O'Neil explains his legislative agenda

I would like to thank John and Theresa Conner for their column posted on the Hungry Horse News Web site lauding my Democratic opponent in this fall’s election, Zac Perry. Seeing as this is Zac’s third campaign against me, I am pleased to finally learn what his philosophy and ideas are.

I am glad to learn he endorses examining all ideas. Of course, we understand “all ideas” to the Conners doesn’t include ideas regarding “controversial national issues,” “wild ideas that support an unproductive ideology,” or wild ideas which are “outlandish and condemned by his own party.”

While many might consider them wild, I will admit to bringing forth novel ideas, such as:

• In Montana’s last legislative session, I successfully sponsored HJ-3, a resolution to amend the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This resolution has now been sent to the President, the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader and each member of the Montana congressional delegation. It addresses the “controversial national issue” of restoring our federalist system and states rights as expounded in the U.S. Constitution. It does so by limiting Congress’ authority to regulate “interstate” commerce between the states as opposed to allowing Congress to regulate intrastate commerce within a state.

• To persuade students to finish high school and help dropouts get on the ladder to success, I had a bill drafted to eliminate minimum wages for high school dropouts. I believe it is counterproductive to have laws that price the disadvantaged out of the job market. While I never brought LC1450 before a committee for a hearing, if I advance it in the future I will also consider adding residents of areas suffering poverty, those who age out of our foster care programs and ex-prisoners to the list of those that need an easier entryway into the job market.

• I am also mulling over the idea of eliminating minimum wages, workers compensation and tax-withholding for recipients of welfare. Do you suppose we could have these recipients’ counselors and social workers help them with their income taxes, since they probably qualify for earned income credits? If they get hurt on the job, we probably should give them compensation for their lost earnings, akin to what workers compensation provides. Medicaid could take care of their medical expenses. Until they get on their feet, our welfare system should continue to subsidize their living expenses. It is my hope this will make it easier for them to get jobs and work themselves out of the welfare system. I know it would certainly make it easier to hire them for the many jobs we need help with.

• I am in favor of reserving the death penalty for the most horrible murders, such as those committed by Joseph Edward Duncan III, the convicted serial killer and sex offender on death row in federal prison in conjunction with the 2005 kidnappings and murders of members of the Groene family of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Since Montana’s two-drug cocktail is considered to be cruel and likely to be thrown out by a higher court, I am thinking of carrying a bill to use nitrogen asphyxiation to carry out Montana’s death penalty with a euphoric death.

• While I also believe the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company plant pollution needs cleaning up, I will do my best to make sure the cleanup is done and paid for by CFAC, Glencore and Glencore Xstrata PLC, not by our tax dollars.

• I am opposed to giving the Confederated Salish and Kookenai Tribes off-reservation water rights or allowing them to take the water rights away from the owners of deeded property on the reservation. Neither of these actions are provided for under the Hell Gate Treaty, and both will hurt property owners.

• I dispute the Conners’ accusation that I (always) vote the party line in Helena. My rating for voting the party line, as given by the Montana Tea Party Coalition, was a C.

• I am proud of my bipartisan record of standing up for freedom. This is shown by my association with Sharon Morrison’s Northwest Montana Coalition in Defense of the Constitution in 2004. This was an informal group with mostly Democratic members that formed to oppose the Patriot Act. It is also shown by my receiving the second highest rating of all 2013 Montana House members with the Montana Conservatives Taxpayers Advisory Bulletin rating.

I realize many of my ideas are outside of the box and some might even be considered crazy. Therefore I ask you, the public, to critique them and give me suggestions for improving or abandoning them. Compare them with my opponents’ views on these subjects (if they have any). I can be contacted at oneil@centurytel.net, 406-892-7602, or 406-250-2503.

Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls, represents Montana House District 3, urban and rural Columbia Falls.