Trend Alert! Gov. Gianforte can’t stop taking credit for ARPA funding he once called “fiscally irresponsible”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 9th, 2022
CONTACT
press@montanademocrats.org
Trend Alert! Gov. Gianforte can’t stop taking credit for ARPA funding he once called “fiscally irresponsible”
Helena, MT – Governor Gianforte has once again taken credit for investments that originated from ARPA funding secured by Democrats. In a press release on Monday, he took credit for the funds which will bring high speed internet access to rural Montana, calling them “historic investments.” However, the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – both Democrat-led legislation that Gov. Gianforte has spent more than a year lambasting for being “fiscally irresponsible.”
Let’s take a look at just some of the times Gianforte has taken credit for ARPA funding:
The Governor posed with a $1.9 million check for Dillon’s water infrastructure– money that had been secured through ARPA
Announced $1.5 million to address the case backlog with the Billings public defender office – money that had been secured through ARPA
Promoted a $31 million grant to child care facilities on a press tour, and failed to acknowledge the source of the money was ARPA
Celebrated his Return to Work Bonus program (despite falling far short of expectations) – all $3.7 million of those funds came from ARPA
“Democrats have made historic investments in Montana’s future economy and pandemic recovery. The Governor has fought us at every turn,” says Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “He keeps biting the hand that feeds him, and hoping Montanans aren’t paying attention. But I can assure you, we are.”
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