Key coverage in the race for U.S. House
Race profile: Representing Montana in the U.S. House, who can bring a cure for health care?
Montana Lowdown: Matt Rosendale
Montana Lowdown: Kathleen Williams
Montana PBS debate: U.S. House
Campaign finance
Contributions by zip code: Debra Lamm (R)
Media coverage
On the issues
Particularly as the nation deals with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, what federal action would you support to help create good, high-paying jobs for Montana workers?
This is a great time to roll back regulations. We have seen the benefits of relaxing federal regulations during this crisis. A prime example is telemedicine. It would open up opportunities for doctors and other health practitioners and their families to live in rural communities. These are high-paying jobs, bring needed health care service to Montana and build our economy.
What separates you from your primary opponents as your party’s best candidate to represent Montana in Washington, D.C.?
I am the best Republican candidate to win against the likely Democrat candidate because it removes the issue of gender from the ballot. It gives voters an opportunity to focus on the issues and policy differences. I want to serve the people of Montana and address their concerns in education, health care, and agriculture as I have listened to Montanans all across the state. I have the most broad-based experience in both public service and the private sector. As a problem solver, I will use my experience in health care, business, law and education to represent our shared values and tackle the tough problems facing our nation and our state. I am not a career politician nor do I wish to become one.
If elected to the House, how would you attempt to bridge partisan divides to represent the concerns of Montanans who don't share your political orientation in Washington D.C.?
I would look for areas of common ground like education, veterans affairs, agriculture and children/family/human trafficking issues. Certainly we can all agree that these are areas of common interest. Staying focused on our oath to the Constitution will provide the necessary framework for tackling problems.
Would you have voted to impeach President Donald Trump based on the evidence presented to the U.S. House last year? Why?
No. There was no evidence of a crime.
Do you see reining in the federal debt as a priority? If so, how should that be accomplished? If you support new taxes, whom specifically should that burden fall on? If you support spending cuts, which specific places in the federal budget should be targeted? (We assume that working to minimize waste, fraud and abuse is a given.)
Yes, the federal debt must be a priority. I do not support new taxes but would look for ways to cut spending through regulatory reform and insisting that Congress do its job. And, yes, minimizing waste, fraud and abuse.
Do you support keeping the Affordable Care Act in place? What if any alternate federal policies would you support to promote Montanans’ access to safe, affordable health care?
The ACA was not the answer to our health care woes. No one should be forced to buy something they don't want. Alternatively, I would work to restore the doctor-patient relationship, remove the middle man, allow people to obtain catastrophic insurance policies, expand health savings accounts, require transparency in pricing, allow competition across state lines, and expand telemedicine.
Do you believe the federal government has enacted effective policies to keep Montana’s family-owned farms viable businesses? If not, which pieces of federal policy would you push to change?
The Federal government has helped open up trade and removed barriers/regulations like the Waters of the U.S. But the amount of regulations placed on family farms is still excessive such as limiting or preventing access for livestock grazing on public lands.
Should the federal government consider transferring some federally held land into state ownership?
The state should be managing federal lands. The state knows better than far away bureaucrats. It would be less costly to the taxpayer and the state could reopen public lands that have been restricted by the federal government.
Do you support the Montana Water Rights Protection Act implementing the Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes Water Compact in its current form before Congress?
While I voted against the CSKT water compact when I served in the state Legislature, the current proposed act cures several defects and concerns but not all.
Stay tuned for more
We'll be updating this page with new information through Election Day in November 2020.
Have ideas about additional coverage that would be helpful as you consider your vote? Tell us at edietrich@montanafreepress.org.