Steve Bullock in 2020 MT Senatorial race

On Health Care: Passed Medicaid expansion with bipartisan support

When Bullock pointed out that repeal of the ACA would kill Montana's Medicaid expansion that provided health insurance to 90,000 Montanans, Daines termed the attack "Right out of Chuck Schumer's playbook." Bullock shot back that his position on health care "is a playbook right out of Montana. We've actually brought folks together to get out the health care Senator Daines has tried to take away." It took a bipartisan effort to pass Medicaid expansion in Montana. Source: The Missoulian on 2020 Montana Senate debate Sep 28, 2020

On Health Care: COVID: don't like masks but need to let science drive this

The two drew clear lines on the contentious subject of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Bullock instituted a mask mandate for all counties with more than four cases. Daines said masking should be a matter of personal responsibility, "not a federal or state mandate." Bullock responded that, "I don't like these masks any more than anyone else. "But we need to let science drive this . this shouldn't be about politics, Senator, this should be about public health," Bullock said. Source: The Missoulian on 2020 Montana Senate debate Sep 28, 2020

On Health Care: Medicaid expansion has kept rural hospitals open

The governor will host a roundtable with health officials to discuss how COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of removing barriers towards getting needed health care. According to the governor's office, 10 times more services were delivered via telehealth in April than in February for Medicaid expansion numbers. The governor's office also said Montana hasn't lost one rural hospital thanks to Medicaid expansion which covers the cost of COVID-19 related treatments. Source: KULR-8 NBC-TV on 2020 Montana Senate race Jul 7, 2020

On Corporations: Defended state limit on corporate campaign donations

During his first run for governor he made national headlines arguing that Montana's century-old limits on corporate campaign donations should be exempted from the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling. He lost the case, but the public viewed him as a champion for local elections threatened by private corruption and federal ineptitude. Source: The Nation magazine on 2020 Montana Senate race Jul 6, 2020

On Energy & Oil: Opposed Obama's halting coal mine leasing on Federal land

In 2014, he worked with ranchers to implement voluntary conservation efforts to prevent the listing of sage grouse as an endangered species. He framed it as a win for state management over federal intervention. In 2016, he railed against President Barack Obama's decision to halt leasing of new coal mines on federal land and withheld support for Obama's Clean Power Plan. Source: The Nation magazine on 2020 Montana Senate race Jul 6, 2020

On Environment: Expanded fishing rights regardless of streambed ownership

In 2008, Montana voters elected the Columbia Law School graduate as their attorney general, and he rewarded them by working with the legislature to codify a legal opinion on stream access that he had written while working as an assistant attorney general in the late 1990s. The law allowed anglers to access any river or stream regardless of streambed ownership. The law is frequently touted by his supporters as a victory for local fisherman over out-of-state landowners. Source: The Nation magazine on 2020 Montana Senate race Jul 6, 2020

On Homeland Security: Initiative focusing on veterans' suicide prevention

Bullock announced veterans' suicide prevention efforts through grants established by an initiative titled Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. "When our military members return home, we must do everything we can to honor the promises our country has made when the battle is over," said Gov. Bullock. Source: The Sidney Herald on 2020 Montana Senate race Jul 5, 2020

On Education: No tax credits for religious schools

The U.S. Supreme Court said Montana cannot exclude students at private, religious schools from using scholarship programs funded indirectly by a state income-tax credit. The ruling overturns a 2018 Montana Supreme Court order that terminated the tax credit and said the program violated Montana's constitutional ban on public aid to churches or religion-affiliated organizations. Bullock said he is "disappointed" with the decision and "will continue to fight for public education in Montana." Source: KTVH NBC-TV-Helena on 2020 Montana Senate race Jun 30, 2020

On Civil Rights: COVID-19: Gave counties option to switch to all-mail ballots

Because of concerns about COVID-19, Gov. Steve Bullock gave Montana counties the option to switch to all-mail ballots for the June 2 election--and all 56 counties took that option. Source: KTVH NBC-TV-Helena on 2020 Montana Senate race Jun 26, 2020

On Health Care: Wal-Mart can negotiate drug prices, so should government

Bullock is dissing Daines for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act and "taking away" health care from Montanans, as well as being a yes-man for pharmaceutical companies. "I mean, the idea that Costco or Wal-Mart can negotiate prescription drug prices but the federal government won't even do it, because they're captured by the drug industry?" he said. Source: KTVH NBC-TV-Helena on 2020 Montana Senate race Jun 22, 2020

On Technology: Emergency education grants include technology infrastructure

Bullock recently announced $8.7 million in federal grants will be distributed to education entities across the state to ramp up remote learning opportunities, technology infrastructure, and workforce training opportunities. "Emergency grants will immediately address needs for students who may have fallen behind, upgrade critical technology infrastructure, and ensure students have access to remote learning opportunities." Source: The Ekalaka Eagle on 2020 Montana Senate race Jun 19, 2020

On Principles & Values: Has "grave concerns" over use of military on protests

Bullock has "grave concerns" about the evoking of the Insurrection Act and the use of federal military after President Donald J. Trump suggested using active-duty troops to halt protests nationwide caused by the death of George Floyd. Marissa Perry, communications director for Bullock, said Thursday he believes it should be up to governors to determine what is best to fit their states' unique circumstances. Source: The Great Falls Tribune on 2020 Montana Senate race Jun 5, 2020

On Homeland Security: Upgrading Air National Guard better use of money than wall

Bullock called on Montana's two Republican congressional members to intervene with the Trump administration's plans to use funds appropriated for upgrading the Montana Air National Guard C-130 fleet for a border wall. "This reprogramming will further delay C-130H modernization, thereby weakening the mission of our Montana National Guard and putting our Airmen at risk flying 40-year-old planes," Bullock wrote. Source: The Great Falls Tribune on 2020 Montana Senate race Feb 24, 2020

The above quotations are from 2020 Montana Senatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts from 2020 Montana Senatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Steve Bullock. Click here for a profile of Steve Bullock.
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Page last updated: Oct 24, 2020