Let’s put Montana back on the right track

Every week there’s more news about how many Montana families are struggling: whether it’s rapidly rising gas prices, the continued high costs of healthcare or the desert of affordable childcare across most counties in the state.

 Faced with these growing challenges, you’d think that a responsible political party would take steps to help families and small businesses. Instead, Republicans are doing the opposite, pushing a series of dumb decisions that are actively making things even worse across the country and here in Montana.

 Republicans — currently in charge in both Washington, D.C. and Montana — started and continue to support a reckless Middle Eastern war that’s driving inflation higher, passed tax cuts for billionaires while cutting healthcare for working families and oppose state property tax reform that lowered bills for more than 80% of Montanans.

 Life was challenging enough without Republicans getting in the way. Whether it’s something Republicans carefully planned, such as the tax cut giveaways, or something they stumbled into, like the Iran war, the result is the same: average Americans pay the price.

 Even if the war somehow hopefully ends, the increased costs caused by it — soaring gas prices, larger manufacturing expenses and higher interest rates — will harm Americans for months to come.

 Montanans deserve better and it’s clearly time for a change. Instead of ignoring the problems facing Americans, let alone making them worse, let’s focus on creating opportunity that can help people get ahead.

 Montana Democrats see the challenges facing families and businesses and want to work with you to put Montana back on the right track to create a better, stronger future for our children. 

The first step is to put Montanans first again. Government should work for you, the taxpayer and our goal is to help families, businesses and retirees have the tools they need to build a better life. Typical Montanans, not large corporations or the ultra-wealthy, are our priority.

 To help create prosperity, we will invest in Montanans. Good public schools, affordable healthcare, more housing and obtainable childcare are all necessary ingredients to help families and small businesses thrive.

 We also will make sure government is fair, respects the dignity of work and invests for the future. This means common-sense tax reform that provides tax relief for most Montanans and opposing a sales tax.

 It also means knowing where government doesn’t belong — in your private and family life. Montanans value their freedom, privacy and independence. The government should stay out of your bedroom and doctor’s office so that each of us can control our private lives and personal decisions.

 Under Republicans, government has lost its way. Let’s turn the page and restore priorities that focus on what’s important — helping Montanans succeed and protecting their freedom. You deserve a government that works for you and believes in the American Dream. Together we can build a better tomorrow.

Joe Hancock is the Gallatin County Democratic Chair. He was born and raised in Big Timber and served in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Montana.