State of Montana Archives: on Technology
Dennis Rehberg:
Montana solutions: rural transportation infrastructure
Rehberg persistently hammered Tester as a front-man for the Obama administration. Tester touted legislation he sponsored or supported to help seniors, veterans and the uninsured.
Tester dismissed claims that he's sided with Obama and the Democrats on the vast majority of issues.
He cited the auto industry bailout, proposals to regulate farm dust and youth labor and the removal of wolves from the endangered list as instances when he's gone against members of his party.
Rehberg spoke of the need for "Montana solutions" and declared his support for government assistance to ensure rural areas of the state are provided adequate highways and air and train service.
Source: The Republic on 2012 Montana Senate debates
Jun 17, 2012
John Bohlinger:
Digital privacy threatened by warrantless NSA invasions
John Bohlinger said Tuesday he will use his Senate campaign to lead an effort to add digital privacy protections to the Montana Constitution. Bohlinger said civil rights are threatened by warrantless invasions by the federal National Security Agency. He
wants to expand constitutional restrictions on warrantless searches to cover digital communications.Bohlinger said his effort would send a message to federal agencies even if the Montana Constitution would not bind them. It takes nearly 50,000
signatures from registered voters to change the Constitution. Bohlinger said he will lead the signature-gathering effort.
The announcement came a day after many Silicon Valley leaders escalated pressure on President Barack Obama to curb US government
surveillance programs that vacuum personal information off the Internet and threaten the technology industry's financial livelihood. Bohlinger said he wants Montana to lead the nation in protecting electronic communications from government spies.
Source: Ravalli Republic on 2014 Montana Senate race
Dec 10, 2013
John Edward Walsh:
Digital privacy threatened by warrantless NSA invasions
John Bohlinger said Tuesday he will use his Senate campaign to lead an effort to add digital privacy protections to the Montana Constitution. The Walsh campaign said Walsh backed state legislation earlier this year to require local governments to get
warrants for cellphone information. Walsh said in a statement that "no government has business spying on the lives of law-abiding Montanans." He said the nation can be kept safe without "warrantless prying."
Source: Ravalli Republic on 2014 Montana Senate race
Dec 10, 2013
John Mues:
Invest in broadband and education to create jobs in MT
On jobs: "I love my home state of Montana," Mues said discussing his decision to run. "I have the qualifications to make a major positive difference in the lives of all Montanans, not just the economically elite."He listed job creation as his #1 issue
saying there are "unprecedented levels of economic inequality" in Montana. He said infrastructure and broadband improvements were needed. And he said there needs to be investments in the education system to make sure teachers are paid what they deserve.
Source: Great Falls Tribune on 2020 Montana Senate race
Apr 28, 2020
Jon Tester:
Stimulus for Going-to-the-Sun National Park roads
Tester defended the $830 billion stimulus bill, saying it paid for, among other things, part of the Going-to-the-Sun Road reconstruction project in Glacier National Park and the Kalispell U.S. 93 bypass, as well as supporting fire departments and police
departments.Rehberg described the stimulus as a failure. "You don't spend $1 trillion and hope to create an asset. I don't think government should be picking winners and losers. Government should be creating an environment of liberating Main Street."
Source: Daily Inter Lake on 2012 Montana Senate debates
Oct 14, 2012
Jon Tester:
Lead the world in clean technology
Q: Consider climate change a critical issue?Matt Rosendale (R): No. "The climate does change. The question is how much impact do humans have on it & how much impact can we have on it by dramatically imposing draconian restrictions on our businesses."
Jon Tester (D): Yes. Climate change is real & human activity significantly contributes. "The rest of the world is together on this. We've got an incredible opportunity to create jobs & lead the world in clean technology."
Q: Support government support for renewable energy?
Matt Rosendale (R): No. Renewable power is a "grand idea" but government shouldn't subsidize.
Jon Tester (D): Yes. Supports tax credits, expedited permitting, utility renewable mandates, & carbon capture credits for coal plants.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Jon Tester:
2008 stimulus was necessary; invest more in infrastructure
Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?Matt Rosendale (R): No. Cut government & return money in tax cuts.
Jon Tester (D): Yes. 2008 stimulus was necessary. Need to invest more in infrastructure.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Jon Tester:
Repealing Net Neutrality handed Internet to corporations
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?Matt Rosendale (R): No public statements found.
