John Bohlinger in State of Montana Archives
On Health Care:
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
On Technology:
Digital privacy threatened by warrantless NSA invasions
John Bohlinger said Tuesday he will use his Senate campaign to lead an effort to add digital privacy protections to the Montana Constitution. Bohlinger said civil rights are threatened by warrantless invasions by the federal National Security Agency. He
wants to expand constitutional restrictions on warrantless searches to cover digital communications.Bohlinger said his effort would send a message to federal agencies even if the Montana Constitution would not bind them. It takes nearly 50,000
signatures from registered voters to change the Constitution. Bohlinger said he will lead the signature-gathering effort.
The announcement came a day after many Silicon Valley leaders escalated pressure on President Barack Obama to curb US government
surveillance programs that vacuum personal information off the Internet and threaten the technology industry's financial livelihood. Bohlinger said he wants Montana to lead the nation in protecting electronic communications from government spies.
Source: Ravalli Republic on 2014 Montana Senate race
Dec 10, 2013
On Health Care:
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
On Abortion:
2001: Supported Fetal Protection Act & partial-birth ban
Democratic Senate candidate John Bohlinger supported some legislation to restrict abortion rights in Montana but has votes that don't match his rhetoric.Bohlinger wrote on his Facebook wall that he "consistently voted for a woman's right to choose"
while a state legislator, according to The liberal Montana blog Intelligent Disconnect. That blog argues that isn't true, pointing to a low lifetime score from the
NARAL Pro-Choice Montana group and a number of votes he took in the legislature. Bohlinger, who served as a Republican in the statehouse and alongside Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) before switching parties for this campaign, voted for
the "Fetal Protection Act" in 2001, as well as for laws to ban partial-birth abortion and for parental consent requirements for teenagers to be able to get abortions in Montana.
Source: C.Joseph in The Hill, on 2014 Montana Senate debate
Nov 12, 2013
On Abortion:
Supreme Court decided the issue; state cannot overturn it
[When running at the state level as a Republican], a legal complaint Bohlinger filed disputed a claim from a GOP primary opponent that he was "for abortion": "I have never stated I was for abortions.
Abortion is a poor choice, we should prevent the pregnancy or work for adoption.
The abortion question does not belong in the Montana Legislature, because the US Supreme Court has ruled that in this country, abortions are legal.
In spite of what we may personally think about the question, the Montana Legislature will not be able to overturn a Supreme Court decision," he wrote in the legal filing.
Source: C.Joseph in The Hill, on 2014 Montana Senate debate
Nov 12, 2013
On Principles & Values:
An outsider supported by the people & not the establishment
Bohlinger is spending his early days as a candidate advancing an outsider case against Walsh, criticizing the DSCC and other forces for meddling in local politics by anointing his replacement. "I think it's inappropriate for the DSCC or the paid staff of
the Montana Democratic Party to involve themselves in primaries," Bohlinger said. "I think the people of Montana should make the choice, not political operatives."But outsiders still need supporters. Walsh has put together a team of campaign staffers
and supporters that include both sitting Montana senators. Asked specifically who is supporting him, Bohlinger replied: "It's the people of Montana."
There is one answer to that question that some deem obvious. Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer may be
Bohlinger's closest ally in state politics after eight years as a team. Bohlinger says that Schweitzer gave him their old campaign donor lists and "pledged me a nice contribution" for his Senate run [but Schweitzer will not publicly endorse].
Source: National Journal on 2014 Montana Senate debate
Nov 12, 2013
On Principles & Values:
Elected as Republican; then ran on Democrat governor ticket
Bohlinger, a former Republican state representative from Billings, ran twice on the Democratic ticket with gubernatorial candidate and former Gov. Brian Schweitzer, in 2004 and 2008.
The duo twice won election, with Bohlinger serving as lieutenant governor under Schweitzer from 2005-2012.
