Past and present Governor candidates from Montana: on Tax Reform

Greg Gianforte: 406 Tax Relief plan: cut taxes & freeze government spending

Gianforte is seeking to phase out a business equipment tax over four years, hold state spending to current levels and reduce the maximum tax rate from 6.9% to 6%. Gianforte said, "I learned from over 30 years starting & growing businesses that sustainable jobs and opportunities are only created in the private sector, not by government programs. Streamlining regulations, lowering taxes and slowing the growth of government will energize our economy and help create more high wage jobs so we can stop exporting our kids."

Even before the Republican released his plan, the re-election campaign for Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock said the proposal would benefit the wealthy at the expense of middle class families.

Steve Bullock: Don't benefit the wealthy at the expense of middle class

"Greg Gianforte's self-serving tax plan is nothing more than a tax giveaway for millionaires like himself, at the expense of Montana's middle class families and our state's fiscal prudence. The fact is, under Steve's leadership, Montana is ranked the most fiscally prudent state in the country, he's balanced the budget while maintaining a rainy day fund, and cut taxes for thousands of small and medium sized businesses."

Mark Perea: Replace IRS with flat income tax