commissioner’s Home District. This way the representative is more apt to be looking out for their voters.

3. As a border state we should adopt the practice of other states where your driver’s license can act as a passport to Canada & Mexico, this would be done with a chip and would replace the real ID.

4. As the husband of a transplant recipient, I would like to see this state adopt rules to add to the Uniform Donation Act. These rules would consist of two proposals. 1 If a hospital participates in the program that they need a morgue/cooler to store the deceased in. and 2 That when the patient checks in they provide a signature allowing donation or denying it. If that can’t be done then the current criteria would be followed.

5. As a mortician who has seen the results of failure do paperwork, I would like to see the manner that the death certificate is filed be changed to one that is more accommodating to the grieving families. The DC should be initiated by the certifier (Dr or Coroner) within 72 hours from time of death. This should be mandatory and on the electronic system that has existed since 2002. The certificate should then be sent to County Registrar in the county of death and the registrar would then release the certificate to the mortician for completion. Currently many families are unable to handle legal work, access their safety deposit box or pay their bills because the bank freezes accounts after a person's death because of the need for a DC.

6. As a tax payer their needs to be expansion of the welfare system (SNAP & Medicaid). Yes, as a Republican this is probably something you would think of as intolerable but remember that I am about accountability and as a Christian we need to help the less fortunate.

What I am suggesting is that in exchange for expanded benefits there are restrictions as to what the recipient may use their discretionary funds for. ( e.g. Purchasing of vices that lead to health problems. ) To police this a Montana ID or driver’s license must be presented when purchasing these products on a SNAP card. The ID License number is typed into a data base and then from that source the sale could proceed. Non residents do not have to do this nor do those who are at a bar or restaurant. This could also be applied to gambling if desired.

As for medical, those with a chronic or a possible terminal medical condition eligibility should not have income requirements. By doing this it now leaves them employable and their spouse can now be employed. Current standards remove the incentive to be productive members of the community because one must be poor for assistance.

7. Lastly, because I believe in the Montana Constitution, I would ask that the State honor the wishes that are laid forth in the Montana Constitution and were reaffirmed in the 2nd Constitutional Convention. More specifically, the Montana Constitution states that there is no control over Indians and their lands.

Federal Indian Policy opened these lands without State input. A study should be made that shows the amount of state funds spent within the boundaries of Reservations and if possible, what the effects of a withdrawal of the services provided by the State would be unless there is a compact or federal obligation to provide services versus the impact of lost tax revenue from residents that pay property tax and income tax but reside within the boundaries of a federal Indian Reservation. Reservations are a federal issue and should be handled in that manner. Treaty rights, sovereignty and the power to enforce rules, regulations and laws ultimately lie within the federal realm not the State