Montana's Democrats
by Jonathan Blanco

Montana is the fourth largest state in area and the forty fourth in population with a total of 803,655 people.  Montana gained statehood in 1889 and since then has remained the most Democratic of the small Rocky Mountain States; which means mostly Republican by national standards.  In the 1992 presidential election Bill Clinton gained 38% to George Bush’s 35% to Ross Perrot’s 26%.  However in 1996 Montana swung to the right and voted 44% for Bob Dole and 41% for President Clinton.  Republicans dominate Montana’s government at the federal, state, and local levels.  The current Governor is Republican Marc Racicot and Republican majorities exist in both state houses.  Montana has only one member of the United States House of Representatives, Republican Rick Hill.  The state expects to regain its second House seat following the federal reapportionment in 2002.  In the United States Senate Montana has both a Democrat, Max Baucus, now in his fourth term, and Republican Conrad Burns, in his second term.  In 1994 Burns became the first Republican Senator to be reelected in Montana history.  Despite its current Republican dominance Montana has a long history of progressive, Democratic political ideals and a pro-union socialist philosophy.  At the turn of the century, as the mining economy boomed, Montana had radical class warfare politics.  Socialist union organizers opposed the large capitalist mining owners in a classic example of the influence of liberal democracy's quest for social justice.  Montana’s Democratic political heritage still has remnants to this day. Montana has no right to work law and is the most pro-union state in the Rockies.             In order to understand the concerns of the Montana Democratic Party an analysis of the state’s economic and social statistics is necessary.  Montana’s population is 53% urban and 47% rural, with no city larger than 100,000 people. Montana has a Native American population of 47,000 people living mostly on seven Federal Reservations.  Montana has only 5,000 people of color, excluding Native Americans, and makes it unlike most other states.  Agriculture is the major industry of Montana, with 24,700 farms and ranches with an average size of 2,500 acres.  The leading agricultural commodities are wheat, cattle, barley and hay.  Montana has vast stretches of fertile soil suitable for growing wheat and wide areas of grasslands for grazing cattle and sheep.  Mining, once Montanas chief industry has been surpassed by agriculture, but still remains a regional employment force in the northern part of the state.  Montana’s fastest growing industry is tourism.  The natural beauty of the state has attracted tourist and created service sector jobs at an oustanding rate in the last 20 years.  The median household income in Montana is $27,889 and 16% of Montana’s live in poverty. These economic and social statistics reflect the concerns of the Montana Democratic Party and are addressed in their platform and in public pronouncements by the states leading Democrats.  I will now address a few of these key issues important to the Montana Democratic Party.            AGRICULTURE              Montana’s leading industry with over 100,000 people employed in agriculture and ranching related jobs, which represents 20% of the states total employment.  Agriculture generates 65% of the states total economy, roughly $2.4 billion.  Montana Democrats advocate policies that make it financially possible to sustain family oriented agriculture through improved trade policies, value added enterprises, market promotion, fair availability of credit, and reasonable transportation costs.  Recently exports have dropped by $570 million and the Montana Democratic Party has focused on prying open foreign markets to Montana products.  The party also advocates the creation of a permanent safety net to help farmers weather times of crisis.  Clearly, agricultural issues are the priority of the states Democrats and citizens.            EDUCATION            Montana Democrats believe that public education is the foundation of democracy and that children are the States most precious resource.  Public education is the basis for life long learning and is essential in the worlds growing global, and technology driven economy.  Public education depends on a strong partnership among parents, children, communities and schools.  Montana Democrats believe that public funds should be used only for public schools and are against any voucher programs which would subsidize parents for sending children to private schools.  Schools should be controlled by and be fiscally and academically responsible to their communities.  The post secondary educational system should not be limited to ability to pay.  Montana Democrats believe that education needs to be a higher priority at all government levels.  The party advocates smaller class sizes and improved teacher training.  Education will help attract the growing high technology industry and spur economic expansion and help diversify the states agricultural based economy.  Democrats believe that better schools build better citizens and better communities.             ECONOMIC GROWTH            The Montana Democratic Party advocates the development of opportunities that assist existing business and attract new ones.  The party believes investment in people, schools and infrastructure will result in economic development.  The party is using the slogan a “new era of economic populism” to promote its policies for economic growth.  Montana Democrats advocate the cooperation of business, labor and education as equal partners in building a future that fosters business success, good wages and a promising economic future.            TAXATION             The Montana Democratic Party opposes the shift to property taxes that has occurred in the past decade.  Low income citizens, seniors on a fixed income and small businesses need property tax relief.  The party supports fair, progressive, individual and corporate income taxes and supports closing loopholes that favor only the wealthy. Local governments should have greater control over their own taxation and should target tax cuts to businesses that help create good paying jobs.  Montana Democrats believe an adjustment in tax policy would create the economic incentive for new business to move to Montana and create economic growth.  Montana Democrats advocate a balanced federal budget, which protects the values of average Montana’s and protects education, social security, and medicare.            SOCIAL POLICY            The party advocates stable jobs with livable wages as the cornerstone of family values.  The majority of Montana’s make their living as wage earners, relying on fair compensation for their labor in order to sustain and build their communities, raise their families and educate their children.  All workers deserve a safe and health workplace; just compensation for job related injury and unemployment benefits when they suffer the loss of a job.  The Montana Democratic Party supports the right of workers to organize, bargain collectively and strike when necessary with out the threat of permanent replacement.  The party opposes right to work and any legislation and initiatives that would skew the political power or restrict the use of union dues for political or legislative activities.            HEALTH CARE            The Montana Democratic Party supports a comprehensive health care system based on the principles of quality, privacy, consumer choice, access and affordability.  All Montanans, especially children, should have equitable access to health care services regardless of their condition, age, ability to pay or geographic location.            FOREIGN POLICY            The party supports Democratic policies and actions that will insure global stability and nuclear, chemical and biological disarmament and provide human and civil rights for all people of the world.  Montana Democrats support cooperation among all nations, including the use of foreign aid to meet basic human needs and support free trade practices and promotion of Montana products and services in the global marketplace.            ENVIRONMENT            The Montana Democratic Party supports the constitutional right of Montanans to a clean and healthful environment.  A healthy environment and a healthy economy are connected.  Responsible and sustainable utilization of natural resources should be the guiding principle of environmental policy.  Montana’s wildlife and wild lands promote hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities that are an important part of the states heritage, and should be sustained for future generations.            CAMPAIGN FINANCE            Montana Democrats favor a fair system of limiting the dollars spent by campaigns.  The positions of the Montana Democratic Party reflect the concerns and priorities of the state. Montana Democrats respond to the needs of their constituents and their platform speaks to the unique political circumstances that exist in Montana.  The old adage that ‘all politics is local’ is certainly true in the case of the Montana Democratic Party which is less concerned with the views of the national party and seeks to serve Democrats in Montana.