2020 MT Governor's race: on Tax Reform


Whitney Williams: Tax out of state residents with vacation property in Montana

Williams focused on tapping money from out-of-state residents who vacation in Montana or purchase properties here. "They are buying up big tracts of lands, they are locking it off and they are not paying their fair share," Williams said. "It is well past time that we say you are welcome in Montana but you are going to pave the roads that you drive on, you are going to pay for the schools that you're not sending your kids to and you are going to pay for the Main Streets you're not shopping at."
Source: Helena Independent-Record on 2020 Montana governor debate Feb 22, 2020

Greg Gianforte: 2002: state sales tax ok; 2016: no state sales tax

[Gubernatorial candidate Whitney] Williams also came out strongly against a sales tax, an issue that played a role in the 2016 governor's race when old audio from 2002 emerged of Gianforte presenting a tax advisory council possible solutions to create jobs in Montana that included the idea of a sales tax. However, Gianforte said in the 2016 campaign he would never support a sales tax. Montanans have voted against a sales tax twice before, and it's been seen as the third rail for political candidates.
Source: Helena Independent-Record on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race Oct 3, 2019

Whitney Williams: Strongly against state sales tax

Williams also came out strongly against a sales tax, an issue that played a role in the 2016 governor's race when old audio from 2002 emerged of Rep. Greg Gianforte presenting a tax advisory council possible solutions to create jobs in Montana that included the idea of a sales tax. However, Gianforte said in the 2016 campaign he would never support a sales tax. Montanans have voted against a sales tax twice before, and it's been seen as the third rail in tax policy for political candidates.
Source: Helena Independent-Record on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race Oct 3, 2019

Tim Fox: Opposes applying out of state sales tax to Montana

Fox took action to fight sales tax expansion efforts to non-sales tax states Montana. In a brief filed in the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, Fox highlighted Montana's long history of opposing sales taxes. "Montana businesses shouldn't bear the burden of serving as deputized tax collectors for states and municipalities with an online sales tax," Fox said. "I'm standing up for Montana businesses and pushing back against efforts to force an online sales tax on Montana consumers."
Source: DOJMT.gov press release for 2020 Montana gubernatorial race Apr 4, 2018

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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  • Click here for more quotes by Montana on Tax Reform.
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Candidates and political leaders on Tax Reform:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Apr 14, 2020