Libertarian re-enters politics to rid government waste

BILL JONES

Age: 78

Political Party: Libertarian

Occupation: Retired dentist

Family: Patricia and I have five children who graduated from the Montana University

Education: Attended Montana State, graduate of the University of Washington Dental School.

Background: I have private practice, military and public-health experience and served this House District during the 2005 and 2007 legislative sessions.

Q: A slate of budget cuts were made in 2017 to address a 227 million shortfall. What should the budget priorities be in the next session?

A: Our budget priorities should be the protection of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We need to eliminate $227 million of waste, unneeded services, excessive incarceration of our citizens and a prison. Life includes a right to basic medical services, education, shelter and nutrition. Liberty means protecting our Bill of Rights, all of them. Pursuit of happiness includes property, the right to use it and minimal regulation of our lives.

Q: Do you support a sales tax or other tax increases as a way to shore up the budget and increase revenue?

A: I support eliminating waste and reducing government services. I am opposed to shoring up the budget and increasing revenue. I oppose new taxes, especially local sales taxes.

Q: Montana’s Medicaid expansion program is set to expire in 2019. Should the state renew this program?

A: What difference does it make? We have a federal health-care system. I served as an Army officer at Madigan Army Hospital, and a contract provider for the Veterans Administration, public health service, Indian health service, Blackfoot Nation, Medicaid, etc. I am a recipient of Medicare. Federal health care is the reality and I am not troubled with Medicaid expansion.

Q: Which other issues would you like to see addressed by the legislature?

A: I suggest going to the Montana Legislature website. Find my name in 2005 and 2007 sessions, and look at the bills of which I was sponsor. These are the issues I will work for, including property tax reform, access to health care, children’s welfare, suicide prevention, death penalty abolition and more public access on lakes, rivers and streams. Time to remove some laws, starting with the law that makes feeding deer and turkeys a felony.

Q: Why are you the right choice to represent your district?

A: I appreciate my opponent, who earned and deserves his good reputation. I re-entered politics because we incrementally have given up our freedom with high taxes, debt, war on drugs, war on terror and foreign civil wars. We are near financial collapse and totalitarian government. I reject the false doctrine that religion should be excluded from politics. I endorse natural law and the culture of life. I support the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Pledge of Allegiance. I ask for your vote for change.