Out-of-Stater Navigator: Tim Sheehy Refuses to Back IVF Protections
This week, Sheehy stood with his campaign bankrollers and political benefactors by refusing to back nationwide federal protections for IVF access. Montanans are also seeing that Sheehy’s campaign cashed more than $100,000 in lobbyist checks, including thousands from those who want to make prescription drugs more expensive, and that Montana Republicans are in disarray. Get caught up on the biggest MT-SEN news from this week:
SHEEHY-ALIGNED GROUP OPPOSES IVF PROTECTIONS
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (SBA), which endorsed Tim Sheehy, came out against nationwide federal protections for IVF access this week. Sheehy refused to support the Access to Building Families Act, which would protect IVF access for Montanans, standing with Senate Republicans and his political benefactors at the expense of Montana women and families.
This is not SBA’s first attack on IVF treatment. When Senator Duckworth first introduced a similar bill in 2022, SBA lobbied against the legislation. It’s no wonder that Sheehy sought and celebrated the endorsement of such an extreme group – he has already called abortion murder, and SBA pledged only to endorse Senate candidates who back a national abortion ban.
SHEEHY RAKES IN LOBBYIST CASH
New reporting revealed that Sheehy’s campaign has cashed more than $100,000 in lobbyist checks in 2023 – including significant contributions from pharmaceutical company lobbyists and Chinese tech companies.
Sheehy has opposed efforts to lower drug costs, making his pharmaceutical lobbying donations particularly suspect. While an estimated 100,000 Montanans will “see lower drug costs as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act,” Sheehy is busy raking in cash from health insurance lobbyists.
Sheehy’s “tough on China” claims are also under fire, as he accepted $10,000 from lobbyists for two Chinese tech companies.
MONTANA REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS DRAG SHEEHY
Matt Rosendale might no longer be running for U.S. Senate, but the MontanaGOP is anything but unified. Yesterday, the Flathead GOP Central Committee Chair, Dr. Al Olszewski, posted a new video attacking Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, saying the “party bosses now want the Montana GOP to unify and get behind their pet candidates” and called on Montana Republicans to “decline and oppose our party bosses and our rulers who are continuing to shove down our throats their demands and pet candidates.”
He’s not alone. Montana State Representative Bob Phalen responded to say he is asked to unite with Sheehy, but “I will not vote for who they think I should get behind and… I will choose my own candidate” and endorsed Brad Johnson.
WHAT ROSENDALE REALLY THINKS ABOUT SHEEHY
This week, Matt Rosendale bowed down to political pressure and endorsed Tim Sheehy. But if you want to know what Rosendale really thinks about Sheehy, don’t take it from us – hear it in his own words:
Matt Rosendale on February 9: “Tim, I was serving my 2nd term in the Montana Legislature when you moved here from Minnesota. I know Montanans, and they don’t want Mitch McConnell’s lackey who is ‘self-funding’ with taxpayer dollars to try and buy the Montana Senate seat.” [2/9/23]
Matt Rosendale on December 6: “Propping up a candidate who profited off Biden’s Green New Deal and has already spent more time meeting with lobbyists in Washington than visiting with Montanans. This is exactly why Senate Republicans continue to find themselves in the minority.” [12/6/23]
Matt Rosendale on February 9: “On January 6th, 2021, I stood with President Trump and voted against the electors. Meanwhile, shortly after, Tim Sheehy contributed to Nikki Haley. On the day Alvin Bragg wrongfully indicted President Trump with bogus charges, I stood with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Within days, Tim Sheehy contributed to yet another candidate running against President Trump.” [2/9/24, 00:30]
Matt Rosendale on October 17: “And we've got to have somebody who's willing to stand up to the DC cartel. We got to have somebody who, quite frankly, is willing to stand up to Mitch McConnell. And so far, I haven't seen that.” [10/17/23]
Matt Rosendale on December 14: “So that is very problematic. ESG standards, the environmental social governance standards, are a huge problem. And anyone who has embraced or promotes the utilization of them is doing nothing more than destroying our energy sector, manufacturing sector, and they're causing our agriculture major problems, because these environmental social governance scores are all tied to, again, this New Green Deal, carbon and fossil fuels.” [12/14/23]
Matt Rosendale on September 28: “Another yes man for Mitch McConnell.” [9/28/23]
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