Bohlinger has said for several months he was considering entering the US Senate race as a Democrat, and that he felt he would be the best candidate to defeat Daines, the likely Republican nominee.
"I believe it's important not only for Montana but for
our country that we maintain a Democratic majority in the US Senate," he told the Gazette State Bureau earlier this fall. "Because of my statewide name recognition, I think I can win in November 2014. We need to nominate someone who can win in November."
Source: Billings Gazette coverage of 2014 Montana Senate debates
Nov 5, 2013
On Abortion:
Prohibit partial-birth abortion & funding abortion clinics
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles concerning abortion.- Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
- Support "buffer
zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
- Q: Should Montana government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provides abortion services?
- A: No.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Budget & Economy:
Loans for businesses; funds for job training & rural roads
Bohlinger indicates support of the following principles concerning the economy and employment.- Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
-
Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
-
Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teaches skills needed in today's job market.
-
Increase state funds to develop highways that enhance accessibility to rural areas.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Civil Rights:
No anti-gay discrimination, but no same-sex marriage
Q: Do you believe that the Montana government should include sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?A: Yes.
Q: Do you believe that the Montana government should recognize same-sex marriages?
A: No.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Civil Rights:
Undecided on affirmative action at state institutions
Bohlinger indicates support of the following principles concerning affirmative action, and whether state government agencies should take race and sex into account in the following sectors:-
Undecided on College and university admissions
- Undecided on Public employment
- Undecided on State contracting.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Crime:
Supports stricter sentencing, including death penalty
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles to address crime.- Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- End parole for repeat violent felons.
-
Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
- Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
-
Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- Increase state funds for programs that rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- Support laws requiring restitution to crime victims at
the personal expense of the criminal.
- Establish daytime speed limits (75mph on interstate highways, 65mph on two lane roads).
- Q: Should criminal sentencing address restitution for victims?
- A: Yes.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Drugs:
Decriminalize medicinal marijuana
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles to address crime.- Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
-
Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
- Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Education:
More finds for hiring teachers & professional development
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles regarding education.- Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
- Encourage private or corporate investment in
public school programs.
- Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
- Increase state spending on the university system
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Education:
Endorses teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles regarding education.- Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
-
Support sex education programs that stress safe sexual practices.
- Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Energy & Oil:
Require clean-burning fuels; repeal electricity deregulation
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles regarding the environment and energy.- Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
-
Repeal current law that partially deregulates the electricity market in Montana.
- Require the state to buy the water rights to Montana Power's hydroelectric dams.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Environment:
Control SO2 emissions; fund recycling; no cyanide in mining
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles regarding the environment.- Support proposed construction of a new water supply for Fort Peck rural water users.
- Support the State Implementation Plan to control sulfur dioxide emissions
from industrial facilities in the Billings/Laurel area.
- Provide funding for recycling programs in Montana.
- Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
-
Increase user fees at state parks to compensate for declining tax support.
- State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
- A: No.
- Q: Do you support federal regulations to kill buffalo in
Yellowstone National Park in order to reduce overpopulation?
- A: No.
- Q: Do you support cyanide gold and silver mining in Montana?
- A: No.
- Q:
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Government Reform:
Supports term limits & campaign contribution limits
Do you support the current law, which limits the number of terms of the following Montana officials: State Senators and Representatives?A: Yes.
Q: Governor?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state
legislative candidates: Individual?
A: Yes.
Q: PAC?
A: Yes.
Q: Corporate?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
A: No.
Q: Would you vote to ratify an amendment to the U.S.
Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the current Montana law that prohibits corporate expenditures on ballot-measure campaigns?
A: Yes.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
On Health Care:
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
On Tax Reform:
Replace property taxes with a 4% retail sales tax
When elected to the State Senate, I will introduce legislation that will constitutionally eliminate taxes on one's dwelling place, not commercial properties.
I will eliminate taxes on business equipment, in another bill and replace the lost revenue to State Government with a 4% retail sales tax--the sales tax bill will omit from taxation food items purchased in grocery stores and drugs.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021