Governor Gianforte Holds Town Hall on Seven County Swing through Southeast Montana

Town hall marks the governor’s second in a week

• June 15 2023

BROADUS, Mont. – Continuing his 56 County Tour in southeast Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte this morning held a town hall in Broadus after visiting with Montanans in Wibaux, Fallon, and Carter counties on Wednesday.

“It’s great to be back in southeast Montana to sit down and hear from my bosses – the citizens of Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I share their priorities of greater opportunity, good-paying jobs, tax relief, the best education possible, affordable, high quality health care, safe communities, attainable housing, stronger families, and responsive, effective government. We’ll continue to deliver for them.”

Gov. Gianforte taking questions from Montanans during a town hall in Broadus

Joined by county commissioners, ranchers, small business owners, and other Powder River County residents, the governor fielded questions on housing, workforce development, firefighting, broadband, border security, and Medicaid provider rate increases.

“From Ekalaka to Broadus, Montanans want a government that works for them,” Gov. Gianforte said. “That’s why better serving our customers, the people of Montana, is a top priority.”

Yesterday in Wibaux, the governor fielded similar questions from Montanans over lunch at the Palace Cafe. There, the group also discussed the governor’s investments in mental health.

To fill gaps in the state’s behavioral health system, the governor introduced the HEART Fund in his first year in office to provide for a full continuum of behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment programs for communities.

“A lot of times, that’s our biggest problem. There’s nowhere for folks who need help to go,” said Wibaux County Sheriff Shane Harrington, praising the governor’s HEART Fund.

Building on his work to transform the delivery of behavioral health care in Montana, Gov. Gianforte last month made a $300 million investment in behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services in Montana.

Gov. Gianforte meeting with residents in Wibaux over lunch at the Palace Cafe

Continuing the tour in Fallon County yesterday, the governor met with Baker High School science students at Baker Lake, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2017.

Supporting the restoration of the lake, the students collect water samples and report their findings to the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency.

While in Baker, the governor also recognized U.S. Army veteran Robert Singer with the 2022 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation.

Nominated for the award, Singer has served the town of Baker for decades as a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, and ambulance driver.

Gov. Gianforte and First Lady Gianforte presenting Robert Singer the 2022 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation

Montanans can learn more about the Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation and the 2022 recipients at recognizeveterans.mt.gov.

Ending the day in Carter County, the governor traveled to Ekalaka to tour Montana Legacy Ranch’s meat processing plant, Montana Legacy Cuts.

Owned and operated by the O’Connor family, the Montana Legacy Ranch raises 100% certified organic grass-fed beef, which is then processed, dry aged, and packaged at Montana Legacy Cuts.

“We never transport cattle off of our ranch. They are processed in our own USDA processing facility,” Montana Legacy Cuts owner Ty O’Connor said.

Gov. Gianforte talking with Montana Legacy Cuts owner Ty O’Connor in their processing facility

Increasing meat processing capacity in the state to add value to Montana commodities is among the governor’s top priorities. Last summer, Gov. Gianforte announced meat processed in Montana facilities more than doubled in state Fiscal Year 2022.

To support small business owners, the governor increased the business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 in 2021 to $1 million this year, eliminating the tax burden for 5,000 Montana businesses, farms, and ranches.