#MTGov Daily Rundown: The Bullock Admin Continues to Fail to Do its Job

Where does the buck stop?

The Bullock Administration continues to have major issues overseeing state government.

ICYMI: Greg Gianforte proposes the Office of Government Accountability

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported earlier this month that the Bullock Administration has paid more than $900,000  to settle employee claims. The administration refuses to say why in most cases, and at least one legal expert says that the administration is violating the law.

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s administration has paid more than $900,000 in settlements to state employees over the last three years, according to public records. On most, state agencies won’t say why.

The state has paid 42 employees settlements totaling more than $745,000. Each is listed as 'confidential' in the state’s checkbook, which has been published online since 2013, the year Bullock first took office. The payments range in amounts from $120 to $122,000." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016

Montanans were treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

Legislative Auditors found that the Department of Corrections has been housing adult inmates at the Pine Hills Facility near Miles City and the Riverside Prison for girls near Boulder. However, Montana law prohibits adults and juveniles from being housed in the same facility.

"The Montana Department of Corrections is breaking the law by housing youth and adult offenders in the same facility and by contracting to send girl offenders to a youth prison in Idaho, a recently released audit found." -Associated Press 10/4/2016

Last year, a state audit found 125 accounting errors and a $1 billion overstatement of accumulated depreciation that occurred on Bullock’s watch. It was a “billion dollar mistake.”

“This wasn't just a single accidental oversight. Instead, the problems are deep -- 125 errors and lack of internal controls. Sadly, those controls, had they been in place, according to the audit division, could have caught these problems earlier. In other words, there weren't even controls in place to catch problems.” -Billings Gazette, 7/3/2015

Arguably one of the state’s most vital functions is Child Protective Services. However, Montana CPS continues to struggle performing its basic functions as kids fall through the cracks. This issue only appears to be worsening under Bullock.

“The audit report found extensive weakness in Montana Child Protective Service’s documentation, with many intake reports incomplete, and investigations taking much longer than the law allows” -Montana Public Radio, 1/12/2016

“The audit report found more problems with how the cases were handled rather than the number of cases swamping workers. The audit said, as a result of poor documentation, the department is frequently unable to justify the decision it makes when assessing investigation reports of child abuse or neglect.” -Montana Public Radio, 1/12/2016

Auditors who are tasked with holding state agencies accountable have accused administration officials of retaliating against them for doing their job.

"Former Montana auditors have accused state officials of discouraging Department of Health and Human Services staffers from investigating a variety of questioned payments dating back to 2005." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

"Emails from current and former DPHHS staffers, along with court filings and whistleblower complaints obtained by the Independent Record, identified at least seven long-tenured state employees who raised red flags before they were demoted or fired. At least three staffers who raised questions were accused of insubordination before being fired. 

Two of those staffers claim high-level administrators, acting on orders from Bullock, pushed through “questionable” welfare payments to important Democratic voting blocs on Indian reservations and ignored DPHHS auditors’ questions about hefty checks cut to major welfare program contractors. Bullock, through a spokeswoman, flatly denied those claims." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Questions Continue in Bullock’s Email Saga

“Did Bullock and his staff NEVER use their official email accounts for state business?”

The Montana Attorney General has confirmed that Governor Steve Bullock did not turn over any of his emails from his time as attorney general. This means that it cannot be determined which emails  should have been retained under the state’s open records laws.

“Montana Gov. Steve Bullock did not hand over any of the emails he wrote or received as attorney general to his successor in 2013, so the state Department of Justice is unable to determine whether any messages should have been retained but were deleted, according to a department official.” -Associated Press, 10/18/2016

Bullock was required to turn over records, including emails, pertaining to state business. However, he didn’t turn over ANY email records? Does that mean that, in 4 years as Attorney General, Bullock nor any member of his staff ever discussed emails on his official state account?

