HD 3: Candidates differ on Medicaid expansion, agree on public lands

Democratic incumbent Debo Powers faces a challenge from Republican Braxton Mitchell for the House District 3 seat that includes Columbia Falls, North Fork and areas up to East Glacier and Essex.

Powers was appointed to represent House District 3 last October by the Flathead County commissioners after Democrat Zac Perry resigned to attend graduate school.

Powers spent the bulk of her career both teaching and being a school principal in Tallahassee, Florida, where she led an award-winning charter school. But she’s also been spending her summers in the North Fork since 1979, and since she retired in 2011, she’s been a full-time Montana resident.

Currently she lives off the grid up the North Fork on 5 acres. She gets her power from solar and heats her house with wood, she said. Internet and phone service is via satellite.

In the winter she said she skis every day on the public lands near her home — either Forest Service or Park Service. Not surprisingly then, she said keeping public lands in public hands is one of her top priorities as a lawmaker. Public lands are the basis of the local economy, she noted, including recreation, tourism and timber.

She said she also supports expansion of public lands, such as the proposed Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management Area that would use a blend of public and private funds to permanently conserve about 800 acres along the Flathead River that is currently owned by the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co.

Powers said she supports continuing Medicaid expansion into the future.

“It’s really important for people,” she said, noting the last measure was a bipartisan effort.

She said she tried to get on interim committees during her short tenure as a legislator, but they were full. She did, however, attend many meetings as an observer.

Powers doesn’t support a statewide sales tax, because “It doesn’t fall on the same people the same way.”

She also doesn’t support an annual meeting of the Legislature, as opposed to the current bi-annual, as the term would be too short — about 40 days.

She said the state is spending its federal CARES Act money wisely so far.

One of Powers’ top state budget priorities is to make sure schools are funded adequately. She also wants to review some tax breaks on the books that are serving special interests. The budget is likely to be a big topic in the upcoming session, with unemployment higher than its been in a while due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“There’s going to be a lot of negotiation and compromise,” she predicted.

Having said that, she believes the state is doing well so far. In her experience as a principal, she understands what budget cuts look like, having gone through them in Florida during the Great Recession.

On energy, Powers said the state could do more to encourage renewable energy, such as easing regulations on net metering, which allows solar and wind users to gain a credit on their electric bill, rather than be off the grid entirely.

She’d also like to see laws that make it easier for Montana agriculture producers to sell more of their products in-state.

“I think it’s a great thing to do,” she said. “It will make us more self-sufficient.”

MITCHELL NOTES he’s a lifelong Montanan.

“I grew up in Columbia Falls, and have always worked for the family business. I understand how to run a small business and make things work; that's what I plan to do in Helena as your conservative voice.”

Mitchell expressed a keen interest in politics, both on the local and national levels.

“In Helena we need voices of all ages, backgrounds ... One of the best parts about Montana politics is we look aside from parties and tend to support born and raised Montana candidates,” Mitchell said. “I look forward to going to Helena and working with both sides for solutions and working with future Gov. Greg Gianforte and supporting his ‘Montana Comeback Plan.’”

Mitchell said he does not support Medicaid expansion and that it wasn’t a compromise between the two parties when it first passed.

“This bill carried the largest fiscal note in Montana history,” he asserted. “Thankfully, Sen. Dee Brown of Hungry Horse was able to pass an amendment which provides a sunset. Taxpayer-funded abortion and disincentivizing able-body, working age adults from working are just two the fundamental flaws in this bill.”

An area of compromise Mitchell foresees is legislators coming together to pass legislation to support trade and technical schools to build a workforce that’s able to make wages that can support a family.

Mitchell said he is “100%” against a sales tax and would not support one.

He also opposes an annual legislative session instead of the current biannual session.

Regarding the state’s allocation of CARES Act funding, he is critical of Gov. Steve Bullock’s efforts.

“The governor has failed to administer much-needed aid as it was intended by the federal government,” Mitchell maintained. “CARES Act money was intended to provide immediate relief. The governor has held onto most of the money to this day. He has even failed to distribute money he promised to our tribes. The federal aid package was specific as to how it was supposed to be used ... This money should have been distributed immediately upon receipt for its intended purposes.”

When asked about budget priorities, Mitchell noted he has several. He advocates cutting waste from “bloated” state agencies such as the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Department of Administration.

Additionally, lawsuits from dark money environmental groups are threatening the state’s coal industry, which funds our schools, parks, libraries and infrastructure, he said.

On public lands, Mitchell said he supports the proposed Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management Area. He also said there is no case where public (federal) lands should be sold or transferred to state or private ownership.

“Our public lands shouldn't be political, and should be managed by Montanans,” he said.

Mitchell calls himself a “proud capitalist” who believes strongly in a free market system.

“A full-on socialist takeover in Montana would be scary, and unfortunately we're seeing it begin,” he said, pointing to Medicaid expansion. He’s also concerned about the “dark money” coming into the state to support a socialist agenda.

Braxton Mitchell

Age: 20

Occupation: Works at the family business, Vandevanter Meats - Montana Jerky Company

Background: Graduated from Columbia Falls High School, attended Flathead Valley College for two years.

Contact: BraxtonforMontana.com

Debo Powers

Age: 69

Family: Single

Occupation: Retired principal, currently the House District 3 representative.

Contact: http://powersforthepeople.us/