Gianforte Calls For Restricting Access to Health Care During Gubernatorial Debate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
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press@montanademocrats.org
Gianforte Calls For Restricting Access to Health Care During Gubernatorial Debate
Gianforte lied about his record supporting a statewide sales tax, suggested that too many Montanans are receiving affordable health care
Helena, MT – During last weekend’s gubernatorial debate, Greg Gianforte restated his support for stripping health care away from Montanans, and attempted to skirt over his vocal support for a statewide sales tax. Here are the facts:
Greg Gianforte has called a statewide sales tax in Montana an “ideal solution.” He’s advocated for replacing Montana’s income tax with a statewide sales tax, and he has testified on behalf of a bill to lower income taxes for millionaires like himself, while enacting a statewide sales tax on working Montanans to make up the difference. But when asked about his support for a sales tax on Saturday night, Gianforte deflected.
Greg Gianforte strongly supported a statewide sales tax, decades after Montanans voted against it. Montanans’ staunch opposition to a sales tax hasn’t stopped Gianforte from supporting it – it’s unfortunate he won’t level with Montanans that he prioritizes lowering taxes for millionaires like himself over working families. After all, Gianforte said “the fairest tax is the one you pay, and I don’t.”
Later on, Gianforte stated too many Montanans are receiving quality, affordable health care — even as COVID-19 continues to spread across the country. Gianforte said, “we’ve allowed many people to climb on [Medicaid expansion],” and he pledged to strictly limit Montanans’ eligibility for the program.
“Nearly 100,000 Montanans are out of work, but Greg Gianforte’s top concern is that too many Montanans are receiving affordable health care. It’s shameful that Gianforte would want to tear health care away from Montanans in the middle of a pandemic,” said MDP Executive Director Sandi Luckey. “Montanans know that Gianforte will stop at nothing to benefit himself. That’s why he supported a sales tax, after Montanans voted against it twice. On Saturday night, we were reminded – Greg Gianforte is looking out for himself, not working families.”
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