“Bullock was required to turn over records requiring retention but he had the discretion to decide which records to turn over.” -Associated Press, 10/18/2016

From KTVM (Bozeman) 10/18/2016:

Montanans were recently treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Andrew J. Huff, chief legal counsel for Bullock, said the governor’s office does not maintain public information archives from the attorney general’s office or other state agencies.

“With some limited exceptions, the governor’s office does not store public information that predates January 2013 when Governor Bullock came into office,” he wrote July 26." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

“Do they exist, were they destroyed legally or illegally?” he [Blixseth] asked. “We find no record they were destroyed legally, so the assumption is they were destroyed illegally.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Blixseth cites email guidelines posted on the Secretary of State’s website that claim “When records are no longer needed, they may be disposed of in a legally prescribed fashion — but only after the State or Local Government Records Committees have approved their disposal.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"He said research by him and his attorneys has shown the governor has not made a request to delete the information." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31//2016

Montana state law in MCA in 2-6-1002 states that Montanans are entitled to state information considered public. This defined as “information prepared, owned, used, or retained by any public agency relating to the transaction of official business, regardless of form.”

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Former Judge and Cyber Crime Expert Call Bullock's Deletion of Emails "Disheartening"

Nels Swandal, who spent nearly 20 years as a district judge, and Robin Jackson, an expert in cyber crime, published an op-ed yesterday offering sharp criticism of Governor Steve Bullock for deleting his own emails and the emails of his staff from his time as Attorney General.

"Montanans expect their top law enforcement officer not only to enforce the law, but to follow the law. That's why Gov. Bullock’s mishandling of state emails as Attorney General is so disheartening.

Recent reports reveal that, following his election as Governor, every email from Bullock’s four years as AG was deleted. All emails of his senior appointed staff were deleted. The email accounts were wiped clean." -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR 10/17/2016


Swandal and Jackson point out that the deletion of the records violates Montana law.

"State law defines most state emails as “public records.” Montana Code requires preservation of public records. Many are to be preserved even after the official leaves office. The law requires state employees to pass records, including emails, on to their successors.

These laws fulfill Article II Section 9 of our Montana Constitution. “No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.” -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR, 10/17/2016


Addressing the Bullock Admin's defense of their actions, Swandal and Jackson say that the defense does not stand up to scrutiny.

"Blaming DoA policy is like blaming Google for deleting valuable information in your Gmail because you canceled your account. You are responsible for saving your information before you cancel. Google doesn't know what is important and what isn't, that is your responsibility.

While it may be normal procedure for DoA to delete email accounts, then-AG Bullock and his staff had a legal obligation to preserve email they sent or received according to State records retention policies and Montana law." -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR, 10/17/2016

Deleting these emails is more than an abstract political issue. It is a real problem with real consequences, impairing all Montanans’ ability to exercise our constitutional right to 'examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government.' This right protects our ability to question or appeal state agency actions that affect us or our loved ones." --Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR, 10/17/2016


Montanans were recently treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Andrew J. Huff, chief legal counsel for Bullock, said the governor’s office does not maintain public information archives from the attorney general’s office or other state agencies.

“With some limited exceptions, the governor’s office does not store public information that predates January 2013 when Governor Bullock came into office,” he wrote July 26." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

“Do they exist, were they destroyed legally or illegally?” he [Blixseth] asked. “We find no record they were destroyed legally, so the assumption is they were destroyed illegally.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Blixseth cites email guidelines posted on the Secretary of State’s website that claim “When records are no longer needed, they may be disposed of in a legally prescribed fashion — but only after the State or Local Government Records Committees have approved their disposal.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"He said research by him and his attorneys has shown the governor has not made a request to delete the information." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31//2016

Chair of the State Senate Judiciary Committee, Scott Sales, is requesting that the Montana Attorney General's Office investigate why Gov. Bullock's emails from his 2099-2013 stint as Attorney General are missing. Sales calls the fact that the emails are gone "very troubling."

