1. Should the state of Montana expand Medicaid to Montanans earning less than 138 percent of poverty, as allowed under the Affordable Care Act? Why or why not?
2. Should the state encourage or discourage the production of coal, oil and gas? How?
3. The state of Montana has had budget surpluses in recent years. Should this money be invested in public services, returned to taxpayers in some form, or both? Please be specific.
4. Do you support freezing tuition for in-state students attending state colleges and universities for two more years, as the 2013 Legislature did? Why or why not?
5. Montana schools are implementing new math and English standards and testing known as the Common Core standards. Do you support these? Why or why not?
Name: JoLynn Siderius Yenne
Age: Living Young and Aging Well
Occupation: Retired Educator
Political Experience: Activist, striving for healthy and educated communities
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Place of Residence: Creston Area (Rural Flathead Valley)
1. Medicaid needs to be expanded in Montana. Many families working full time, part time and getting low wages do not have the resources to afford health care. Expanded Medicaid would change the lives of 70,000 residents. Healthy families contribute to a strong, thriving community. This as a temporary safety net for families needing health care. This program generates thousands of new jobs in the health care field. If the growth in the economy is doing what Economics 101 teaches us, wages will increase, employee benefits will increase and the need for Medicaid will decrease. This is a pro-family policy during economic recovery.
2. We are living in a period of transition…moving from being dependent on fossil fuel energy to using more renewable energy. We will never completely wean ourselves from the use of fossil fuel, but that does not mean we should stop developing clean renewable energy. It is not about making profit. It’s about doing it right, making it more affordable, and controlling the negative side effects. We can and will be leaders in the production and use of renewable energy while we reduce the production and use of fossil fuels. Professional scientists have data showing this change is critical for our future.
3. Investment is a must! 1) Improve infrastructure (roads, bridges, energy transmission, water and sewer lines, etc.) 2) Improve energy efficiency in state buildings. 3) Reduce tuition and provide low interest student loans. 4) Increase loans and grants for community economic development. 5) Increase the Older Montanans Trust Fund for increasing senior population. Forward thinking state legislators believe in long-term investments. Working together in a comprehensive way, jobs are created; education and the economy support each other. Invest in the future of our state.
4. Roll back the tuition! Freezing tuition is not enough. Higher education budgets have been on the chopping block for several years…creating a financial burden for students, their families and the institutions. Change is a constant condition and rising costs do not stop in the 21st Century. Education in the United States is critical for our country to maintain a positive position in the world today. We need 21st Century jobs skills. Public college education, with affordable tuition, is where it can starts.
5. Often new students arrive unprepared for their grade level. Clear goals (Common Core Standards) that could be accepted by all the states makes sense. The arguments in this heated debate are causing confusion; most are opinions focused on fear. Based on recommendations from the professional and business communities – listening & speaking skills and working together will be incorporated into the Common Core Standards. In math, a piece on financial literacy has been added. The Common Core Standards will better prepare students for the 21st century in our mobile society. The testing aspect of the program needs to be revisited. Teacher assessment happens in different forms. Too much testing does not accomplish anything…only stress for teachers and students.
Name: Randy Brodehl
Age: 59
Occupation: Cabinet maker, general contractor/ legislator
Political Experience: Four years in the Montana House of Representatives
Political Affiliation: Republican
Place of Residence: Kalispell
1. No. Expansion of Medicaid in Montana to those earning less than 138 percent of poverty would do the following: a) At most, decrease the number of uninsured in Montana about 4 percent; b) Cost the rest of the taxpayers over half a billion dollars between now and 2021(see January 2013 report by The Bureau of Business and Economic Research, The University of Montana for: The Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance) c) Cause some employers to discontinue providing health insurance for their employees; d) Makes more people dependent on federal and state government.
2. We need to encourage the wise use of our natural resources such as coal, oil and natural gas. As we are already seeing, wise use of our natural resources means strong economies for Montana and Montana’s families. I don’t believe that coal, oil, and natural gas are the only natural resources we should be focusing on. For example, here in the Flathead, many of our forests have matured and are dying, but due to overreach regulation, we are unable to harvest the logs. Supporting our timber industry, as well as coal, oil, and natural gas means more good paying Montana jobs, and less families moving out of state.
3. What is often referred to as a budget surplus is really money that the people of Montana were overtaxed above the amount that was approved to be spent by the Legislature. Since this money was paid out of the pockets of the people of Montana, neither the governor nor the legislature has the right to do anything but give every bit of it back to the taxpayers as soon as possible.
4. No, I don’t support freezing tuition. While freezing tuition sounds like it would give in-state students a great deal, there is more to the story that needs to be told. Currently, the taxpayers of Montana already pay about 25 cents of every dollar spent in the University System for student costs. Freezing tuition when the University System is raising its costs means that the taxpayers of Montana have to make up the difference by paying more income taxes every April 15th. How is that fair to our Montana taxpayers? I do, however, support the University System controlling tuition hikes through prudent expense management.
5. Candidate did not respond to final question.