The development of a new healthcare system utilizing a bipartisan approach.
Source: 2018 Montana Senatorial website AlForSenate.us
Oct 1, 2017
Albert Olszewski:
Voted NO on insuring the working poor with federal dollars
Gov. Bullock in State of the State speech said, "Rep. Noonan and I are proposing a uniquely Montana plan--based upon the popular Healthy Montana Kids Plan--that will extend coverage to tens of thousands of Montanans. The Healthy Montana Plan will
bring our federal dollars back to Montana, to cover those without insurance.Rep. Olszewski voted NAY on Committee Report vote, March 10, 2015 (bill failed 41-59-0)
HB 249 Legislative Summary: A bill for an act entitled: "an act creating the Healthy Montana Act to expand health care coverage to additional individuals and improve access to health care services; establishing a health care coverage program to
provide certain low-income Montanans with access to health care services using Medicaid funds and an arrangement with a third-party administrator; providing support for health care delivery across Montana; and establishing a special revenue account.
Source: laws.leg.mt.gov on 2015 Montana voting records: HB 249
Jan 28, 2015
Amanda Curtis:
ObamaCare: don't throw the baby out with the bathwater
Curtis has supported a state expansion of Medicaid--something Republicans who control the Montana Legislature have blocked--and says now there are good things and bad things about the
Affordable Health Care Act, also known as ObamaCare. "I'm not a person who will throw the baby out with the bathwater," Curtis said.
Source: Billings Gazette on 2014 Montana Senate race
Aug 16, 2014
Bill McChesney:
Mandated insurance ok; tort reform not
Q: Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
A: Yes.
Q: Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance?
A: Yes.
A: No.. I'm not as supportive of limits on monetary awards as I am of insuring that there are monetary penalties for frivolous and/or fraudulent lawsuits.
Source: Montana State Congressional 2010 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2010
Brad Johnson:
Opposes Medicaid expansion
Johnson called himself a "proven vote-getter" with strong conservative positions, such as opposition to abortion, support of gun rights,
support of "school choice" and opposition to expanded government, such as Medicaid coverage for poor people.
Source: KRTV.com on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race
Sep 23, 2015
Casey Schreiner:
Won reauthorization of Medicaid expansion
Casey is a champion for working families because he comes from one. As House Democratic Leader, Casey broke the logjam on reauthorizing Medicaid expansion and protecting health care for
1 in 10 Montanans, delivered a major infrastructure package that will break ground all across the state, and pushed for firefighter health and safety legislation that was 15 years in the making.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CaseyForMontana.com
Dec 31, 2019
Casey Schreiner:
Will fight to lower drug costs, take on big pharma
As Democratic Leader, Casey worked with both sides of the aisle to reauthorize Medicaid expansion, which threw a lifeline to rural Montana hospitals, supported small businesses, and protected the health care of 1 in 10 Montanans.
Casey knows that Montanans are paying too much for their life-saving medicine. He'll fight non-stop to lower drug costs and take big pharmaceutical companies to task for price hikes.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CaseyForMontana.com
Dec 31, 2019
Casey Schreiner:
Choice between health or quality of life is "disgusting"
He said he lost his father a year ago due to complications from Type 2 diabetes. He added that his father, because of the high cost of his medicine, had to decide every day whether he was going to take his insulin or have the quality of life
to be happy. "If you are making a decision between quality of life and quality of health, that's a disgusting choice that no Montanan should have to make," he said.
Source: Havre Daily News on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
Sep 20, 2019
Champ Edmunds:
Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility
Question topic: It is the government's responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.Edmunds: Strongly Disagree
Question topic: The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should be repealed by Congress.
Edmunds: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Montana Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Corey Stapleton:
Government not responsible for medical care
Stapleton indicates support for the following principles regarding health issues. - Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
-
Support a patient's right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
- Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
Source: 2000 Montana State National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2000
Greg Gianforte:
Provide for those who cannot provide for themselves
Healthcare costs are rising sharply and account for 40% of our state budget. We must provide for those who cannot provide for themselves,
but work for increased price transparency and consumer incentives to make healthcare affordable for our hardworking families.
Source: 2016 Montana governor's campaign website GregForMontana.com
Feb 3, 2016
Jack Ciattarelli:
Restore state mental health services but don't raise taxes
When Governor Bullock made the decision to cut mental health services across the state, it was the wrong thing to do. Many community-based mental health services went away, and it will be difficult to bring those back, even if you fund them.
