#MTGOV DAILY RUNDOWN: Bullock Shows Himself to be a Typical Career Politician in First Debate.

In yesterday’s first gubernatorial debate in Big Sky, career politician Steve Bullock showed himself to be out of touch with most of Montana as he ignored major timber job losses, gave two different answers on the Syrian refugee question, and cited “delivering newspapers to the governor’s house as a kid” as proof of private sector experience.

First, Bullock NEVER ONCE in the debate mentioned the news that broke last week of timber mill closures in Columbia Falls. The news affects 230 jobs in the small town.

“Weyerhaeuser Company announced on Wednesday that it plans on permanently closing its lumber mill and plywood mill in Columbia Falls.

The closures are expected to take place in late August or early September, according to a news release from the company.” -Flathead Beacon, 6/22/2016

Greg Gianforte early on in the debate acknowledged the job losses and took the governor to task for trying to argue that everything is great in Montana’s economy.

“We’ve heard a lot about this great economy and all these jobs. The reality is different when you get out and sit across from people at the coffee table. Just this week we lost more jobs in Columbia Falls in the timber industry.” -Greg Gianforte

Bullock also seemed to give two different answers on the Syrian refugee question, first saying he doesn’t have the power to stop refugee resettlement, but then stating he would do “everything” he could to stop unvetted refugees.

Stated first: “First of all, fear shouldn’t define our values, and second of which, the Constitution doesn’t place the ability to determine and define exactly who all comes into our state borders.”


But then he states: “I will, as governor, do everything I can to make sure unvetted refugees do not come to Montana.”



Bullock also heavily distorted the current reality faced by the coal industry in Montana.


“More coal has been mined in the first 3 years of my administration than in the last 3 decades alone.” -Steve Bullock


However, the Billings Gazette noted recently that Montana coal production has fallen by ONE-THIRD this year.

“Montana coal production through spring is down a third, a trend that doesn’t seem to be letting up.

Through May 1, Montana coal mines have produced 9.6 million tons of coal, down 4 million tons compared to the same four months a year earlier. Should the mining trend continue, state programs dependent on coal revenue will feel it, said Bud Clinch of the Montana Coal Council.” -Billings Gazette, 6/9/2016

Trying to prove he is not a career politician, Bullock, at the end of the debate attempted to cite a jobs as a paper boy and as real private sector experience vs. Gianforte who has stared multiple businesses and created hundreds of high-paying Montana jobs.

“I always find it kind of funny, as he calls me a career politician, I don’t know if he’s going back to when I delivered newspapers to the governor’s house as a kid…And, as my opponent knows, I’ve worked in private sector more of the time than in public sector as a lawyer.” -Steve Bullock

 Western Word Poll finds Gianforte won hands down.