Particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, what policies would you propose to help provide Montana workers with access to good jobs?

Our first goal must be to get as many people back to work this year as possible without risking a resurgence of the virus. Some of the $1.25 billion in CARES Act funds should first be used to promote public health and safety, particularly in the hospitality, tourism and retail segments, to give the public confidence that they can safely return to the public marketplace.

Next, we should invest in business stabilization measures especially for those that have lost most of their income. Initial options include crisis grants and loans and short term line of credit guarantees. State and local governments should also accelerate shovel-ready construction projects, including projects scheduled for 2021. The state should consider a low-interest loan guaranty program for infrastructure projects.

Montana must leverage its advantage at attracting tourists once travel restrictions ease. We must reform regulations and barriers to business growth that unreasonably hinder economic development.

If the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic causes a state budget crisis, how would you propose to address it? If you support tax increases, who specifically should pay more? If you support budget cuts, where specifically would you look to make cuts? (We assume that working to minimize waste, fraud and abuse is a given.)

The Fox/Knokey Team opposes new taxes and tax increases. Several sources of money to address revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic already exist. The state budget surplus was $291 million, the budget stabilization reserve fund was $118 million, and the fire fund was $55 million, all as of March 18th, for a total of $464 million. As much as $200 million might initially be available to backfill lost revenues if the Legislature does not pass legislation to remove minimum balances. Montana will also receive $1.25 million dollars from the federal CARES Act to be used by December 31st for COVID-19 related costs. Some of these funds should be used to the extent possible to pay next year’s anticipated COVID-19 related expenses this year to provide some breathing room in next year’s budget.

We are already looking at ways to trim the state budget, and will continue those efforts.

If elected governor, how would you attempt to bridge partisan divides to work with Montanans who don't share your political orientation in order to ensure their concerns are considered by your administration?

Just as I’ve done as attorney general, I will reach out to form broad coalitions on issues where consensus might be found. I will also have an open door policy and will work with any reasonable person or group.

As attorney general, my office drafted 51 agency bills in the four legislative sessions. Forty-nine of those bills were overwhelmingly passed in the Legislature, and were signed into law. I had roughly half of those bills carried by Republicans, and half by Democrats. Together we had success in stopping sex trafficking, addressing the state’s substance abuse disorder crisis, protecting consumers, and reforming Montana’s sexual assault laws and procedures, among other successes.

Montana must resist letting the swamp politics of Washington, D.C. become the norm here. Montanans want relatable leaders of character that can be trusted, and that listen.

Should Montana’s minimum wage of $8.65 an hour be raised to $15 an hour, as some advocate?

We must wait to see and fully understand the fallout from COVID-19 before making drastic policy decisions. Making employers pay more, and thereby making consumers pay more, may contribute to instability in our economy in the wake of the pandemic. In any event, a nearly 100% increase in the minimum wage may be unsustainable and likely would thwart economic and job growth, prevent new business startups, freeze investment, and dissuade companies from coming to Montana. As we assess the impact of COVID-19 to our economy, any increases in wages should likely be targeted and left to employment market indicators as Montana emerges from the pandemic.

Do you favor legalizing marijuana use in Montana beyond the state’s existing medical marijuana program? If so, what sideboards would be appropriate?

No, the Fox/Knokey Team does not favor recreational marijuana, particularly within the context of the current threats to Montana’s economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 virus. Further legalizing marijuana would require a significant upfront state government expenditure and would grow government before any potential tax revenues would be realized. Growing government, adding state employees, and burdening the state budget during a health and economic emergency is unwise and potentially catastrophic.

In addition, because marijuana is a proven gateway drug that too often causes serious substance abuse problems, the post-COVID-19 era is no time to be experimenting with the health, public safety, and welfare of our citizens. Finally, the societal costs from health problems, juvenile marijuana use, escalating drug use, increased crime, workforce shortages, and other problems in states that have legalized recreational marijuana outweigh the revenues derived from taxes on the drug.

What steps would you support as governor to reduce the number of missing and murdered indigenous people in Montana?

