The Seeley-Swan, and Montana generally, stayed red this past election cycle. What are the messages in this continued move to the right?
Voters are apparently demanding less government, less in-your-face regulation and permitting, lower taxes and, presumably, fewer government “services.” That might even go as far as reduced funding for public education, welfare assistance and environmental protection programs.
So, now that we have a Republican governor, a republican legislature and we have re-elected Republican Mike Hopkins to represent us up here, there should be no impediment to achieving those goals, right?
Let’s see what the landscape looks like after the next legislative session. Voters should hope to see property tax relief, election reform, increased infrastructure funding, less regulation and relaxed licensing and permitting rules to name a few things if Mr. Hopkins achieves his stated campaign goals
Mr. Hopkins campaigned he will make Montana open for business, keep property taxes low and support education. Please also remember he is a highly-partisan leader of the Republican party.
Let’s hear how he plans to accomplish his stated party goals and see if in fact he accomplishes anything for working Montanans He has been, so far, generally unresponsive to our needs here in the Seeley-Swan and has generally followed only his party’s line. And once (again) re-elected seems to disappear from the landscape.
It is laudable to throw your hat in the political ring...as either a Republican or a Democrat. It is even more laudable to put the party differences aside once in office and seek common ground and common good for ALL your constituents.
And here’s a final irony. A COVID vaccine found to be 90% effective may be conditionally approved for distribution by December. The success the new Gianforte administration will have in curbing the virus in Montana will depend on the distribution plan devised by the Bullock administration in the next 60 days before Gianforte is sworn in.
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