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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Gianforte Wants New Office for Accountability

Photo montage of Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and Governor Steve Bullock, D, from the 2016 debate at MSU Billings.
MSUB University Relations
Photo montage of Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and Governor Steve Bullock, D, from the 2016 debate at MSU Billings.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte says he wants to bring integrity to state government. He announced he’ll create an Office of Government Accountability, if elected. Jackie Yamanaka reports.

Photo montage of Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and Governor Steve Bullock, D, from the 2016 debate at MSU Billings.
Credit MSUB University Relations
Photo montage of Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and Governor Steve Bullock, D, from the 2016 debate at MSU Billings.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte says he wants to bring integrity to state government. He announced he’ll create an Office of Government Accountability, if elected. 

Gianforte charges the Bullock Administration has engaged in numerous abuses whether its awarding state contracts to use of the state airplane.

The Bozeman businessman adds there’s also the issue of what he calls regulatory overreach.

“I’ve heard from business owner after business owner that they’re dying a death of 1,00 cuts,” he says. “And we’ve adopted a culture of enforcement in state government instead of one customer service.”

Republican Greg Gianforte announced his proposal for a new Office of Government Accountability during a press conference at Lone Wolf Energy in Billings
Credit Jackie Yamanaka
Republican Greg Gianforte announced his proposal for a new Office of Government Accountability during a press conference at Lone Wolf Energy in Billings

Gianforte says his Office of Government Accountability will reduce excessive regulations. He says it will be done without adding personnel to the governor’s office.

Eric Hyers, the campaign manager for Governor Steve Bullock, says this proposal shows Gianforte’s ignorance.

“We already have an accountability office,” Hyers says. “It’s called the Montana Citizens Advocate. And under Steve Bullock’s leadership state agencies have cut or streamlined over 1,000 rules.”

Both candidates continue to turn up the heat on each other as balloting is underway in Montana. Over 297,000 absentee ballots were mailed out to registered voters on October 14, 2016.

Copyright 2016 Yellowstone Public Radio

Jackie Yamanaka
Jackie Yamanaka has been news director at YPR since 1986. From her home base in Billings, Jackie covers a wide range of issues across Montana and Wyoming. During the Montana Legislative session, she re-locates to the state Capitol in Helena where she has another office.
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