News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12th, 2022
Contact: press@mtgop.org

HELENA, Mont.— In a 5-2 decision, today the Montana Supreme Court denied Montanans a voice in how their state Supreme Court justices are elected. In response to the self-serving decision, Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt released the following statement:

“The Montana Supreme Court has carried water for trial lawyers and other liberal interest groups for far too long. The justices, including Ingrid Gustafson who happens to be on the ballot this year, ignored their own glaring conflict of interest and ruled on this case so they could avoid Montana voters. It’s clear the Montana Supreme Court won’t clean up itself-Montanans must elect James Brown in November so we can start to restore the rule of law.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2022
Contact: press@mtgop.org

HELENA, Mont.—Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt issued the following statement after Democrat Jon Tester voted to pass the Biden-Schumer $739 billion tax and spend bill:

“Jon Tester spent his weekend buddying up with his fellow liberal Chuck Schumer to pass their radical, progressive wish-list disguised as inflation relief,” said Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt. “Not only did Jon vote to pass their massive tax and spend climate bill which sticks Montana taxpayers with the price tag, he also voted against every effort to make the bill better for Montana families including supporting Montana energy development, securing the southern border and ensuring the IRS doesn’t bully small businesses. What’s worse—Jon continues to lie about how the bill will hurt Montanans—he must be held accountable.” 

Tester also refused to use his support for the bill as leverage to restore the Keystone XL Pipeline.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2022
Contact: press@mtgop.org

HELENA, Mont. – Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt issued the following statement after Jon Tester misled Montana reporters about his support for the Biden-Schumer-Pelosi-Manchin tax and spend bill full of liberal priorities.

“On one hand you have Jon Tester telling national reporters “what’s not to like” about the Democrats’ liberal wishlist tax and spend bill. On the other, and with the future of the bill unknown, he’s walking back his comment to Montana reporters saying he’s undecided. Don’t buy the spin, folks – Tester is as firm of a yes on this Montana job-killing bill as Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer. For heavens sake, just take a look at his voting record – he’s always in Biden and Schumer’s corner, not Montana’s,” Kaltschmidt said.

The Biden-Schumer-Pelosi-Manchin tax and spend bill forks over $369 BILLION to advance the radical Green New Deal that will destroy Montana jobs and leave families with even higher energy prices, gives tax breaks to wealthy Americans to purchase electric vehicles, and supersize the IRS by spending $45 BILLION to hire over 80,000 works to go after Montana families and small businesses. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation also found the bill is estimated to eliminate nearly 30,000 jobs and raise taxes on low and middle class Americans.

With a 50-50 split Senate, it would only take one Senate Democrat to put an end to the tax and spend bill once and for all.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2022
Contact: press@mtgop.org

HELENA, Mont.-The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission met earlier today with each commissioner unveiling their proposed maps of Montana’s new legislative districts. The stated purpose of the meeting was to unveil each commissioner’s proposed map, yet Democrat members of the commission secretly received access to Republican commission members’ maps ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. The Democrat commissioners used this unfair advantage to prepare a series of unfounded partisan attacks which they deployed this afternoon. In addition, Democrat commissioners both put forward heavily gerrymandered maps with proposals designed to unduly favor the Democrat party beyond what logically drawn districts would provide.

Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt issued the following statement in response to the Democrats desperate efforts:

“Today, Democrat members of the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission tried to claim moral high ground, but in fact their hands were dirty. The purpose of today’s meeting was to introduce each proposal put forward. It is incredibly disappointing Democrat members of the Commission used their positions to unfairly obtain access to Republican maps prior to the public meeting. They’ve also once again carved up our state in a desperate attempt for political gain. Montanans expect their legislative districts to be drawn in a manner that does not favor one political party over another, and unfortunately Democrats are playing the same games they did during the Congressional districting process,” Kaltschmidt said.

“Public comment is an important part of the redistricting process and in order for the process to be transparent, Montanans need to be heard. I encourage all Montanans to participate over the next several months and closely review what is included in the maps to ensure common sense legislative districts are adopted and to prevent Democrats from dividing up our state to benefit their liberal agenda.”