We are hugely underserving the part of the population in mental health crisis. If I can find the wherewithal without raising taxes to shuffle the resources in our budget to more fully fund community mental health services, we will do that.
Source: Boulder Monitor on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
Apr 1, 2020
John Bohlinger:
Ensure healthcare for uninsured children
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles regarding health issues.- Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
- Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed
care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
- Provide health care to uninsured children by designing a children's health insurance program.
- Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
-
Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- Provide publicly-funded mental health services to eligible Medicaid recipients.
-
Support the Montana Medical Assistance Facilities program that provides additional support to rural hospitals.
- Q: Do you support Montana's current managed-care mental health services to the poor?
- A: Yes.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
John Bohlinger:
Expand Medicaid to cover 70,000 low-income Montanans
John Bohlinger stepped into the health-care fray Wednesday, saying Gov. Steve Bullock should call a special session of the Legislature to expand Medicaid to cover 70,000 low-income Montanans without health insurance. "I think this is a crisis and this is
something that has to be dealt with," Bohlinger told reporters. "I say let's bring the legislative assembly together to deal with the problem now."Yet the Democratic governor expressed no enthusiasm for the idea. Bullock, who proposed expanding
Medicaid this year, has said that he sees no point in calling a special session, because the Republican majority in the Legislature is likely to reject it again.
Bohlinger said the issue of Medicaid expansion is too important to wait until 2015.
Thousands of low-income Montanans are unable to get health-care coverage that will be required next year, either because they've had difficult using the new online ObamaCare marketplace or because they're too poor to get any assistance, he said.
Source: Ravalli Republic on 2014 Montana Senate race
Nov 20, 2013
John Bohlinger:
Strong advocate of a single-payer system like Medicare
I asked Bohlinger how he'd talk to Montana voters about the Affordable Care Act."We know that the Affordable Care Act has met with a great deal of resistance in Montana," he said, carefully. "People are disappointed that it hasn't been able to deliver
what was promised. We know that--oh, gosh, more than 30,000 Montanans have had their insurance policies canceled."
"It's 38,000 now," interjected Bohlinger's strategist.
"And the new insurance is more expensive than the old insurance,"
said the candidate. "It hasn't worked. We're strong advocates of a single-payer system. Medicare works for me." Bohlinger went on, talking about how
Montana had invested in hospitals for state employees, and how one of them had outfitted him with a titanium hip. "My out-of-pocket cost was $300."
Source: David Weigel on Slate.com on 2014 Montana Senate race
Dec 13, 2013
John Edward Walsh:
Yes to Medicare Rx negotiations; no to privatization
While Walsh spent part of his speech blasting Daines, he also spelled out some of his own positions, saying he supports increasing the minimum wage, cutting waste in the defense budget, and allowing
Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.Walsh leveled his strongest attack yet against his likely challenger, Republican Steve Daines, calling Daines the purveyor of a "cruel ideology" that "only seeks to preserve privilege."
Walsh slammed Daines for votes to "privatize Medicare," cut tax rates for the wealthy, shut down the federal government last October and cut food stamps. He pointed to Daines' 2013 vote for the proposed House Republican budget, which would have
converted Medicare to a system of subsidies to help the elderly buy private insurance or traditional Medicare, as well as reduced tax rates for the wealthy and most taxpayers.
Source: Ravalli Republic on 2014 Montana Senate race
Mar 9, 2014
Jon Tester:
Families can't afford to get sick; that's not health care
You need somebody back in Washington DC who'll address the health care problems in this country. Right now, when families can't afford to get sick, that's not health care. We're 19th in the world; we didn't used to be that way. You want to talk about
medical research? We're in the process of under-funding the National Institute of Health, so our medical research is going to start heading to the Pacific Rim, under this current administration's watch. That's not the right direction.
Source: 2006 Montana 3-way Senate Debate at MSU
Oct 9, 2006
Jon Tester:
Protect people with pre-existing medical conditions
Tester defended the Affordable Care Act at times, citing provisions that protect people with pre-existing medical conditions and protect sick people from having their insurance policies terminated.
There are parts of the health care bill "that will help" working families and small businesses, he said. "To listen to the Congressman talk, you would think that the old system was just grand. It wasn't grand," Tester said.
