Woodhouse challenges incumbent O'Neil for Senate seat

An incumbent with Libertarian leanings and a Democratic challenger with conservative streaks are the candidates for Senate District 3.

An incumbent with Libertarian leanings and a Democratic challenger with conservative streaks are the candidates for Senate District 3.

Sen. Jerry O'Neil, R-Kalispell, is looking for re-election to the state Senate in a newly drawn district, covering areas between Whitefish and Kalispell and most of the western part of the Flathead Valley.

Democrat Vince Woodhouse stresses his socially conservative views on abortion and same-sex marriage, but sticks with his party's views on increasing education spending and making health care more affordable in Montana.

O'Neil, a former member of the Libertarian Party, has consistently called for reducing government regulation. He opposes increases in taxes and government spending, especially spending increases that result from federal mandates.

1) What should be the Legislature's top priorities in the next session?

Woodhouse: Education, economics and health care.

The main issue that is going to drive how we look at education, economics and health care will be the fundamental question. As Montanans, do we value one another?

We need to take a serious look at education, economics and health care besides taxation, and be willing to acknowledge and assist those who are less fortunate than the majority. This includes the poor, the elderly, the sick and those who have lost hope and the numerous Montana children who go to bed hungry every night. Not only is it imperative to care about people and increase their chances of success and comfort, it makes good business sense.

A state that cares for everyone from the kids to the elderly will be an attraction to major corporations.

O'Neil: The Legislature's top priorities in the next session should be to maintain and improve our economy by protecting our free market system and by lowering our taxes, and to protect and strengthen our families.

2) What are the best ways the Legislature can effectively improve Montana's economy?

O'Neil: The Legislature can best improve Montana's economy by limiting the size and intrusiveness of government, thereby lowering taxes and unnecessary regulations upon businesses and the general population.

Woodhouse: We can do the same thing the vast majority of other states are doing in the country to improve their economy.

Invest in the educational system. Education is the essential essence that allows a society to create a confident and energized working force to move through the 21st century.

Restructuring the tax system. We need to take a tax structure that is unfair to those who suffer from high property taxes and excessive income taxes and put everything on the table to construct a better system to appropriate the needed revenue to fund a new and demanding economy.

Common sense solutions. I believe there must be a balance between supporting our timber and mining industries, while maintaining our natural landscapes. With acute adjuration we must develop proposals that make sense for Montana and provide common-sense solutions to turning Montana's economy around.

3) Explain your views on taxation and meeting increasing demands on the state's general fund budget.

Woodhouse: I will do all I can to mitigate unnecessary demands on the treasury. I believe it is imperative that Democrats and Republicans endure with a singleness of purpose and align themselves to be dedicated at considering mildness and precision of their laws ascertaining the rule and measure of taxation.

O'Neil: I believe we can reduce taxes and better meet the public's demands for services by getting the government out of the way of private businesses that want to provide services to the public. One example would be eliminating the Certificate of Need law which presently requires a business to prove to the government that a health-care service is needed before the business is allowed to invest their own money to provide that service to the public. I also find it abhorrent that our government subsidizes airline services while obstructing private, land-based, transportation services that want to serve the same routes without asking for any help from the government.

4) What other issues are most important to you?

O'Neil: It concerns me greatly that the federal government is taking over so much of our state government's functions and powers. I also intend to again introduce legislation to allow parents the right to have jury trials when the state is attempting to take away their children.

Woodhouse: I strongly believe health care is a social imperative, an obligation not to be avoided or evaded.

Encourage small business purchasing pools. This would allow small businesses to know about and have access to voluntary purchasing pools to help them provide employer-sponsored insurance and can afford to purchase health insurance for their employees.

Small business health insurance tax credits. My proposal is to support the small business health insurance tax credit in the 2005 legislative session which would provide an advanceable and refundable tax credit to sole proprietors and small businesses with up to 10 employees that offer health insurance to their workers. The tax credit would match employer payments for health insurance.

Conservation. It is important to understand the balance between supporting our timber and mining industries and conserving our valuable natural resources. Responsible timber harvest creates jobs, improves wildlife habitat and clears cluttered forests.

Recreational Opportunity. I support the efforts of sportsmen to increase and improve block management opportunities on private lands and to gain access to isolated public lands through conservation easements. I strongly oppose attempts by private interests to lock up and gain control of public wildlife, and will fight to protect the future of Montana's hunting and fishing heritage.

I strongly support our right, as law abiding Montana gun owners, to keep and bear arms.

5) Explain why you would be an effective legislator.

Woodhouse: To be a state senator is all about character and the ability to lead. Our state has some serious issues and it will take serious people to get the job done.

I want people to understand that too many times the voters are left out of the decision-making process and laws are passed based on the values and priorities of the party in majority. My main goal is to use common-sense solutions while making decisions to serve the people and help the State to prosper.

O'Neil: I am an effective legislator because my nature is to advocate strongly for the causes I believe in while listening and keeping an open mind to others' views. I like people and don't hold grudges. These are probably some of the reasons my fellow senators elected me to chair the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee.