Carla and I spent the past weekend visiting our oldest son at Fort Rucker, where he is in Army flight school following the same path I took from West Point to Apache pilot and commander in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Watching young Americans prepare to defend our country while we are at war puts the political noise into perspective.
The attacks have only strengthened my resolve. My focus remains exactly where it should be: serving the people of House District 55.
What We Actually Accomplished
Despite the noise, the Legislature passed a number of significant policies in 2023 and 2025.
Property Tax Reform: Legislation I supported prioritized tax relief for Montana residents. Owner-occupied homes, long-term rentals, farms, ranches, and small businesses all see meaningful reductions. 80% of Montanans saw property tax reductions, and over 97% of Montanans property taxes were lower than they would have been without relief.
Income Tax Relief: We simplified the tax code and lowered the top income tax rate to 5.4%, down from the previous 6.9% top rate, multi-bracket system.
Small Business Relief: The business equipment tax exemption was increased from $300,000 to $1 million, which provides direct tax relief for many local small businesses, farms, and ranch operations.
Rural Healthcare: We continued support for policies that protect rural hospitals and healthcare infrastructure that Carbon County families depend on.
Education and Workforce Development: We expanded career and technical education opportunities so students who are not college-bound can pursue skilled trades and local career pathways.
Government Transparency: I passed legislation requiring government entities to publish meeting agendas and recordings so citizens can more easily hold public officials accountable.
These are the kinds of policies that matter to families trying to manage property taxes, farmers and ranchers dealing with rising costs, renters facing housing pressures, and small businesses working to keep their doors open.
Looking Ahead
This week, I am participating in meetings of the Education Interim Budget Committee and the Legislative Finance Committee. These committees oversee state spending, review education funding, and evaluate how programs are performing between legislative sessions. I will provide a more detailed update next week.
Political attacks come and go. What matters is whether we refocus on results for the people we represent or chase distractions based on political drama.
My priorities remain the same as when you elected me: sound fiscal policy, government transparency, strong rural communities, and opportunities for the next generation.
Please continue to reach out with your questions, feedback, and ideas. Please also consider donating to my campaign to help push back on vile, divisive, hyper-partisan politics that have too often dominated our political discourse.
It is an honor to serve you.
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