Source: Daily Inter Lake on 2012 Montana Senate debates
Oct 14, 2012
Jon Tester:
ObamaCare not perfect, but has helped
Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare? Position on Medicaid expansion?Matt Rosendale (R): Repeal. "I won't give up on repealing & replacing ObamaCare." Voted against MT Medicaid expansion.
Jon Tester (D): Support. Not perfect, but has helped rural hospitals & health centers, provided families with coverage, & stopped big insurance companies from denying folks coverage. Supports Medicaid expansion.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Judy Martz:
Insured 10,000 kids under CHIPs; aim for 20,000
Thanks to the Children's Health Insurance Program, 10,000 formerly uninsured youngsters have good health insurance coverage. That's progress in my book. We eliminated the small enrollment fee and have simplified the application process.
We have come half way in our goal to insure a total of 20,000 children. I'm going to continue to bring more Montanans under the umbrella of affordable health insurance. We'll qualify families for CHIP at incomes up to 160% of poverty.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Montana Legislature
Jan 25, 2001
Matt Rosendale:
Full repeal of Obamacare
Democrats have attacked Rosendale on his support for a full repeal of Obamacase. Said Montana Democratic spokesman Chris Meagher, "Matt Rosendale has failed at his job as insurance commissioner, and has done nothing to keep health care costs down,"
Meagher said. "He's another vote to increase health care costs and take away health care from thousands of Montanans. He's another politician interfering with a woman's right to make her own health care decisions."
Source: Helena Independent Record on 2018 Montana Senate race
Jul 31, 2017
Matt Rosendale:
I won't give up on repealing & replacing ObamaCare
Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare? Position on Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?Matt Rosendale (R): Repeal. "I won't give up on repealing & replacing ObamaCare." Can replace while keeping
affordability & protecting pre-existing conditions with high-risk pools. Voted against MT Medicaid expansion.
Jon Tester (D): Support. Not perfect, but has helped rural hospitals & health centers. Supports Medicaid expansion.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org: Montana legislative voting records
Oct 9, 2018
Michael Lange:
No nationalized health care system
Lange supports the following principles regarding health issues:- Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
-
Lange adds, "We must maintain and improve the quality of our health care system, improve affordability and accessibility by a number of means. We should not implement a nationalized health care system."
Source: Montana Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Mike Cooney:
Lower the cost, expand access to care
Healthcare remains one of the top issues Montana families face. Mike has been championing increased access to quality and affordable healthcare since he worked for Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, a non-profit organization that
serves women and children. Mike has already proposed to pass a bipartisan policy to allow for the safe importation of prescription drugs from Canada to lower the burden of costs for all Montanans.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
Ryan Zinke:
Caps on medical malpractice; no government health insurance
Zinke indicates support of the following principles regarding health.- Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
-
Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- Allow patients to sue their HMOs.
-
Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.
- Legalize physician assisted suicide in Montana.
-
Zinke adds, "I support providing financial incentives to maintain affordable private health insurance through caps on medical malpractice and through group rates. I do not believe the government can provide health insurance better than the market."
Source: Montana Congressional 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Ryan Zinke:
ObamaCare is reckless; replace with cross-state pools& HSAs
ObamaCare as written is reckless and will lead to higher costs with less medical care. We can do better, particularly for the aging population in Montana, who are on fixed incomes and are certain to face higher premiums and no coverage at all for many
conditions. Health care must be affordable but not free, innovative by design, and be focused on giving the medical professionals the freedom and latitude to provide quality care rather than having
Washington telling us how to be a doctor, nurse, or provider. Innovative solutions such as expanding health care pools, allowing those pools to form across state lines, promoting
Health Savings Accounts and passing meaningful tort reform will go a long way to lowering health care costs.
Source: 2014 Montana House campaign website, RyanZinke.com
Nov 4, 2014
Sam Rankin:
Tort reform plus higher deductibles & co-pays
Medicare- Increase cost sharing: Deductible of $500, 20% co-pay with $7,500.00 cap.
- Don't pay hospitals bad debts i.e. for not collecting patient deductibles.
- Restrict first-dollar coverage in supplemental insurance plans.
-
Tort reform to stop overuse of diagnostic tests i.e. defensive medicine.
- Statute of limitations on lawsuits
- Creating 'health courts'.
