Why Matt Rosendale is not fit to be Montana's representative

Matt Rosendale has a long history of saying one thing and doing the opposite. He has told Montanan’s how much he values and supports protecting public lands, supports Montana farmers, ranchers and agriculture, supports our veterans, wants to improve health care and wants to promote fiscal responsibility.

However, his actions tell a different story. Rosendale’s relationship with the Wilks Brothers not only extends to the fact that he earns income from the Wilks brothers by leasing out two of his oil wells, then receives financial contributions from the Wilks’ and then pushes public land policies that directly benefit them. He has repeatedly voted for anti-public-access legislation that would privatize Montana’s public lands.

Rosendale says that he supports our farmers and ranchers, but can’t be bothered to attend Montana Farmers Union debates in 2018, 2020 or even the 2022 debate a couple weeks ago. He touts his “U.S.A. Beef Act” for Product of USA labeling, but specifically puts a clause in place that the Product of USA label would not pertain to any beef that is exported outside of the USA. He has also done nothing to improve access to Montana’s meat, produce, fertilizer, hemp or any other producers, he hasn’t stood up against multinational corporations or taken the time to address any other real issues here in Montana.

He also states he supports our veterans, yet as a state senator he has voted against funding for the Southwest Montana Veterans Home, voted to privatize the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, voted against giving scholarships to Purple Heart recipients, voted against assisting Gold Star Spouses to secure home loans, and more.

In regard to health care, Rosendale takes great “pride” in this issue. So much pride that he pushes to expand “telehealth” without addressing the real issues at the hospital, physician or patient levels. He actually states on his website that he would “protect Montanans with pre-exisiting conditions and ensure they have access to affordable health care.” Ironically, as state insurance commissioner, he had allowed the once-banned health care ministry, MediShare, back into the state by disguising it as a legitimate insurance policy option. By the way, they had been banned by Montana and other states for “fraudulent practices for not covering pre-existing conditions or paying for serious injuries.” Such a smart move on this one, Matt.

Rosendale has hardly done anything to address the K-12 education system. In fact, education is not even a part of his platform. Despite the fact that the Montana education system is declining, dropout rates are increasing and that more students are going out of state for their higher education, he can’t be bothered to care. Our children deserve people who care about them, want to prepare them for the future and people who realize that these children are our next generation.

As a flashback, in February 2015, Rosendale sold his Maryland property and then appears to have turned around and committed tax fraud by claiming the $500,000 profit as a property loss on his taxes. He then is accused of committing campaign fraud with the NRA in 2018, where he is accused of illegally coordinating with and accepted nearly $400,000 in campaign funds.

Rosendale voted against the Juneteenth holiday, which is the date that commemorates the day slavery had ended after the Civil War. What was his reason? He said that he didn’t want this date to replace July 4th, even though they are completely separate. He also stated that this was a push by the left to make Americans ashamed of their past. What is to be ashamed of over the ending of slavery? He had then voted against supporting the people of Ukraine, claiming that America had no “moral” obligation to help, even though we were simply providing resources, not boots on the ground.

Lastly, Rosendale has sponsored a total of 25 pieces of legislation over the last 17 months in Congress. Not a single one has even passed the “introduction” stage. Not a single piece of legislation addresses fiscal responsibility, cutting wasted spending, balancing the federal budget or any other related issue.

Matt Rosendale may talk a big game, but his actions are minimal and his results are none. He lacks the integrity, moral standing, work ethic, and competence to be in Congress or any other elected position.

Montana deserves a representative who is going to practice what they preach, take the actions necessary to address issues here at home, someone who will actually fight to protect our public lands, promote truth and transparency, put the needs of Montanans before their own and someone who is going to be relentless in D.C. when it comes to demanding better for the American people and the people of Montana.

Montana deserves better than Matt Rosendale.

——

James Boyette of Bozeman is a Republican candidate for U.S. House District 2 in Montana.