State auditor
By KATIE OYAN/Associated Press
HELENA - The two former Montana legislators running for state auditor have plenty to say about the key issues in the race, from health insurance costs and availability, to the actions of the state Land Board.
Republican Duane Grimes of Clancy and Democrat Monica Lindeen of Huntley are vying to succeed Democrat John Morrison, who is barred by term limits from seeking re-election.
The state auditor regulates the securities and insurance industries in Montana and earns about $79,000 a year.
Grimes, 51, was a state representative and senator from 1993 to 2006. He has worked as a personnel officer at the state Department of Revenue and recently sold his taxi service and warehouse business in Helena. He ran unsuccessfully for auditor in 2004.
Lindeen, 46, served in the state House from 1999 to 2006. She taught for a year at Montana State University-Billings, helped found an Internet service business and ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2006.
Grimes said he is seeking the office because the auditor has an "incredible impact on the daily lives of Montanans."
"All my plans will revolve in some way around empowering consumers, giving them choice, supporting a healthy, competitive marketplace and at the same time protecting consumers," he said.
Grimes recently unveiled a plan aimed at controlling the rising cost of health insurance. It includes providing consumers more choice in the insurance market through information and good public policy, increasing the transparency of costs and options to the consumer and strengthening Insure Montana, a state program that offers subsidies and tax credits to help small businesses buy health insurance for their workers.
Grimes also would like to see Montana increase the amount of money its consumers would be reimbursed if an insurance company fails.
The current maximum reimbursement, put in place in the 1970s, is $300,000, Grimes said. He said he would propose lawmakers raise the maximum to $500,000.
"We have been very proactive in making sure insurance companies stay solvent," Grimes said. "At the same time, I think we need to make sure mechanisms are in place to protect the consumer."
Lindeen says the race is about who will serve as an effective advocate for consumers.
"As an educator at MSU-Billings, I advocated for my students and their future. As a successful businesswoman, I advocated for my customers and employees, including making personal sacrifices to ensure they had health insurance," she said.
"As a legislator and legislative leader, I advocated for my constituents and the state by effectively working on economic development issues like work force training, health insurance for small business, a prescription drug program for seniors and children's health insurance," she said.
If elected, Lindeen said she would be an effective voice in policy discussions concerning access to quality, affordable health care, promote the sustainability and expansion of Insure Montana, and promote preventive care and wellness programs that would "reduce the cost of health care in the long term while ensuring healthier communities."
Lindeen also said she would support the continued development of a "health information technology network" in Montana.
"By developing and implementing methods of exchanging and storing patient data, Montana can have a more streamlined and responsive health care system," she said.
The state auditor has a seat on the state Land Board, which is charged with managing state-owned lands to generate money for public schools. Both candidates said they would support responsible development of the vast Otter Creek coal tracts in southeastern Montana.
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