Republicans push resource development

Expanding Montana’s natural resource production was a running theme during the Republican gubernatorial forum May 2 at the Whitefish Middle School auditorium. The forum featured candidates Rick Hill, Neil Livingstone, Jim Lynch, Ken Miller and Corey Stapleton.

Each candidate took shots at environmental groups, Democrats or state regulators for holding back the expansion of Montana’s oil, gas, mining and timber industries. Natural resource development, they say, could help job creation, lower taxes, the state’s economy and benefit schools.

“The Democrats and their environmental allies have killed the economy in the state,” said Livingstone. “We need to drill, we need to mine, we need to log in the state of Montana. We need to turn our economy around.”

The state needs to “go to war with the environmentalists” funded by out-of-state “elitists,” Livingstone said, and the state’s regulatory structure should be simplified.

Lynch, who was the Montana Department of Transportation director before being asked by Gov. Brian Schweitzer to resign last year, said the state faces a few hurdles in developing natural resources in Eastern Montana, including “the attitude of environmental regulators in the state.”

“That’s a big difference (between Montana and North Dakota),” he said.

Stapleton blamed the current governor’s office for appointing “obstructionists.”

“North Dakota dwarfs Montana in oil production,” he said. “Wyoming dwarfs Montana in coal production. The appointment power has set Montana back.”

Stapleton talked about his plan to drop property taxes by 95 mills and to increase natural resource revenue to fund government and schools.

Hill pointed the finger at trial lawyers and “environmentalists” for holding back the economy.

“They have the economy they want, and they have the candidate they want,” he said, referring to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Bullock.

Miller said every county should enjoy “a vigorously natural resource economy.” He suggested a revision to a part of the state constitution that calls for “a clean and healthful environment.”

“Can anyone define that?” he asked. “Guess who gets to? The judges.”

On the looming $3.4 billion liability to fund state teachers and public employees retirement, all of the candidates favored moving away from a defined benefit plan to a contribution plan similar to those found in the private sector.

“Public employees and teachers are totally capable of deciding their future in retirement,” Miller said.

Lynch said he has experience putting together a 401K plan for employees, and that the state’s system should parallel the private sector.

On schools, the theme was again natural resource development. Stapleton pointed to his plan to lower property taxes by 95 mills and backfill that with natural resource revenues.

“If everyone’s taxes are lowered by 20 to 25 percent, we have a better shot at passing those local levies,” he said.

Hill touted a similar plan of lowering property taxes and using natural resources to fund education.

“The result of that will be less burden on the taxpayer, and it will make people more willing to support their schools and the local levies,” he said.

Lynch said he wanted the state to use new business and natural resource development to “start weaning K-12 education off the property tax rolls.”

Livingstone moved the discussion to higher education. State universities should put more priority on offering online classes and toward vocational degrees, he said.

A question about state’s rights and federal encroachment drew spirited responses from each candidate.

“Isn’t it about time we reintroduced gray wolves to Central Park?” Livingstone said facetiously. “I’m going to push back at every level against the federal government. There will be no encroachment on my watch.”

The federal government is trying to regulate dust and water for irrigation, he said.

“If you can regulate dust, you can regulate anything,” Livingstone said.

Miller agreed, saying it was imperative the state push back.

“It’s at the root of the problems we have,” he said.

He suggested building a coalition of governors to take back state power.

“When we do that, we’ll have a strong America again,” Miller said.

Lynch took the chance to talk about Obamacare, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He said Bullock was wrong to not join other state attorneys in suing the federal government.

“There is a serious question about if Obamacare is constitutional, and we have an obligation to challenge it,” he said.

Hill laid out areas where he has proven himself an advocate for state power. He cited his opposition to closing the Going-to-the-Sun Road during road reconstruction and his stances against banning snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park and against federally appointed “river czars.”

On taxes, Livingstone and Lynch talked about eliminating the business equipment tax. Lynch called it a “money grab.” Hill said workers compensation was the most unfair tax.

“It hurts everybody,” Hill said.

Workers’ wages are lowered, he said, and employers are less competitive due to the tax, which mean less hiring.

Each of the candidates were challenged individually about some of their apparent weaknesses.

Hill defended his perceived “mixed” conservative and personal record, noting his 88 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union.

“That’s a pretty good record, and I’ll stand by that,” he said.

Livingstone was questioned about his time spent away from Montana dealing with national security issues and terrorists, and whether he knew enough about issues facing the state. He countered that he is a third generation Montanan.

“Yes, I’ve worked around the globe, both with the government at times and often in the private sector,” he said. “I started companies. I’m not a professional politician. I think that’s my chief credential. I’ve created jobs. I’ve signed the front of checks, not just the back of checks.”

Lynch was asked if he was a true Republican after running as a Democrat for senate in 1994 and being appointed by Schweitzer to run MDT. He said he was recruited to run for the open senate seat in 1994.

“I didn’t get any Democrat support because they said I was a Republican,” he said, adding that he applied a very conservative business model while leading MDT.

Miller was questioned about allegations that he accepted campaign donations that didn’t appear on finance records. He said a woman asked to be his running mate and then applied for reimbursement of travel costs that she didn’t incur.

“I’ll be proud to hold out our financial records,” he said.

Stapleton was asked if he was flying too far below the political radar to be considered a viable candidate. He countered that he has more than 8,000 followers through social media, more than any other candidate. He also said he has support in eastern and central Montana, and that his running mate, Bob Keenan of Bigfork, will help his chances in the Flathead.