Vote for Skees for true conservative

Republican primary voters will have a clear choice on June 3. Some candidates, including self-identified Republicans, supported higher government spending in the last legislative session, when they grew state spending three times faster than the private economy.

Many citizens believe these spending increases are crippling our country with a growing sense of entitlement, where able bodied people refuse to work, or make tradeoffs. Government is supplanting parents and employers, and doing a lousy job of it. Just one example is the fight over expanding Medicaid (under Obamacare) for the low income, including those who are able but unwilling to work.

This issue has separated the two factions inside the GOP across the country, and Montana. On one side, the conservative wing believes adding yet another leveraged entitlement to the existing $17.5 trillion debt is irresponsible, and risks existing programs for educating the young, and providing health care for the elderly.

On the other side, the liberal GOP wing believes expanding Medicaid eligibility is proper by “helping” people (and insurance and hospital companies) by raising taxes even higher.

While I respect these policy differences, I cannot respect liberal Republicans who do not have the courage of a Democrat’s conviction, and explain to the voters why their big government world view is preferable.

Instead, during the legislative session, and even now during the campaign, they deny supporting Medicaid expansion, or call it a different name, in order to deceive the voters. They are as phony as a three-dollar bill.

There is a reason the approval rating for politicians is so low. People are tired of being lied to. They want authentic officials who admit there are challenges in making tradeoffs, and honestly explain their position.

In the Flathead, while her opponent claims to be a Republican, I believe Ronalee Skees will honestly govern like she campaigns, and make the necessary tradeoffs. I ask you to send Ronalee to Helena to join the important debate between the two opposing world views, so true negotiations can determine the best outcome.

Art Wittich, Bozeman, Montana Senate Majority Leader