“Gov. Bullock failed in a very basic duty to preserve the public records entrusted to his care,” he stated later. -Great Falls Tribune, 9/26/2016

Sales notes that someone in Bullock's office, when he was attorney general, must have given the order to destroy the emails, which may violate state law. He also said the legislature may consider legislation to clarify that elected officials are prohibited from deleting emails.

"Sales asked that Fox determine who at Attorney General Steve Bullock’s office ordered the destruction of these email public records and did the State Records Committee ever give authorization to destroy all their email public records?

Sales said it may take legislative action to ensure that future governors do not do the same thing." -Great Falls Tribune, 9/28/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Bullock's Hypocritical and Misleading Op-Ed

In Governor Bullock's final Billings Gazette op-ed before the election, the governor paints a glowing picture of his first term. He starts by citing values that Montanans believe in before arguing that his leadership has been effective. However, the facts show that Bullock has not lived up to these values and that many of his claims are false.

VALUE: "I love that Montanans believe in an open and transparent government."

• FACT: The Bullock Administration won't say why it's paid nearly $700K in employee settlements
• Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s administration has paid more than $900,000 in settlements to state employees over the last three years, according to public records. On most, state agencies won’t say why.
• 
  
• The state has paid 42 employees settlements totaling more than $745,000. Each is listed as 'confidential' in the state’s checkbook, which has been published online since 2013, the year Bullock first took office. The payments range in amounts from $120 to $122,000." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016

• FACT: Bullock deleted all of his emails from his time as Attorney General
• “Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016
• 
  
• "Andrew J. Huff, chief legal counsel for Bullock, said the governor’s office does not maintain public information archives from the attorney general’s office or other state agencies.
  
• 
  
• “With some limited exceptions, the governor’s office does not store public information that predates January 2013 when Governor Bullock came into office,” he wrote July 26." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

VALUE: "I love that our state lives within its means"

• FACT: State Spending Has Increased by $800 million under Bullock: Under Governor Bullock, state general fund spending during the 2011-2013 biennium (before Bullock took office) was $3.238 billion (HB2, 2011) For the 2015-2017 biennium, state general fund spending is $4.051 billion (HB2, 2015), an increase of more than $800 million, or more than 20 percent.

CLAIM: "We’ve seen consistent economic growth and we led the nation in household income growth last year."

• FACT: Montana has experienced two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth.
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• "The Montana economy has shrunk for the second straight quarter as oil and gas, timber,    mining, agriculture and transportation all reported losses.
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• The Billings Gazette reports that according to a Bureau of Economic Analysis report issued this week, drops in industry pulled Montana’s gross domestic product into negative figures for the last three months of 2015 as well as the first quarter of 2016." -Associated Press via the Great Falls Tribune 7/31/2016
  
  "In the final quarter of 2015, the state's gross domestic product shrank 1 percent. It contracted 0.9 percent in the first three months of 2016." -Billings Gazette, 7/29/2016
  
  "Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska had consecutive quarters of negative economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016." -Washington Free Beacon, 7/28/2016

• FACT: Montana had higher wage growth BEFORE Bullock took office than we had in 2015: Montanans experienced fairly strong wage growth in 2012, with the average annual wage increasing 3.6% to $37,093 See: Montana Labor Report, 2012

CLAIM: "I insisted we balance the budget with a responsible rainy day fund to weather the economic factors that are out of our control."

