• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
E-News
Advertise · Contribute · Connect

Missoula Current

Missoula's News Journal

Local News Missoula

  • Home
  • Environment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Voices
  • General
  • UM Corner
  • Media
  • A & E

Montana Voices: Elect a true Montanan, resist East Coast money

May 20, 2017

May 20, 2017 By cmsadmin

image_print
Rob Quist is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House from Montana in the May 25 special election.

By Scott Bixler

On Thursday May 25, Montana voters will either choose to continue the tradition of big money buying our elections or will vote for a true local who represents the majority of Montanans.

This rather presumptuous statement can be validated by a nostalgic walk down memory lane reviewing some of our most memorable election buyouts. During the 1892 election for the location of Montana’s State Capitol, the Anaconda Company (Marcus Daly) spent $2.5 million to buy the election for Anaconda, while William Clark spent $500,000 to assure Helena the prize.

In 1899, Clark practically purchased the entire Montana Legislature to ensure his election to the United States Senate.  Clark is reported to have said, “I never bought a man who wasn’t for sale.” This little scandal led to the passage of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution requiring senators be elected by popular vote.

Like the oligarchs of Montana’s past, Greg Gianforte has enlisted the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Congressional Leadership Fund to buy Montana voters. These Washington, D.C.-based PACs are dedicated solely to increasing the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and answer to no one. Neither group has ties to Montana or cares about Montana and the issues affecting the fourth largest state in the Union; they simply want to elect a Republican to Congress.

The choice is as clear as it is simple: Kowtow to the big money, out-of-state PACs and continue the tradition by voting for an East Coast millionaire, or send Rob Quist, a true Montanan, to Congress.

Scott Bixler is a longtime Missoula resident and former Missoula County Public Schools board member.

Spread the love
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Filed Under: Voices

Close

Join the Drive for $5! 

The Missoula Current is the city's only locally owned and operated news organization, and we need your support. You can help fund the future of independent news with a small $5 monthly contribution. That's the price of a latte, and it ensures Missoula remains an engaged and informed community. Join the team and stay current with the Missoula Current.

Contribute Now!

Primary Sidebar

Stories like this

Harmon’s Histories: What would you do if you...
Sustainable Missoula: Big Sky Documentary Film Fes...
Notebook: Most Montana politicians no longer use t...
Mary Moe: Birmingham’s children awakened Ame...

Website Design by:

Copyright © 2019 Missoula Current Home · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Refund Policy