- Consider caps on punitive & non-economic damages.
Source: 2014 Montana Senate campaign website, SamRankin.com
Jul 27, 2014
Steve Bullock:
Access Health Montana: increase coverage and access
To have a healthy economy, we need healthy citizens. For those of us with health insurance, we're paying too much and getting too little. And for the tens of thousands of Montanans who don't have insurance, the Emergency Room has become a primary
care facility, pushing costs for all of us even higher. The fact is, subsidizing expensive ER care for the uninsured costs Montanans $300 million a year. That makes no sense when there is a smarter, cheaper way to provide better care.
Through Access Health Montana, we are proposing a made-in-Montana solution designed to increase coverage and access to health care for more Montana families. It will also create a patient-centered delivery system that focuses on coordinating care and
improving health, rather than simply treating illness. Implementing these measures will allow us to better control and ultimately lower the costs of health care--slowing the annual rate hikes that hit all of our wallets.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Montana legislature
Jan 30, 2013
Steve Bullock:
Worked with legislature to expand Medicaid
In 2015, Steve brought Republicans and Democrats together again to provide affordable health care coverage for up to 70,000 working Montanans through Medicaid expansion, becoming the only governor in 2015 to work with a legislature to expand Medicaid.
OnTheIssues Note: "Medicaid expansion" is a major aspect of ObamaCare implementation at the state level. As of 2016, sixteen states rejected Medicaid expansion; of those, 15 have Republican governors.
Source: 2016 Montana gubernatorial campaign website SteveBullock.com
Mar 21, 2016
Steve Bullock:
Insure the working poor with federal dollars
The 70,000 Montanans who are hiding in plain view are the working poor. That's why Representative Noonan and I are proposing a uniquely Montana plan--based upon the popular Healthy Montana Kids Plan--that will extend coverage to tens of thousands of
Montanans. The Healthy Montana Plan will bring our federal dollars back to Montana, to cover those without insurance. We will negotiate with a private carrier to drive down rates and reform the way that Medicaid is delivered in this state.
HB 249 Legislative Summary: A bill for an act entitled: "an act creating the Healthy Montana Act to expand health care coverage to additional individuals and improve access to health care services; establishing a health care coverage program to
provide certain low-income Montanans with access to health care services using Medicaid funds and an arrangement with a third-party administrator; providing support for health care delivery across Montana; and establishing a special revenue account.
Source: State of the State on 2015 Montana voting records: HB 249
Jan 28, 2015
Steve Bullock:
Medicaid expansion good for business & jobs
In 2015 we passed one of the most innovative Medicaid expansion programs in the nation. No other state has increased labor force participation like we have because of our HELP-Link program. If I told you I had a business coming to Montana that would
create between 5,900 and 7,500 jobs--that would infuse over $350 million of new personal income into our state--you would tell me that sounds pretty darn good. That's exactly what Medicaid expansion has done and will continue to do.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Montana legislature
Jan 31, 2019
Steve Bullock:
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
Steve Bullock:
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
Steve Bullock:
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
Steve Bullock:
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
Steve Daines:
Repeal Obamacare; protect those with pre-existing conditions
Daines has said repeatedly that even if the court upholds the repeal of the ACA, also known as Obamacare, he'd ensure protections--including against exorbitant fees--for people with preexisting conditions.
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."
Source: The Missoulian on 2020 Montana Senate debate
Sep 28, 2020
Steve Daines:
COVID: no masking mandate, personal responsibility
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."
Source: The Missoulian on 2020 Montana Senate debate
Sep 28, 2020
Tim Fox:
Repeal and replace ObamaCare
"I agree with President Trump. He wants to have pre-existing coverage, so do I. He has agreed that the individual mandate is unconstitutional,
I agree with him there. He believes as I do that Congress needs to get their act together. They need to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act," Fox said on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon.
Source: NBC-Montana on 2020 Montana governor race
Apr 3, 2019
Whitney Williams:
EMILY's List: Will fight to reduce drug, health care cost
Whitney Williams is a hardworking businesswoman who is the perfect choice to lead my home state of Montana. As a sixth-generation Montanan, Whitney is deeply familiar with the issues facing working families and is dedicated to creating an economy
that offers everyone a fair chance to succeed. When elected, Whitney will fight to reduce prescription drug costs, make quality health care more affordable, and protect the state's precious public lands.
