'Why should we vote for G. Bruce Meyers?'

Editor,

I’ve heard your question, “Why should we vote for G. Bruce Meyers?” Here is my response.

1. My opponent did not bother to show at the forum last week in Havre to face me. Someone said that he did not want to answer the hard questions. I think that the real reason is because he is taking the Indian vote for granted.

2. I’ve talked with voters in Fort Belknap who said that my opponent has no platform (what he would do for the people). Again, taking the Indian vote for granted.

3. I am for transparent state government. I sponsored a bill in the 2015 Legislative session which required the state departments to be transparent about the money that they send to tribal members and post it on a website. The bill is based on the civil right to know guaranteed to Montana citizens set forth in the Montana Constitution. It failed along party lines with the Democrats voting to deny American Indians as Montana citizens their civil rights “to know.”

4. The rumor is that I’m against tribal sovereignty because I advocated for the civil rights of tribal members as Montana citizens including their right to know. This is false because I persuaded moderate Republicans to vote for the Salish Kootenai Water Compact which is based on the Indian treaties which form the basis of tribal sovereignty.

5. I voted for Medicaid expansion due to the “Life or Limb” policy of the IHS and because I see so many Natives and rural Montana poor folk suffering from a lack of basic health insurance.

6. My agenda is the agenda of my constituents — conscience first, constituents second, party third.

7. I want to promote state/county/tribal collaborations to stop illegal drug distribution and promote rigorous entrepreneurship.

8. I want to promote win-win scenarios on buffalo and other jurisdictional issues that divide us.

9. I am for parental control of education.

10. I want to promote a division of American Indian foster care to avoid losing our precious children to adoption where they in turn lose their connections to their culture.

11. I want to create an understanding of the unique status Americans Indians have as members of sovereign tribal nations and as citizens of the state of Montana.

Rep. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder