Mike Cooney in State of Montana Archives
On Corporations:
Opposes rolling back financial regulations
Q: On FINANCIAL REGULATION: Tighten or loosen regulation of banks and credit card companies?Mike Cooney: Maintain or tighten. Criticized Gianforte's vote for "rolling back financial regulations on large financial institutions."
Greg Gianforte: Loosen. Voted to roll back Dodd-Frank bank regulations, which opponents said disadvantaged smaller banks.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
On Drugs:
Let voters decide if legalization is right for the state
Q: Legalize recreational marijuana? Support Initiatives I-190 and I-118 to do this?Mike Cooney: Not opposed, but let voters decide on "a commonsense strategy that suits Montana's needs."
Greg Gianforte: No. Keep medical marijuana legal, but opposes recreational legalization, and specifically opposes I-190/I-118.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
On Education:
Freeze college tuition; reduce student debt
Q: Support free or subsidized tuition for lower income individuals? Cooney: Yes. Would freeze college tuition at four-year colleges and raise funding for two-year institutions. Supports federal funding for programs supporting low-income students.
Would reduce student debt.
Gianforte: No. Sees "market forces," a decrease in the availability of student loans, as helping to lower cost of tuition. Focuses on promoting "trades education and apprenticeship programs" over four-year college degrees.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
On Environment:
Stronger requirements to protect critical wildlife areas
Q: Tighten or loosen environmental laws?Mike Cooney: Tighten or continue. Supports stronger requirements for oil and gas producers to protect critical wildlife areas. Protect public lands against privatization.
Greg Gianforte: Loosen. "Excessive regulations are a wet blanket on job creators." Would "modernize" the Endangered Species Act. Opposes "overbearing government mandates."
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
On Jobs:
Opposed limiting Montana public sector unions
Q: Support "right- to-work" laws, eliminating unions' ability to mandate dues for workers they represent?Mike Cooney: No. Testified against 2019 House bill that would have further limited Montana public sector unions. "Why would anybody support
people having the right to work for less?"
Greg Gianforte: Likely yes. Voted in Congress against bills strengthening unions, including one to give TSA employees same rights on the job as other federal workers.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
On Jobs:
Adjust minimum wage based on cost of living and inflation
Q: Raise Montana state hourly minimum wage above current $8.65?Mike Cooney: Yes. Supports state's regular adjustment of minimum wage based on cost of living and inflation.
Greg Gianforte: No. "Ultimately, greater economic growth raises wages, and we must keep the economy going to keep wages growing."
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
On Tax Reform:
2017 tax cuts favored multi-millionaires
Q: Support administration's $1.9 trillion (2017) tax cuts?Mike Cooney: No. Attacks Gianforte vote on the cuts. They "exploded the federal deficit by more than $2 trillion. Multi-millionaires like him got a tax cut.
The rest of us got saddled with a check."
Greg Gianforte: Yes. Voted for the cuts and praised them for helping "hardworking Montanans keep more of what they earn."
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
On Abortion:
Fought to reject laws restricting access to health care
Mike also has an extensive record of fighting for access to affordable reproductive healthcare. Since he was first in the legislature, he's fought tooth and nail to reject legislation that would restrict access to health care and will continue to
do so when he's Governor. He'll also continue the legacy of the Bullock administration by protecting permanent Title X funding in the state's budget.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Spearheaded tax credit for businesses hiring apprentices
Mike has played a key role in successful efforts to boost Montana's economic growth, expand business opportunities and help workers find better-paying jobs his entire career in public service. He spearheaded a new tax credit for businesses who
hire apprentices and fought for an additional tax credit for working Montana families. Mike will seek out ways to increase business investment and opportunity, build career pathways for workers and expand opportunity across Montana.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Invest in economic opportunities on and off reservations
Mike has been a partner in passing legislation to preserve Indian languages, increase opportunities to capital for native-owned businesses, and improve access to healthcare services and quality public education. Mike will continue to ensure that tribal
sovereignty is respected while continuing to invest in economic opportunities for American Indians on and off the reservations. He'll also continue the important work to address the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Avidly supports equal protection for all, especially LGBTQ
Mike is an avid supporter of equal protection under the law for all Montanans, especially our LGBTQ friends and neighbors. Throughout his tenure in public office, he's opposed any anti-LGBTQ legislation that would discriminate against or deny protection
based on sexual orientation or gender identity. As Governor, Mike will work with the legislature and the courts to ensure that Montanans of all identities and orientations are protected under the full extent of the law.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Education:
Oppose diverting public funding toward private education
He is a champion of Montana's public education system and seeks ways to support educators and increase funding. As Governor, Mike will work with partner organizations to secure a public, voluntary, quality pre-K program across the state, ensure the
6-mill levy that funds our universities becomes permanent, and increase investments in two-year colleges, apprenticeship programs, and vocational education opportunities. He will oppose any efforts to divert public funding toward private education.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Focus on a realistic transition to renewable energy
We must take action to protect Montana for future generations without leaving workers behind. Mike knows climate change is real. Mike is committed to working with local communities to discuss what is best for their
families and neighbors and focusing on a realistic transition to renewable energy sources. He understands that both traditional and alternative forms of energy production are vital for the success of Montana, and also for the county.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Health Care:
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
On Job:
Grew up on picket lines; fought for labor every step
Raised in Butte, Mike grew up on the picket lines and was part of the Montana families fighting together against powerful corporations for better wages and better working conditions. He's fought for our brothers and sisters in labor every step along the
way in his career in public service. He's also consistently been supported and endorsed by labor unions in all of his legislative races, his campaigns for Secretary of State, and when he was on the ticket in 2016.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Local Issues:
Opposes transfer of federal land to private interests
There are powerful interests pushing to take public lands out of public hands in order to exploit our clean air, clean water and natural resources.
These powerful special interests see our public lands as a cash register waiting to be sold off to the highest bidder.
Mike will stand up against any attempt to transfer federal land and as Governor--a critical member of the State Land Board--will work with our partners in the conservation and outdoor communities to ensure public lands stay public.
Having already served on the State Land Board for 12 years as Secretary of State, Mike has a proven record of protecting our natural heritage and securing access to our public lands for all Montanans.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com
Mar 25, 2020
On Immigration:
Montanans are welcoming, but very few refugees in state
Q: Will you accept refugees into Montana? Cooney: Montanans are a welcoming people. I've met with folks who have come to Montana and are making Montana their home and contributing to our communities.
Even Republican governors have come around on this issue because refugees go through a thorough vetting process and contribute to the workforce. The fact is we're dealing with very few refugee resettlements here in Montana.
Source: The Laurel Outlook on 2020 Montana gubernatorial debate
Mar 10, 2020
On Abortion:
Would veto any anti-abortion legislation
Cooney said he was not going to let Gianforte become governor and make decisions that would take away abortion rights for women, saying he would veto any such
legislation that would come across his desk. "I am going to make those decisions," he said.
Source: Great Falls Tribune on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
Feb 12, 2020
On Education:
More funding for Head Start and critical K-12 programs
Cooney supported the following principles regarding education?- Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more
affordable.
- Cooney adds, "As the Chairman of the Senate Finance and Claims committee in the 2005 session, I worked hard to balance the state budget while more appropriately funding critical programs like K-12 education without raising taxes."
Source: 2006 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2006
On Energy & Oil:
Increased use of alternative fuel technology
Cooney supported the following principles regarding the environment and energy:- Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- Support the development of coal-to-liquids technology to create synthetic fuels in Montana.
-
Require that water withdrawn from coal bed wells be injected back into the aquifers or treated before being discharged into rivers and streams.
Source: 2006 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2006
On Environment:
Fund open space preservation
Cooney supported the following principles regarding the environment and energy:- Support funding for open space preservation.
-
Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
- Require that water withdrawn from coal bed wells be injected back into the aquifers or treated before being discharged into rivers and streams.
Source: 2006 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2006
On Families & Children:
Recognize civil unions between same-sex couples
Q: Should Montana recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
A: Yes
Source: 2006 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2006
On Government Reform:
Limit campaign contributions; adopt statewide voting rules
Q: Do you support limiting contributions to state legislative candidates?A: Yes, on individual, PAC, corporate, and political party contributions.
Q: Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
A: Yes
Q: Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Montana are closed?
A: Yes
Source: 2006 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2006
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021