Source: 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race: Emily's List endorsements
Oct 8, 2019
Wilmot Collins:
Heathcare is a right for all, not a luxury for a few
I want you to join with me as one collective voice to make it heard loud and clear that no longer is it acceptable for a young mother to have to make the choice between paying the bills
and getting to see a doctor. Healthcare is a right for all not a luxury for a few. People should never have to declare bankruptcy because they get sick.
Source: 2020 Montana Senate campaign website, WilmotCollins.com
Jan 12, 2020
Tim Sheehy:
Government control of health care has made things worse
Our health care system is broken. Because of Obamacare, Montanans face higher premiums year after year. More government control of our health care has only made things worse. Like most Montanans, I believe we need to promote greater transparency,
competition, and shopping for services in our health care system. We should be rewarding outcomes and innovation, improving access to care in our rural communities, and most importantly, protecting Montanans with pre-existing conditions.
Source: 2024 Montana Senate campaign website TimForMT.com
Jun 27, 2023
Ryan Busse:
Restore 133,000 Montanans to life-saving Medicaid
Rebuild state agencies and departments that have been severely damaged by harmful ideologies, incompetent leaders and dangerous priorities over the past three-and-a-half years. This includes the Department of Human Health and Services,
which has overseen the removal of nearly 133,000 Montanans from life-saving Medicaid health care services. It includes restoring the Montana Department of
Fish Wildlife and Parks back to the premier agency for protecting public land and managing public wildlife it once was. It also includes improving the working relationships between the
State and county/municipal governments. I will also restore the government-to-government relationships the State of Montana should have with Indigenous Nations.
Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection: 2024 Montana Governor race
Aug 8, 2024
Ryan Busse:
Medicaid expansion improved the lives of countless people
Ryan Busse: Folding more Montanans into Medicaid coverage was a bipartisan solution that has only improved the lives and livelihood[s] of countless people. It has provided certainty and stability in our communities--for kids, seniors and
Indigenous people. And it has saved all of us money in the long term.Tanner Smith: We need to provide some assistance for the healthcare of children and those folks in need of temporary coverage.
I also believe people who can work need to work and provide for themselves, including their health insurance. There needs to be sideboards and curbs on
Medicaid or it will become financially unsustainable like every governmental assistance program. Those of us in the private sector don't work 7 days a week so everyone can have freebies.
Source: Montana Free Press on 2024 Montana Gubernatorial race
May 10, 2024
Tanner Smith:
We don't work 7 days a week so everyone can have freebies
Ryan Busse: Folding more Montanans into Medicaid coverage was a bipartisan solution that has only improved the lives and livelihood[s] of countless people. It has provided certainty and stability in our communities--for kids, seniors and
Indigenous people. And it has saved all of us money in the long term.Tanner Smith: We need to provide some assistance for the healthcare of children and those folks in need of temporary coverage.
I also believe people who can work need to work and provide for themselves, including their health insurance. There needs to be sideboards and curbs on
Medicaid or it will become financially unsustainable like every governmental assistance program. Those of us in the private sector don't work 7 days a week so everyone can have freebies.
Source: Montana Free Press on 2024 Montana Gubernatorial race
May 10, 2024
Reilly Neill:
Government should reinforce public health, not undermine it
Nationally, only 40% of Americans now say they strongly believe in the importance of childhood vaccines, a steep decline from 64% in 2001. At a moment when trust is fragile, the role of government should be to reinforce public health, not undermine it.
Trump's executive order and Montana's new exemption mandate will almost certainly lower vaccination rates, increase outbreaks, and place more strain on already overburdened rural health systems.
Source: 2026 Montana Senate campaign website ReillyForMontana.com
Jul 29, 2025
Steve Daines:
We've got to reform Medicaid if we're going to save Medicaid
Daines on Fox News: Republicans Want to Save Medicaid:The bottom line is this, Republicans are trying to save Medicaid. We want to strengthen Medicaid, while the Democrats are trying to drain Medicaid. It's an important safety net, but we've got to
reform Medicaid if we're going to save Medicaid. We've got to take able -bodied males who are laying on the couches at home and get them back to work and off of Medicaid. Put a work requirement in and the reforms we have made we think are reasonable.
Source: Senate press release "Medicaid" on 2026 Montana Senate race
Jun 17, 2025
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2026