The commission will be holding both in-person and virtual public hearings by region giving Montanans an opportunity to provide feedback on proposed maps. To ensure a fair map of our legislative districts is adopted for Montana, we encourage you to participate.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2022
Contact: press@mtgop.org

HELENA, Mont.- Montana Republican Party Chairman Don Kaltschmidt released the following statement in response to the revived Biden-Schumer-Pelosi-Tester Build Back Broke bill:

“This morning it was confirmed what Montanans have already been feeling -we’ve officially entered a recession as the result of out of control spending from Biden and the Democrats. So what’s the answer from the Democrats? Revive their Build Back Broke tax and spend bill that would spend billions of taxpayer dollars on the Green New Deal, raise taxes on American job creators killing jobs, and leave Montana taxpayers to foot the bill. I hope Jon Tester has the guts to stand up to Biden and Schumer and do what’s right for Montana families by stopping this terrible proposal.”

“Monica Tranel has outwardly supported the Build Back Broke bill and disastrous Green New Deal ideologies. She’s in the pocket of Nancy Pelosi, and you can bet her vote would just be one more in the Speaker’s corner- not Montana’s. Montanans cannot afford Monica. We need to send Ryan Zinke back to Congress to restore fiscal certainty to Washington.”

Democrat Senator Jon Tester could be the one Senate vote to stop this legislation from moving forward. To no surprise, he has also expressed his support for tax and spend bill despite the repercussions it will have on Montana taxpayers during an already economically devastating time. The revived Build Back Broke bill is estimated to cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2022
Contact: press@mtgop.org

HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Republican Party announced today that the central committees in Deer Lodge, Granite, Silver Bow and Powell Counties have selected Mr. Terry Vermeire of Anaconda, as the Republican nominee to fill the unexpected term of late State Senator Mark Sweeney in the November General Election.

Vermeire is currently a member of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission where he has served since 2012. A graphic artist by profession, Vermeire worked for the Montana Power Company for 25 years before retiring in 2005. He operated Vermeire Graphics in Anaconda for 20 years before retiring a second time.

“I am delighted to serve as the Republican Nominee for Senate District 39,” Vermeire said. “My background and experience as a County Commissioner suit me particularly well to serve in the state legislature. I am thoroughly familiar with the infrastructure challenges facing local and state government, have served on the County’s Negotiation Teams for labor and Superfund issues. Finding solutions to the problems being experienced at Montana State Hospital and the State Prison are paramount”.

“Anaconda has been experiencing an economic resurgence during the past five years, due in large part to local government changing its focus and encouraging business development. We need to do more of that in Helena to create a prosperous future for all Montanans regardless of whether they live in the city or rural areas,” said Vermeire.

Vermeire was born in Illinois where his family operated a family farm. He moved to Montana in 1977 and has been a resident of Anaconda for 45 years. He is a graduate of Montana Tech in Butte.

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We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of KrisHansen. Kris was a dedicated public servant who spent her career preserving freedom whether it was in the military, the state legislature, or at the Montana Department of Justice. She leaves behind a void that will never be able to be filled. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2022
Contact: alden@mtgop.org

HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Supreme Court yesterday ruled against Montanan’s Second Amendment right to carry a firearm on a college or university campus. However, Liberal Supreme Court Justice Ingrid Gustafson recused herself from the case. Gustafson is currently running for re-election to the Montana Supreme Court. In response to her recusal, Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt released the following statement:

“Ingrid Gustafson is a liberal activist judge who is a threat to our Second Amendment rights. Her recusal on the HB 102 case is a politically motivated stunt to help her reelection campaign and hide the truth from Montanans: That she supports taking away our constitutional right to carry a firearm on a college or university campus. Thankfully, Montanans have a choice this November and they must elect James Brown to the Montana Supreme Court because he will always follow the Constitution as well as protect and defend our Second Amendment Rights.”