• FACT: A Balanced Budget is REQUIRED by the Montana Constitution: “Appropriations by the legislature shall not exceed expected revenue.” -Constitution of Montana, Article VIII, Section 9

• FACT: Montana’s Revenues Are Declining and Ending Fund Balance Projections are Down to $100 Million

·         “The state's budget surplus is projected to shrink to $109 million by next year, according to a new legislative report, which says state tax revenues continue to fall short of expectations. The projected budget surplus for mid-2017 had been about $300 million, after the 2015 Legislature and Gov. Steve Bullock approved the two-year budget.” -MTN News, 9/28/2016

·         “Earlier this summer, Montana ended the 2016 fiscal year with $100 million less in the bank than it had projected. By next summer, the state’s cash balance could fall another $100 million more than planned and come within $1 million of the trigger for automatic agency cuts, according to a recent report by the Legislative Fiscal Division.” -Missoulian, 10/1/2016

·        “At one time officials predicted that the state would have $314 million in ending fund balance as of June 2017, but lower revenue projections for 2017, such as a 34 percent dip in oil and natural gas taxes, a 37 percent drop in the metal mines tax and an 80 percent decrease in Treasury Cash Account interest earnings all contributed to the shortfall, LFD officials said.” -Great Falls Tribune, 9/7/2016

·        “The LFD staff, which reports to the Legislature whereas the governor relies on his state budget director, noted the lower revenue trends were expected to continue into 2017 and the new ending general fund balance for FY 2017 is projected to be $109 million, officials said.” -Great Falls Tribune, 9/7/2016

CLAIM: "We've lowered taxes."

• FACT:  Bullock Refused to Cut Taxes, Vetoed 3 Tax Reduction Bills

·     “The state House and Senate GOP caucuses touted tax cuts as a high priority for the 2015 session, but every major tax initiative that was passed out of the Republican-controlled Legislature has been vetoed by Gov. Steve Bullock. Bullock shot down the last of three principal tax proposals from Republicans on Monday. The other two vetoes came earlier this year on proposals to cut income taxes by 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent for every bracket.” -Associated Press 5/7/2016

CLAIM: "His so-called tax plan would blow a hole in Montana’s rainy day fund in order to give tax breaks to millionaires like him, while sticking the rest of us with practically nothing."

• FACT: Gianforte’s Tax Plan is a Practical, Common Sense Plan: The bill Gianforte has touted as a model for tax reform had a fiscal note of less than $30 million over the 2015-2017 beinnium, dramatically simplified our tax structure, and reduced taxes for 63% of Montanans that are in the highest tax bracket. The business equipment tax would be phased out over 4 years.

• FACT: Revenues nearly doubled from Montana’s last major tax cuts in 2003 until Bullock took office in 2013
• 

Source: LFD

• FACT: 63% of Montana taxpayers pay the highest income tax rate

 

Source: LFD

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Bullock Doesn't Even Have a Budget Plan

Governor Steve talks a good game on fiscal matters, but the fact is that Montana's financial situation looks increasingly bleak. With revenues declining and the state budget in danger of going into the red, Bullock was asked what his plan is to deal with the issue. After dodging the question, he was pressed on it and it became clear, in an awkward exchange, that Bullock has no real plan.

Mike Dennison: "So, what is your budget plan?"

Governor Bullock: "Uh...as far as which, Mike?"

The fact is that Montana’s Revenues Are Declining and Ending Fund Balance Projections are Down to $100 Million under Bullock

“The state's budget surplus is projected to shrink to $109 million by next year, according to a new legislative report, which says state tax revenues continue to fall short of expectations. The projected budget surplus for mid-2017 had been about $300 million, after the 2015 Legislature and Gov. Steve Bullock approved the two-year budget.” -MTN News, 9/28/2016

“Earlier this summer, Montana ended the 2016 fiscal year with $100 million less in the bank than it had projected. By next summer, the state’s cash balance could fall another $100 million more than planned and come within $1 million of the trigger for automatic agency cuts, according to a recent report by the Legislative Fiscal Division.” -Missoulian, 10/1/2016

“At one time officials predicted that the state would have $314 million in ending fund balance as of June 2017, but lower revenue projections for 2017, such as a 34 percent dip in oil and natural gas taxes, a 37 percent drop in the metal mines tax and an 80 percent decrease in Treasury Cash Account interest earnings all contributed to the shortfall, LFD officials said.” -Great Falls Tribune, 9/7/2016

The LFD staff, which reports to the Legislature whereas the governor relies on his state budget director, noted the lower revenue trends were expected to continue into 2017 and the new ending general fund balance for FY 2017 is projected to be $109 million, officials said.” -Great Falls Tribune, 9/7/2016

During Governor Bullock's term, state general fund spending has increased by $800 million.

