Greg Gianforte on Government Reform

	Greg Gianforte on Government Reform

Add county-level race to post-election audits

HB172: Revise laws related to post-election audits:

Montana Free Press summaries: House Bill 172 would enable counties to add a county-level race to their post-election audits. Bedey has argued that adding a local race to the mix would offer another level of verification and help instill more trust in county-level results. (3/9/23)

Despite bipartisan support and favorable testimony from county and state election officials, HB 172 failed to win a yes vote [from some legislators. One State Rep. noted, "the question at the heart of Montana's 2023 election policy debate centers on trust--namely, "whether trust has been broken or not." Following his loss in 2020, Pres. Trump's legal challenges and false assertions about widespread voter fraud "metastasized" into a social movement.(1/30/23)

Legislative Summary: Passed House 81-19-0 on Jan/25/23; State Rep. Tanner Smith voted YES; passed Senate 49-1-0 on Mar/23/23; signed by Governor Greg Gianforte on Apr/19/23

Source: Montana State Legislature voting records HB172 , Apr 19, 2023

Red Tape Relief Task Force to review all regulations

To make Montana more competitive, we also need to get a better handle on our regulatory scheme. It's time to cut back this thicket of red tape, and it's one of my top priorities.

I signed an executive order to establish the Red Tape Relief Task Force. I have charged the task force to complete a comprehensive, top-to-bottom review of regulations in every single state agency. They are to leave no stone unturned as they identify excessive, outdated, and unnecessary regulations.

Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Montana legislature , Jan 28, 2021

Rolling back regulations leads to prosperity

Gianforte told the state House he wants to see Montana take a cue from the federal government and cut taxes and abolish regulations to expand the state's economy. Gianforte called for the government to "get out of the way so all Montanans and Americans can prosper again." To continue growth, Gianforte said, both Montana and the federal government need to continue to roll back regulations and enact tax reforms. Source: Helena Independent-Record on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race , Feb 4, 2019

Donated to groups opposing MT Disclose Act

Campaign Finance: Increase restrictions on campaign donations, including requiring disclosure of political contributions and overturning Citizens United Supreme Court decision that allows unlimited independent political expenditures by corporations and unions?

Gianforte: Previously stated support for election transparency, but donated significantly to groups opposing MT Disclose Act. No support for overturning Citizens United. [As a private citizen funded efforts to oppose MT Disclose Act. His gubernatorial campaign lawyer was part of legal team challenging the Act.]

Quist: Yes. Supports constitutional amendment to overturn Citizen's United.

Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide: 2018 Congress MT-AL election , Nov 1, 2018

Eliminate excessive regulations that burden businesses

Accountability in State Government: Montana's government should serve the people of Montana, not the other way around. We need agency heads who have walked in the shoes of people they are serving, to improve efficiency across all levels of government, and eliminate excessive regulations that are burdening businesses. Source: 2016 Montana governor's campaign website GregForMontana.com , Feb 3, 2016

No holiday on election day; no same-day registration.

Gianforte voted NAY For the People Act of 2019

This bill expands voter registration and voting access, makes Election Day a federal holiday, and limits removing voters from voter rolls.
The bill provides for states to establish independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions.
The bill also sets forth provisions for sharing intelligence information with state election officials, and supporting states in securing their election systems, and establishing the National Commission to Protect U.S. Democratic Institutions.
This bill addresses campaign spending, by expanding the ban on foreign nationals contributing to or spending on elections; and expanding disclosure rules.
This bill establishes an alternative campaign funding system [with] federal matching of small contributions for qualified candidates.
The bill also requires candidates for President and Vice President to submit 10 years of tax returns.

Opposing argument from the Heritage Foundation, 2/1/2019: HR1 federalizes and micromanages the election process administered by the states, imposing unnecessary mandates on the states and reversing the decentralization of the American election process. What HR1 Would Do:

Seize the authority of states to regulate the voting process by forcing states to implement early voting, automatic voter registration, same-day registration, online voter registration, and no-fault absentee balloting.
Make it easier to commit fraud at the polls through same-day registration, as election officials have no time to verify the accuracy of voter registration.
Degrade the accuracy of registration lists by automatically registering individuals from state databases, such as DMV.
Cripple the effectiveness of state voter ID laws by allowing individuals to vote without an ID and merely signing a statement in which they claim they are who they say they are.

Legislative outcome: Passed House 234-193-5 on 3/8/19; received with no action in Senate thru 12/31/2019

Source: Congressional vote 19-S949 on Jan 3, 2019

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