Bozeman News

Montana Politics

U.S. Senate Candidates Tackle the Issues in Forum

By Dana Green, 4-28-06

In Montana, politics are never boring. But the race is on for U.S. Senator Conrad Burns’ seat, and it promises to be a doozy.

The U.S. Senate forum Friday evening, hosted by MontPIRG and held at the University of Montana campus, was a chance to get to know each of the candidates: their personal styles along with their political views, even their choice of clothing for the event (Morrison, Tester and Keenan in formal business suits; Richards in a sporty bolo tie).

On hand were Democratic candidates Jon Tester, State Senate president and organic farmer from Big Sandy; Paul Richards, media consultant and former state Legislator; and State Auditor John Morrison, who had to depart early for an awards ceremony in Miles City.

On the other end of the political aisle: Republicans Bob Keenan, a Bigfork inn owner and former State Senate president, and Carter auto salesman Daniel Lloyd Neste Huffman, with Ken Marcure, who resides in Japan, withdrawing at the last minute due to illness.

Notably absent, but still the elephant in the room, was Sen. Conrad Burns, who declined to attend the forum. Burns attended a Republicans-only forum in Billings earlier in the month.

With the recent revelation that John Morrison had a prior affair with the fiancée of a man under investigation by the state auditor’s office, you would expect a few feathers to be ruffled on the candidate.

But he was calm, collected, and confident – as was his key Democratic rival Tester. With both men articulate and well-spoken, intelligent, and seasoned Montana politicians, the Democratic primary promises to get interesting.

Two lesser-known candidates, Huffman and Richards, clarified their stands on the issues. Huffman specifically noting he was “not a politician,” stressed the need to raise personal incomes and get the country “back on track.” Richards, a member of the Montana state Legislature in the 1970s, took a strong anti-war stance, and called for complete independence from foreign oil.

Despite being absent, Burns came up briefly during closing statements, as Tester didn’t pull any punches – expressing hope he would be running against his Senatorial colleague Bob Keenan after the primaries were done.

“I’ve known Conrad Burns a long time. He’s a likeable guy,” Tester said flatly. “The relationship he’s had with Jack Abramoff turns my stomach. This campaign is really all about integrity.”

Burns, meanwhile, has fired back at Democrats in a recent ad campaign, accusing them of not taking a stand on key issues.

As moderator and UM political science professor Jeffrey Greene commented: “Welcome to Montana politics at its best.”


Here are excerpts from four, pre-arranged forum questions:

Q: How can you help improve funding for higher education for Montana?

Huffman: Education is very important. We need to be a leader in alternative energy – wind, solar – and decrease our demand on foreign oil to fund education.
Keenan: Federal government doesn’t have a role to play … We do that at the state level. We’re out of (that role) in the U.S. Senate.
Tester: The government can do things … Stafford subsidized loans can reduce interest rates for students, work/study programs need to be expanded.
Richards: Education has to be elevated to the highest priority. We could follow the Irish model … free higher education for all high school graduates. To compete in a technological and competitive world, we need an educated populace.
Morrison: I think it’s critical the U.S. government play a role. Our economic health and prosperity depends on it. We’ve been giving out midnight earmarks instead of investing in higher education, scholarships and research.

Q: What can you do to bring jobs and economic growth to Montana?

Tester: Support the university system – they’re a huge economic driver. And agriculture … We do a poor job of adding value to our products. In energy, we have an incredible opportunity; Judith Gap (wind farm) turns a liability into an asset. We can create ethanol, jobs, and an energy source we can use.
Keenan: The difference between Jon and myself is the role of government in that process. The best thing the government can do is stay out of the way.
Richards: The military machine has moved us into war … (next) it could be Iran, or South Korea … We’re at $1.2 trillion in Iraq – that’s dollars better spent at home.
Huffman: Montana should be leading in alternative energy. Our incomes are too low and our cost-of-living too high. Minimum wage has only gone up $2.15 in 27 years. We need to double the minimum wage.
Morrison: The U.S. government has a big role to play in economic development. It begins with agriculture in Montana. We need an agricultural policy that works for them. An energy program that diversifies our energy portfolio … that creates economic development in Montana. (And) we need a national commitment to affordable health care.

Q: Do you believe the Iraq war has been a foreign policy success?

Keenan: I think we have to look at 80 percent voter turnout. If CNN were covering George Washington in 1776 like they’re covering the Iraq war, we’d be British subjects. It’s an uncomfortable situation … but we have to follow through.
Richards: It’s expensive playing world cop. If we ignore Geneva Conventions and the Kyoto Protocol, we give ammunition to those who (hate) us. The Iraqi people need to control their own oil and destiny.
Hufman: We’re showing the world we’re bullies. That’s bad. We can’t even run our own country, yet we’re in everyone else’s business.
Morrison: I support fighting terrorists abroad, and protecting domestic security at home. We should find Osama Bin Laden … (and ensure) he is no longer a threat. We need to speed up the time our troops are brought back. I have a three-step (program) for the war … 1) No permanent U.S. bases inside the country; 2) No more no-bid (reconstruction) contracts; and 3) Oil ownership squarely in the hands of the Iraqi people. Those are the steps we should take, and we should take them now.
Tester: Is the war in Iraq a success? No. It has nothing to do with terrorism, or Al-Qaeda. But we must support our troops … I will fight forever in the U.S. Senate to make sure the (troops) get the benefits they deserve when they come home. Our President has determined it’s going to be another president’s responsibility. That’s unacceptable. It is not fiscally responsible to have an open-ended commitment in Iraq.

Q: What, if anything, should the U.S. do to improve immigration policy?
Richards: The House made felons of undocumented workers. That’s not a good idea with 9 million people (laughter). The children of workers are U.S. citizens – if we send workers home, we’re splitting up families.
Huffman: We’re all immigrants. We’re the world’s greatest hypocrites.
Tester: We have to secure our borders and our ports. Many containers from those ports come right across this state on a rail. We need to enforce laws in this country. We (also) need to make sure our businesses are being good citizens. We need to discuss human rights (with) Mexico in particular, so maybe folks will want to stay in their own country. The Senate bill is a workable solution.
Keenan: We need to secure ports and follow the laws. We have temporary work visas … we have mechanisms in place. Enlarge the work visas so people have access to live the American dream.
[Morrison was absent for the final question.]

The next Senate forum is scheduled for Saturday, April 30 in Helena.

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