Helena – Two Republican state senators who recently announced their candidacies for statewide offices in Montana voted against bipartisan legislation Gov. Steve Bullock will sign into law today to remove roadblocks for Montana firefighters to receive compensation for work-related illnesses. Gubernatorial candidate – Sen. Al Olszewski (R-Kalispell) – and candidate for secretary of state – Sen. Scott Sales (R-Bozeman) – both voted … Read More
Tax Day Reminder: Daines and Gianforte Voted to Give Tax Breaks to Corporations and the Wealthiest Americans as Montanans See Shrinking Refunds
Helena – On the deadline for the first tax filing season after Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte voted for the GOP tax law that handed hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest Americans, Montanans are noticing smaller tax refunds — or even owe money to the Internal Revenue Service. And Montanans are not alone. From … Read More
Al Olszewski Votes Against Affordable Health Care for Montanans Days After Launching Campaign for Governor
Helena – Sen. Al Olszewski, R-SD-06, today voted against continuing to provide affordable health care to 96,000 Montanans, just days after announcing his 2020 campaign for governor. On April 3, Olszewski announced his bid for the Montana governorship, claiming one of his priorities would be affordable health care. Yet today, Olszewski cast his second vote this session against Republican-sponsored legislation … Read More
In Case You Missed It: Rep. Greg Gianforte Voted Against Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence
Shelby, Mont. – Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Monica Lindeen issued the following statement after Rep. Greg Gianforte voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on the U.S. House floor yesterday. “It’s unacceptable that Gianforte joined a minority in voting against bipartisan, commonsense legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault,” Lindeen said. “Voting against the … Read More
Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema to Headline 41st Annual Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner
Helena—The Montana Democratic Party today announced Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema will be the keynote speaker at the 41st Annual Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner in Helena on Saturday, March 9, 2019. “We’re thrilled to welcome Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to Big Sky Country,” said Monica Lindeen, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party. “As the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Arizona in 30 years, Sen. … Read More
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Superintendent of Public Schools Won’t Say Whether She Opposes Bill that Would Undermine Public Education
Helena—Superintendent of the Office of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen yesterday addressed the House of Representatives after her office refused to take a position on legislation that attempts to dismantle public education in Montana, which Arntzen oversees. The bill, HB 303, introduced by Rep. Greg DeVries, R-Jefferson City, would eliminate enrollment and attendance requirements for children in public schools. It would also eliminate almost all educational requirements for children attending non-public school or home … Read More
Montana Democrats Win Ethics Complaint Against Corey Stapleton for Misuse of State Resources
Commissioner of Political Practices Finds Stapleton Committed Four Ethics Violations with Unethical Campaign Announcement Helena—A nonpartisan watchdog organization today found Secretary of State Corey Stapleton committed four ethics violations when he announced his 2020 gubernatorial campaign using a state email address. The Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) said Stapleton must pay $4,000 for the ethics violations, all four of which … Read More
Rep. Kerry White Joins Growing Number of Pro-Statewide Sales Tax Republicans in Legislative Leadership
Helena— In a House Taxation Committee hearing this morning, Rep. Kerry White (R-Bozeman) spoke in favor of his bill to create a statewide sales tax– a bill that would raise the cost of goods Montanans use every day. White joins other Republican legislators in leadership who have expressed a desire to impose a statewide sales tax. Last year, Republican Senate President Scott Sales … Read More
Montana Democratic Party Announces New Communications Director
Helena—Today, Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Monica Lindeen announced Samantha Offerdahl started as the Party’s new Communications Director. She will manage day-to-day press operations for the Party. Sam spent the last four years as press secretary for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. She has also worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and … Read More
As Shutdown Hurts Montana Families, Daines and Gianforte Refuse to Support Opening the Government
Helena—As the government shutdown careens toward its 22nd day, “Shutdown” Steve Daines and multimillionaire Greg Gianforte refuse to support bipartisan bills to reopen the government and provide relief for Montana families. “Montanans across our state are hurting because of this pointless government shutdown, but ‘Shutdown’ Steve Daines and Greg Gianforte refuse to support bipartisan bills to end the crisis,” said Monica Lindeen, … Read More