VOTE KATE MCLAUGHLIN

Montana’s strength has always come from its families, its workers, and its willingness to come together. Today, as we see rising costs and division over politics, the answer is simple: prioritize families, demand justice, and unite around shared goals.

ISSUES

McLaughlin For Montana

Demand that Families Be Put First

Every triumph working families ever made, whether it child labor protections, 8 hour workday, minimum wage, or weekends off came because we demanded change. It is time again to start demanding family security: lower cost of living, affordable health policies, education and justice for women and children

JUSTICE

Women and children should be safe in their homes and in our community. Whether it is domestic violence or sexual assault, victims should be able to navigate the system without a slow or under funded process.

Reports should be taken seriously and acted on quickly. Lab tests should be special order rushed and protection orders should be enforced. Repeat offenders should face consequences for their actions.

No one is above the law and no victim should be silenced. We need to push for stronger investigations, priority case handling and zero tolerance for cases being ignored or quietly dropped.

Safety is priority, it comes before convenience. We should be a state where women are safe from physical and sexual abuse. A state where children are protected and the truth is never buried.

ENVIRONMENT

The majority of HD9 is public lands (81%) which totals about 54,938 acres of land which is managed by various agencies including: County government, MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks, MT State Trust Lands, US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Forest Service. This land includes seven recreation sites: Smith Lake, Somers Fishing Access, Lone Pine State Park, Somers Beach State Park, Herron Park and Foys Lake Park.

We are very fortunate to have this land available and belong to all of us. These areas give us places to swim, fish, hike, hunt, boat, sled and ice skate, among other things.

The Montana Constitution guarantees our right to a clean and healthful environment. I support a moratorium on data centers in this state until we can study from other states the effects of the water usage, electricity increases to residents, noise and air pollution. I also support alternative energy sources to reduce our use on a finite source of energy. I also oppose corporations from other countries coming in to mine our Montana resources.

HEALTHCARE

The medicaid expansion program, funded through federal dollars continues behavioral health services, and substance use disorder treatment, it also allows seniors to receive long term care.

Montana medicaid has grown to include home births, which helps in keeping costs down, as the average hospital birth is $11,000 and many areas in Montana are not close to maternal care.

I support home births and homecare for elders in their own homes and continued medicaid expansion.

For those not on Medicaid, legislation can require insurance companies to accept pre-existing conditions. If you pay for coverage in Montana, there should be no loop holes, no excuses, you plan should cover your health needs.

Unity

Montana's strength has always come from its families, it's strong local economies, it's relations with tribal nations and its willingness to come together in times of difficulty. This campaign is a call to embrace humanity, fairness and responsibility to one another. The answer is simple: prioritize families, their economy, and unite around shared goals.

ISSUES

McLaughlin For Montana

Demand that Families Be Put First

Every triumph working families ever made, whether it child labor protections, 8 hour workday, minimum wage, or weekends off came because we demanded change. It is time again to start demanding family security: a liveable wage, lower cost of living, affordable health policies, rights for women, childcare/eldercare, and education.

EDUCATION

My sons have all attended Flathead High School. I believe it is very important to continue education to be a place that builds skills ( kids can learn construction, various art mediums, music, welding and other skills). Students are encouraged to excel and push themselves towards higher education ( IB Program, partnership with Running Start FVCC).

I attended public school, both my in-laws were teachers and I have friends and family who are currently teaching. Our education system should support the teachers that work there, ensure buildings that are safe and have adequate space. Legislation can create a school funding formula to allocate money to provide what our Montana Constitution states: “Equality of educational opportunity is guaranteed to each person of the state”. Your zip code should not reflect the value of education your children receive.

ENVIRONMENT

The majority of HD9 is public lands (81%) which totals about 54,938 acres of land which is managed by various agencies including: County government, MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks, MT State Trust Lands, US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Forest Service. This land includes seven recreation sites: Smith Lake, Somers Fishing Access, Lone Pine State Park, Somers Beach State Park, Herron Park and Foys Lake Park.

We are very fortunate to have this land available and belong to all of us. These areas give us places to swim, fish, hike, hunt, boat, sled and ice skate, among other things.

The Montana Constitution guarantees our right to a clean and healthful environment. I support a moratorium on data centers in this state until we can study from other states the effects of the water usage, electricity increases to residents, noise and air pollution. I also support alternative energy sources to reduce our use on a finite source of energy. I also oppose corporations from other countries coming in to mine our Montana resources.

HEALTHCARE

25% of Flathead County is enrolled in Medicaid. The medicaid expansion program funded through federal dollars continues behavioral health services, and substance use disorder treatment, it also allows seniors to receive long term care.

Continuing Medicaid expansion also keeps Logan Health ( now merged with Billings Clinic) to provide care for our community. In a Flathead Beacon article they reported " The failure to reauthorize Medicaid expansion would impact 7,500 statewide jobs ... and $775 million in economic activity that it generates.

Montana medicaid has grown to include home births, which helps in keeping costs down, as the average hospital birth is $11,000. Montana also faces many areas without close access to maternal care and many rural area clinics are in danger of closing. I support home births and home care for elders in their own homes, but we face a serious lack of healthcare workers in these areas which needs to be addressed.

Unity

Montana's strength has always come from its families, it's strong local economies, it's relations with tribal nations and its willingness to come together in times of difficulty. This campaign is a call to embrace humanity, fairness and responsibility to one another. The answer is simple: prioritize families, their economy, and unite around shared goals.