Posted by (+2861) 2 years ago
Giantforte just lent himself another $4 million in his campaign to buy Montana. How do you suppose he intends to repay this loan? It’s simple, if elected governor it will be repaid the way Republicans always repay themselves. They cut taxes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations. The tax cuts on the ultra-wealthy skims money from the state that lands directly in their bank accounts. The cuts to corporate taxes result in campaign contributions to them and their friends. So what is the rub?
The rub is the damage done to all state programs, including education, that the non-ultra-wealthy citizens of this state rely upon to just get by. The loss of income from the ultra-wealthy and corporate income taxes is made up by raising local property taxes and eventually, what the ultra-wealthy wanted in the first place but could not openly advocate, a general sales tax. A general sales tax allows the taxation of even the poorest citizen and those living on Social Security or on disability.
I remember when Republican Marc Racicot was elected governor in 1993, Montana enjoyed some of the lowest utility rates in the nation. The Republicans pushed for and Racicot signed into law disastrous deregulation of Montana’s utility sector and a $1billion giveaway to the ultra-wealthy and corporations. Montana went from enjoying some of the lowest utility rates to some of the highest nationally. Montana Power Company filed for bankruptcy, then disappeared altogether, wiping out workers’ pensions and investments. His lieutenant Governor, Judy Martz, succeeded him continuing his irresponsible fiscal agenda, damaging our infrastructure, educational system and raising local taxes. Some of us remember the end of her one term, ending twelve years of disastrous Republican administration.
Democrat Brian Schweitzer followed Martz, ending his eight-year administration with low unemployment and an end fund balance of more than $450 million. Thanks to his leadership Montana was in better economic shape. Montana Governor Steve Bullock continued to promote sound fiscal and regulatory programs. Our state remains in good economic shape and our public lands are secure under Governor Bullock’s leadership. Why would we put Gianforte in a position to run us into the ditch again? Vote for Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney
The rub is the damage done to all state programs, including education, that the non-ultra-wealthy citizens of this state rely upon to just get by. The loss of income from the ultra-wealthy and corporate income taxes is made up by raising local property taxes and eventually, what the ultra-wealthy wanted in the first place but could not openly advocate, a general sales tax. A general sales tax allows the taxation of even the poorest citizen and those living on Social Security or on disability.
I remember when Republican Marc Racicot was elected governor in 1993, Montana enjoyed some of the lowest utility rates in the nation. The Republicans pushed for and Racicot signed into law disastrous deregulation of Montana’s utility sector and a $1billion giveaway to the ultra-wealthy and corporations. Montana went from enjoying some of the lowest utility rates to some of the highest nationally. Montana Power Company filed for bankruptcy, then disappeared altogether, wiping out workers’ pensions and investments. His lieutenant Governor, Judy Martz, succeeded him continuing his irresponsible fiscal agenda, damaging our infrastructure, educational system and raising local taxes. Some of us remember the end of her one term, ending twelve years of disastrous Republican administration.
Democrat Brian Schweitzer followed Martz, ending his eight-year administration with low unemployment and an end fund balance of more than $450 million. Thanks to his leadership Montana was in better economic shape. Montana Governor Steve Bullock continued to promote sound fiscal and regulatory programs. Our state remains in good economic shape and our public lands are secure under Governor Bullock’s leadership. Why would we put Gianforte in a position to run us into the ditch again? Vote for Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney