Gianforte delivers first State of the State speech

Gov. Greg Gianforte laid out his vision for Montana's future in his first State of the State speech, given to the Montana Legislature Thursday evening, where he announced his support for a number of bills currently making their way through the legislature.

Gianforte said addressing the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic was the primary focus of his administration, including the economic downturn the state has taken in its wake.

He said the state mourns the loss of more than 1,200 Montanans as well as an untold number of businesses that suffered economically, economic problems he said were the result of the mandates of his predecessor, Gov. Steve Bullock.

"Men and women who took an idea and invested their energy, savings and lives saw what they built disappear, the victims of pandemic related restrictions and mandated closures," Gianforte said.

He said his administration repealed many aspects of these mandates which he said were arbitrary and hurtful to businesses.

"Too many small business owners closed their doors for good," Gianforte said. "Too many farmers and ranchers struggled with uncertainty, too many students were forced to learn in front of a computer screen instead of a classroom. We are righting our course and improving our response."

He said he supports legislation that will prevent businesses from being sued for transmission that happens at their establishments provided they make good faith efforts to keep people safe.

Gianforte also criticized his predecessor's administration for suing five business in Flathead County for not adequately enforcing the mask mandate.

He said he has instructed his staff to seek dismissal in all ongoing litigation of this kind.

"A pandemic with severe economic fallout is bad enough, we don't need government piling on as well," he said.

Gianforte said his administration aims to address the economic fallout of the pandemic by getting the state's economy going again, opening the state for business and get Montanans working again.

He said businesses and workers are fleeing Montana because of high taxes and regulations and his administration is working to lighten the load on Montana's citizens by lowering income taxes.

He also touted legislation aimed at increasing exemptions for the state's equipment taxes to help small businesses which he said are burdened by red tape like this tax.

Gianforte said he's creating a Red Tape Relief Task Force led by the Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras to find unnecessary regulations that can be eliminated.

He also said his administration aims to lower property taxes, which he said are too high and are a threat to the American dream for lower-income Montanans.

He also said the state needs to find ways to increase starting teacher pay to keep valuable educators in the state.

Gianforte said state agencies have suffered from a lack of leadership and said he would set a better tone as the state's chief executive who will improve the customer experience of all Montanans.

Vision on crime, drug use

Gianforte also talked about the increasing problem of methamphetamine use and drug-related violence which he said is tearing families apart and destroying the lives of young Montanans.

He said the state will use tax dollars from recreational marijuana sales to pay for addiction treatment and fill gaps in the system.

The state will also continue to invest in treatment courts, which he said reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and save the state money by lowering the number of incarcerations, he said.

Gianforte said Montana must generally lower its crime rate, which has risen despite a national decline in crime.

Gianforte's proposed remedy for this problem was the prohibition of sanctuary cities.

Montana has no sanctuary cities.

"Ladies and gentlemen we are a nation of laws that's why I support (the bill by Rep. (Kenneth Holmlund, R-Miles City) to ban sanctuary cities," he said.

Most research suggests that illegal immigrants commit less crime than citizens.

Gianforte said his administration also aims to address missing indigenous people, particularly children and women who are murdered and kidnapped at many times the rate of other Montanans.

He said he urges the Legislature to extend the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force.

He also announced his support for bills in the legislature restricting access to abortion, and said he wants to protect the lives of unborn children.

"Life is precious and must be protected," he said.

Gianforte also talked about the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building by supporters of then-President Donald Trump Jan. 6.

"It's a day we won't forget," he said. "It revealed just how fragile our Republic can be, but it also reaffirmed how resilient we are as a nation."

Gianforte sees a bright future

Amid political tension and the pandemic, Gianforte said, Montana has remained strong and found its heroes among doctors and first responders educators, truckers, and small business owners of every variety who have helped their fellow citizens through this difficult time.

"In Montana, neighbors help neighbors," he said. "It's what we do, and it's what we've done during this difficult year. Our Montana resiliency had shown bright, and it's an example to other states."

Despite the ongoing issues, Gianforte said, he sees a bright future for the state.

"Four years from now, I see a Montana where more people are achieving the American dream, working hard, earning a good living, and raising a family," he said. "I see a place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay in Montana because this is where the best opportunities are. I see a place where our communities are safer and thriving. I see a place where we have come through to the other side of this global pandemic stronger. ... The state of our state is strong, but more than that the state of our state is resilient."

Democratic response

Shortly after the speech, Minority Whip Rep. Laurie Bishop, D-Livingston, gave a rebuttal speech where she said Gianforte's vision for the state is limited.

"Gov. Gianforte shared his vision for our state, a vision limited to massive giveaways for Montana's wealthiest and gives wide approval for an unprecedented barrage of attacks on the freedoms of Montana's women and children," she said.

Bishop said instead of prioritizing out-of-state interests Democrats in the legislature are looking to improve things for people already here by protecting the rights of women, children and unions.

"I invite Republicans to come back to reality and work on the issues that really matter to the people of Montana," she said, adding that, in the meantime, Democrats will continue to do that.

She said the Democrats, too, regret the economic effects of the pandemic, but Republicans have let economic recovery fall by the wayside, instead focusing their efforts on attacking the rights of Montanans.

She said her party will continue to protect the benefits, wages and quality of life hard fought for by the labor movement, continue to protect the rights of unions, and protect Montana workers form expatiation by wealthy out-of-state companies.

She said Democrats oppose cuts proposed by Republicans to the health care system and made comprehensive counter proposals to lower costs and creates jobs, as well as proposing tax relief that is focused on alleviating the burden on the middle class and lower-income citizens instead of putting more money in the pockets of the state's richest.

Bishop said her party is also looking at ways to provide communities across the state better broadband internet access and prevent public education from being privatized.

She also said Democrats will continue their efforts to protect the state's public lands even as many Republicans attempt to undermine programs designed to do just that.

"Our public lands are not for sale, and they never will be," she said.