Under Governor Bullock, state general fund spending during the 2011-2013 biennium (before Bullock took office) was $3.238 billion (HB2, 2011) For the 2015-2017 biennium, state general fund spending is $4.051 billion (HB2, 2015), an increase of more than $800 million, or more than 20 percent.

Montana has also fallen from 1st in the nation in fiscal prudence to 26th. ICYMI: #MTGov Daily Rundown: Bullock Claims Disputed by New JP Morgan Findings on State Fiscal Health

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Bombshell Report: Bullock Admin Won't Say Why it's Paid More than $700K in Employee Settlements

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle is reporting this morning that the Bullock Administration has paid more than $900,000  to settle employee claims. The administration refuses to say why in most cases, and at least one legal expert says that the administration is violating the law.

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s administration has paid more than $900,000 in settlements to state employees over the last three years, according to public records. On most, state agencies won’t say why.

The state has paid 42 employees settlements totaling more than $745,000. Each is listed as 'confidential' in the state’s checkbook, which has been published online since 2013, the year Bullock first took office. The payments range in amounts from $120 to $122,000." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016


One former employee said that the settlements were, at times used to cover up misdeeds and prevent whistle blowing.

"One former employee who received a large settlement payment said, in some cases, state agencies use the confidential payments to cover up misdeeds." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016

"A former state employee, speaking to the Chronicle on the condition of anonymity for fear of being sued by the state, said they were fired in 2015 after nearly 10 years on the job. The state agency cited mandatory staff reductions in the termination. The former employee filed a complaint with the Human Rights Bureau that alleged discrimination.

'Less than 24 hours later (the agency) called and offered a settlement,' the former state employee said. The settlement amount, more than $50,000, was contingent in part upon a contract to never disclose the settlement. And the former state employee believes that the firing was in retaliation for whistleblower activities." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016


The Chronicle requested details of the settlements under Freedom of Information, but their requests were denied.

"In September, the Chronicle filed public records requests seeking details of the payments with six state agencies that had issued them: the departments of Justice, Revenue, Natural Resources and Conservation, Transportation, Public Health and Human Services, and Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Each request was rejected." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016

An expert in Montana's FOIA law says that denying access to these records likely violates state law.

"Mike Meloy, a Helena lawyer who represents the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, said the state agencies are likely in violation of the state’s open records laws.

Montana’s Constitution reads: 'No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the public’s right to know.'" -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016


This is yet another issue for Governor Bullock regarding Montana's open records laws. Montanans were treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Andrew J. Huff, chief legal counsel for Bullock, said the governor’s office does not maintain public information archives from the attorney general’s office or other state agencies.

“With some limited exceptions, the governor’s office does not store public information that predates January 2013 when Governor Bullock came into office,” he wrote July 26." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

This is also not the first time that questions have been raised regarding the Bullock Administration's handling of whistle blowers. Last month, the Helena IR  reported that former state auditors were accusing Bullock of wrongdoing.

"Former Montana auditors have accused state officials of discouraging Department of Health and Human Services staffers from investigating a variety of questioned payments dating back to 2005." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

"Emails from current and former DPHHS staffers, along with court filings and whistleblower complaints obtained by the Independent Record, identified at least seven long-tenured state employees who raised red flags before they were demoted or fired. At least three staffers who raised questions were accused of insubordination before being fired. 

