Lewis is best prepared to be Montana's congressman
John Lewis is the best choice for Montana’s lone House seat.
Montana has the most populated congressional district in the nation. Our region is vast and varied — which makes it very difficult to represent, let alone visit each constituent. In some ways Montana is indicative of our nation as a whole — large, populated, and diverse. That being said, I believe Democrat John Lewis has the education, disposition and practicality to best serve Montanans and he deserves the support of voters over Republican Ryan Zinke.
Mr. Lewis was a staff member for former Montana Sen. Max Baucus for 12 years. He knows how things work in D.C. and he has traveled throughout the state on behalf of Baucus. He is well versed on the issues of our state.
He has indicated support for the Affordable Care Act but has plans for how to amend and improve it. He opposes the transfer of federal land to the states. which reflects the majority of Montanans. He has proposed workable plans on energy, campaign finance, debt reduction and agriculture and he has indicated a flexibility on the issues and a willingness to compromise.
Zinke bases much of his campaign on his military experience and that is commendable; however, on many issues he is wrong for Montana. For example, he supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, similar to the House of Representatives, which has voted to repeal this law some 50 times. Regardless, with a Democrat in the White House that would veto any such legislative attempt, a repeal could not happen for at least a couple of years. He has no realistic plan for dealing with immigration and he supports the transfer of federal land to the states to be sold to the highest bidder. A plan that would certainly turn Montana’s priceless areas to the highest bidder. In addition, he is not opposed to mining/drilling on the Rocky Mountain Front — a plan that is absolutely opposed by a vast majority of Montanans.
Zinke claims that he won’t be influenced by political pressure. While this may be true, he doesn’t seem like a candidate willing to work with those whose beliefs that are different from his. Americans have too many of such politicians in Washington already.
The U.S. Congress has become a feckless institution because of its lack of bipartisanship to do the people’s will — its approval rating in the single digits is indicative of the dissatisfaction the American people feel about Congress. Electing Ryan Zinke would be adding more of the same ineffectiveness and strident partisanship to an already weak institution.
This is why John Lewis is the best choice for Montanans who would like to see a change in D.C.
James is a resident of Eureka.