I recognized the disproportionate number of indigenous people that go missing in Montana and worked with the state Tribal Relations Interim Committee on the issue. This resulted in five bills introduced in the 2019 session, and four passed. Most notably was Hanna's Act creating a new missing persons specialist position at the Montana Department of Justice. In addition, SB 312 created the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force at DOJ. The task force recently reported to the Interim Committee on its progress and made recommendations, including additional resources for local law enforcement and missing persons investigators at DOJ. Additionally, the task force recommended a missing persons case review commission to conduct in-depth examination of missing persons cases, identify gaps, and further inform the legislative process.

I will continue to advocate for additional resources to address MMIP cases, and work for legislation to better assist local jurisdictions in responding to MMIP cases.

Do you support state-funded pre-K education? If so, should pre-K schools run by churches or private entities be eligible for funding?

We will work to improve early childhood education opportunities available across the state. Depending on state revenues after the COVID-19 virus situation subsides, we will work with the Legislature to determine what can be done within the state budget without raising taxes. The availability of public funding for private religious schools will largely depend on the outcome of the Espinoza case now before the U.S. Supreme Court.

We will consider supporting a mixed delivery pre-kindergarten strategy. Mixed delivery models are utilized across the nation and by at least 17 Republican governors. In these models, preschool services are delivered by both public school districts and private sector providers including faith-based preschools. We do not support a wholly government-run pre-school option because it will eliminate current providers. Any policy decisions must consider that private Montana child care providers generate over $122 million in revenues and employ roughly 4,700 people.

Should the state incarcerate fewer people? If so, are there specific criminal justice reform measures you support?

I support narrowly tailored legislation designed to promote rehabilitation and reduce incarceration. The 2017 criminal justice reform bill was in large part crafted by a national association and out-of-state experts. As a result, several mistakes were made, including lifting the mandatory minimum sentence for sex crimes against children aged 12 or younger, and prohibiting law enforcement from making an arrest on a first offense disorderly conduct.

As attorney general, I expanded the 24/7 Sobriety Program to all 56 counties. 24/7 requires those charged with DUI’s to undergo twice a day breathalyzer testing. The program reduces recidivism and keeps people out of jail. In 2019, I sought permanent funding for the state’s veteran, family, and drug courts. These courts are also proven to work in rehabilitating Montanans, reuniting families, and keeping people out of jail. The Legislature approved only a one time appropriation of $250,000. I will seek long term funding for these courts.

As governor, how would you ensure that journalists who cover your administration on citizens’ behalf have ample opportunity to understand how you are governing the state? Specifically, would you pledge to 1) Conduct weekly press briefings? And 2) Provide the public with comprehensive daily calendars detailing whom you have met with in your official capacity as governor?

I have been accessible to journalists at every opportunity. My policy is to invite new journalists to call or come in to visit and to ask questions. I frequently have my staff reach out to schedule interviews with reporters, editorial boards, publishers, and editors when traveling. I make myself as available as possible when the press asks for an interview.

It is important for candidates and elected leaders to be accessible to the press. It is also important to utilize chains of command when seeking story corrections and retractions, and when a journalist makes a mistake, as some do. Unlike some elected leaders who avoid, denigrate, or even assault journalists, I see journalists as executing the wisdom of the founders of the Constitution’s foundational principles, including freedom of the press, government accountability, and participatory democracy in our republic. I will hold frequent press briefings, and will make my daily schedule publicly available online.

Montana political candidates often tout their Montana roots and face criticism if they were born and raised elsewhere. Is it important for the governor to be a lifelong Montanan?

It is more important for a governor to believe in, live for, and encourage Montanans than it is to be a lifelong Montanan. Empathy, identity, state pride, humility, unselfishness, and connectedness to a people and a land grow with time. Everyone is different, and no two persons’ experiences are the same. Yet relating to a people, and being relatable, result directly from the temporal and physical context of a person’s service to others, and from the service of others to that person. Money can buy many things, but in Montana it cannot buy love, humility, relatability, or votes. At the end of the day, it is more honorable and admirable to aspire to try to fulfill the dreams and needs of others, than it is to aspire to one’s selfish desires.