Two of those staffers claim high-level administrators, acting on orders from Bullock, pushed through “questionable” welfare payments to important Democratic voting blocs on Indian reservations and ignored DPHHS auditors’ questions about hefty checks cut to major welfare program contractors. Bullock, through a spokeswoman, flatly denied those claims." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Billings Gazette Editorial Slams Bullock and Dems Over False Sales Tax Claims

Calling it a "move that reeks of desperation" the Billings Gazette editorial board slammed Governor Steve Bullock and the Montana Democratic Party today for falsely claiming that Greg Gianforte supports a sales tax.

"It seems like they're trying to make something out of absolutely nothing when it comes to Republican governor candidate Greg Gianforte and sales tax. When we say they're making something out of nothing, we mean it literally. They're trying to make zero mean something." -Billings Gazette, 10/12/2016

The editorial notes that Gianforte has repeatedly said that he opposes a statewide sales tax, and that the zero in his "406 Tax Relief Plan" literally stands for zero sales tax.

"This tactic by the Democrats is at best ham-handed and at worst, completely misleading. While it is true that Gianforte did testify that he favored a state sales tax in place of two other state taxes, he has repeatedly said he does not favor sales taxes now." -Billings Gazette, 10/12/2016 

"When he was before The Billings Gazette editorial board, he made no bones about opposing a statewide sales tax. In Gianforte's "406" tax plan in which he outlines his suggestions, the zero stands for new taxes, especially no new sales tax." -Billings Gazette, 10/12/2016

Bringing up the governor's recent call for a constitutional amendment to ban a statewide sales tax, the Gazette editorial board also calls the governor's proposal "equally lame" and a meaningless publicity stunt.

"In many ways, this is a ploy to contrast an equally lame effort by Gov. Steve Bullock who proposed a constitutional initiative to ban a statewide sales tax." -Billings Gazette, 10/12/2016

"The irony, of course, is that this is one area where both Gianforte and Bullock agree, making the current governor's little constitutional amendment publicity stunt meaningless." -Billings Gazette, 10/12/2016

The Gazette editorial board is not the first media source to criticize Bullock for his misleading sales tax claims. MTPR's "Campaign Beat" also pointed out last Friday that Gianforte is opposed to a sales tax.

"'All this even though no one is currently proposing such a tax, least of all Greg Gianforte,' Mauk notes.

'Gianforte has been very clear in this campaign that he doesn't support a sales tax,' Saldin says. 'It's actually been a prominent feature of his campaign from day one to keep the sales tax at zero.'" -MTPR, 10/7/2016

Bullock's Sales Tax stunt is really just an attempt to cover up Bullock's failed record on providing tax relief.

Running for re-election, Governor Steve Bullock continues to insist that Montana's tax system is fair and that Montanans don't need tax relief. He also claims that tax relief would be too costly to the state. However, in 2012, Bullock promised tax relief, and then failed to deliver on that promise.

"Attorney General Steve Bullock, the Democratic nominee for governor, on Monday proposed giving one-time property tax rebates of $400 apiece to Montana homeowners by taking $100 million from the state’s general fund surplus." -Billings Gazette, 6/11/2016

Inheriting a strong state fiscal situation, Bullock claimed, then, that it was time for the state to return money to taxpayers.

"In his first proposal since winning the Democratic nomination last week, Bullock borrowed a page out of Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s playbook. Schweitzer successfully steered $400-per-homeowner rebates through the Legislature in 2007." -Billings Gazette, 6/11/2016

However, once in office, Bullock not only failed to deliver on his proposal he has also continued to veto tax relief bills, insisting that tax relief simply means "tax cuts for millionaires," even though 63% of Montana taxpayers pay the highest income tax rate.

Governor Steve Bullock vetoed three tax relief bills in 2015 alone.

“The state House and Senate GOP caucuses touted tax cuts as a high priority for the 2015 session, but every major tax initiative that was passed out of the Republican-controlled Legislature has been vetoed by Gov. Steve Bullock. Bullock shot down the last of three principal tax proposals from Republicans on Monday. The other two vetoes came earlier this year on proposals to cut income taxes by 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent for every bracket.” -Associated Press 5/7/2016