Jon Tester (D): Yes. "Repealing Net Neutrality handed our Internet to large corporations." Decision "hurts commerce, small business, education, & healthcare."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Judy Martz:
Eliminate geography as a business issue, via E-Government
The new Research and Commercialization Board offers an excellent balance of scientific credentials and business sense, demonstrating that research is a state priority. 100% of the state now has local dial-up connection to the Internet. High-speed cable
modem and DSL services are being deployed not only in Montana's large population centers but also in remote communities with populations of 1,000 people or less. The Advanced Telecommunications Infrastructure Act passed in the last legislative session
has helped accelerate the growth of high-speed telecommunications infrastructure throughout the state. The tax credits issued under the Telecommunications Act will keep us in the forefront.
Elimination of geography as a business issue means
more and better jobs for Montanans statewide. With our new E-Government initiative, citizens will be able to dial up to find out about the expenditures of their tax dollars, register to vote, and obtain licenses and permits online.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Montana Legislature
Jan 25, 2001
Steve Bullock:
Create jobs by investing in roads and bridges
I ask you to join Representative Jeff Welborn and me in Building Montana; creating 4,000 good-paying construction jobs by investing over $300 million into bridges, water and sewer systems, schools and roads.
And let's do it without raising taxes or endangering our solid financial position.HB 5 Legislative Summary:
- $39M: New Montana Heritage Center - capital project
- $122M: Montana University System - capital projects
- $16M: Local match for Regional Water Authorities
- $28M: state endowment appropriations for water/wastewater
- $29M: technology account appropriations for school facilities
Source: State of the State on 2015 Montana voting records: HB 5
Jan 28, 2015
Steve Bullock:
Put state government spending online, in searchable database
I've pledged to bring a more effective government to Montana--and we're doing that already, too. This Thursday, for the first time ever, Montana's checkbook will be online. We'll have a searchable database so that any Montanan--or anyone in the world,
for that matter--can look at how we are spending the taxpayers' money. It's the right thing to do and it'll lead to a more effective government.
While there are some things I can accomplish without your active engagement and partnership, there are other areas where we need each other if we are going to make progress.
Crafting a budget is one of those areas where we need each other.
Montana is the envy of other states: our unemployment is lower and our economy sounder. While nearly every other state's budget is awash in red ink, thanks to good fiscal management, Montana has amassed a half-billion-dollar budget surplus.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Montana legislature
Jan 30, 2013
Steve Bullock:
Emergency education grants include technology infrastructure
Bullock recently announced $8.7 million in federal grants will be distributed to education entities across the state to ramp up remote learning opportunities, technology infrastructure, and workforce training opportunities. "Emergency grants
will immediately address needs for students who may have fallen behind, upgrade critical technology infrastructure, and ensure students have access to remote learning opportunities."
Source: The Ekalaka Eagle on 2020 Montana Senate race
Jun 19, 2020
Greg Gianforte:
$200M for water & sewer infrastructure, and housing
We adopted one of the task force's strategies in our budget, the HOMES Program, or Home Ownership Means Economic Security. The HOMES Program invests $200 million to expand water and sewer infrastructure, and ultimately expand housing capacity
throughout our state. I ask you to pass the HOMES Program. Get it to my desk so we can increase the supply of housing--and get more Montanans into a home of their own.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Montana legislature
Jan 25, 2023
Ryan Busse:
TikTok metadata could be legitimate Chinese security threat
Q: What's something Governor Gianforte has done that you either support, or were pleasantly surprised by?A: I don't know all the intelligence behind the TikTok thing.
I think there could be a legitimate Chinese security threat with the way that metadata is shared with the Chinese communist government. Taking the Chinese metadata threat seriously, that I think he and I probably agree on.
Source: Big Sky Chat House on 2024 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 1, 2023
Greg Gianforte:
Ban social media from kids' info & from schools
Creating a distraction-free learning environment is crucial for student success, and "cell phone-free" schools are a proven, powerful solution. By eliminating this distraction during the school day, educators have seen significant
improvements in student engagement, focus, and academic performance. Our budget provides $1 million of one-time-only incentives for school districts to adopt "cell phone-free" policies statewide.
To support parents and protect kids, we should take action, as other states have. We should ensure parents can consent for their kids to create social media accounts. We should allow parents to get access to their kids' social media accounts.
We should ban social media companies from collecting and selling data and personal information about kids who are on their platforms. We should require default privacy settings for minors on social media.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Montana legislature
Jan 13, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026