CREATE JOBS:
I believe very strongly in the American dream. I opened my first business in Montana at the age of 20. I worked very hard and gained a real passion and understanding for what it takes to start and grow a successful business from nothing. Montana needs an opportunity economy which benefits workers as well as employers. With almost 25 years of entrepreneurship experience, my businesses have supported Montana families by paying over 15 million dollars in wages. Most of which was brought in from out- of-state dollars. As an employer I feel the heavy hand of government regulations burdening my businesses every day and we need to work together in minimizing these regulations so that future generations can obtain their entrepreneurial dreams. I believe I am the only candidate running qualified and willing to do what it takes to benefit the local economy. I will work to form policies designed to create job growth, lower taxes, remove government regulation, and promote economic growth in the Bitterroot Valley. Montana’s tax, workers compensation, and unemployment laws that discourage business formation and growth must be reformed.
INCREASE TAKE-HOME PAY:
Montana ranks as one of the lowest in take-home pay. I believe we can do better. Our citizens deserve a government that allows the free market to flourish. We must modernize our environmental, healthcare, and employment laws to make Montana more attractive for business creation, development, and relocation. We must eliminate barriers to natural resource development and manufacturing; the two highest wage paying sectors.
LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS:
Lack of competition, Medicaid/Medicare cost-shifting to private insurance and individuals, mandates, and the absence of incentives for wellness are driving up the cost of health insurance.
LOWER TAXES:
I believe we are already over-taxed and I want to see Montanans keep more of their hard earned money. One of the best ways to increase workers’ incomes is to lower what they pay to the government. Economic growth will provide adequate revenue to fund limited, effective, and efficient government and the rest should be returned to taxpayers. Taxes should be low, simple, flat, and free of loopholes. Tax policies should be changed to favor savings, investment, job creation, and economic growth.
EDUCATION:
Training and education is important to Montana’s long term success. If we are to compete with neighboring states or even other nations for high level jobs, we need to increase our technology, enhance our training programs, and become more competitive in the marketplace. Better training and higher education means more qualified, higher paying jobs for people entering the private sector. With more qualified personnel being matched with employers, we’ll see a substantial reduction in the dependency of social programs as well as economic growth. Greater tax revenues will be generated without a need for a tax increase. Many of our problems are connected and solving these problems will have a tremendous positive impact on Montana.
TRANSPARENCY:
I believe government should be transparent to its citizens in both the process which creates laws and the use of our hard earned tax payer dollars.
GUN RIGHTS:
Today the gun laws already on the books are more than adequate. The piece that’s missing across the board is mental health. Guns aren’t the problem. People are. Threats need to be followed up on diligently using our existing resources and laws. I feel that I have experienced both sides of this issue first hand.
#1. I’m a victim of gun violence. My mother was murdered in 2010. My mother and I were very close and I cannot describe to you in a sentence what it feels like to lose your mother, and lose her in the way I did that day. I do believe in capital punishment (the death penalty), which after this experience I will likely never change my mind about. I can relate with the many families of victims in our country and understand the helplessness, anger, and sadness that surrounds a tragedy of any violence. Even after that I can still stand here and tell you that what happened to my mom is not a gun issue but a mental health issue.
#2. I own a gun store. I’m also a member of the NRA, a gun collector, and an avid sportsman. I believe VERY strongly in the 2nd amendment and even after what I’ve experienced my belief hasn’t changed. For me it’s simple, whether for sport or protection, guns are tools. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
PUBLIC LANDS:
I believe in keeping all public lands public and would never support selling those lands. States should be able to control all lands within its borders. For more information on how I feel about improper designation of Wilderness Study Areas, I’ve put a link on my website to my editorial in the Ravalli Republic where I address this issue in greater detail. From my home page go to “Recent posts” and click on “Jason, Daines, and Wilderness Study Areas”
ENERGY:
We need to utilize the resources available as well as pursue the renewable resources available to us.
ENVIRONMENT:
We need to use our natural resources efficiently and effectively in order to minimize the impact on the environment. Don’t over use – but don’t impede economic growth. There’s a responsible balance.
RELIGION:
I was baptized Catholic and follow a Conservative Christian belief. I believe that part of our moral issues are unsolvable when we totally remove God from our social and government landscape. We should say the pledge of allegiance in our schools. It says on our currency – In God We Trust. We need to honor that.
PRO LIFE:
I experienced the tragedy and loss of a child that was still-born at 8 months old. I believe that life exists and is precious from conception until natural death. With the exception of the death penalty.