Posted: June 11, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Let’s Talk About Rick Hill’s Record
Now that Rick Hill is the Republican nominee for Governor of Montana, it’s a good time to take a closer look at his record. It isn’t good.
The Democratic party has already pointed out that Hill led the effort to create a new 4% sales tax. He supported the privatization of Social Security, voted against increasing the minimum wage, and backed special tax breaks for big corporations. As head of the workers compensation board, he set up the most expensive worker’s compensation system in the U.S.
Democrats aren’t the only people with concerns about Hill’s abysmal record. Here’s how members of Hill’s own party explained why Hill would make a terrible Governor.
Corey Stapleton first pointed out in a campaign ad (which was later backed up by the Associated Press) that Rick Hill not only made a king’s ransom renting office space to the Montana state government in the 1990s and 2000s, but that his wife Betti used her job in Governor Judy Martz’s office to steer business his way. Thus did Rick and Betti Hill become very wealthy people. Stapleton also pointed out the sales tax Hill proposed.
Ken Miller raised concerns about how much time Rick Hill spends in California, saying “perhaps Congressman Hill should have spent more time enjoying what Montana has to offer,” instead.
Neil Livingstone said Hill failed with Montana’s work comp system, “I think a lot of the problems that we have today we can attribute to Rick and his tenure there […] he really didn’t get his arms around the problem. Today there are 19 people working in the State Fund that make more than the governor […] and they give each other big bonuses of several hundred thousand dollars a year”
Bob Fanning expressed concerns at a GOP forum about Hill’s support in Congress for the de-regulation of banks and the management of the U.S. economy:
“Mr. Hill, during your tenure in the 106th congress, I pointed out that there were four (4) sectional charges placed underneath the American economy that blew it up. Number one (1), The Community Reinvestment Act and the expansion of Fannie Mae between 1993-2001. Number two (2), the continued de-regulation of credit default swaps, which are the instruments that blew up the economy. Number three (3), the repeal of the Glass-Stegal Act, which ultimately turned our banks into securitization mills and blew up the economy. And, number four (4), the Commodity Modernization Act. With three million people out of their homes, and 14 million people out of their jobs, do you feel any reason that you should be held to account for our financial crisis because your votes were all yea [in favor of these measures]?”
Now that the primary is over Montanans will start to look deeper in to Rick Hill’s background. Given what’s known already, its unlikely they’ll like what they see.
I agree the Hill would be a horrible choice.
However, I think you can do better. Cmon…a primary season spent denigrating the thoughts, comments, education, training and perhaps the heritage of Ken Miller and noxious Neil and now you quote them?
Choosing between Obullock and Hill is like choosing between puke or vomit.
I agree that some of these guys are real dim bulbs. But they raised these concerns because they’re likely to resonate with Republican voters especially –they were running primary campaigns. Therefore, I think their worries are interesting in terms of Hill’s vulnerabilities in the general.
I’m pretty sure that a majority of Montanans would want an alternative to the current troubled SS system.
And didn’t old Gov. BS have some business favoritism with his brother?
You’re nucking FUTZ, Ingy. There IS no trouble with the SS system. It only exists in the Big Kockh mind!
Ingy, you and I had a brief conversation about SS and I came away suspecting you knew nothing about it, and we’re only repeating things that you hear on right wing talk radio. For that reason, I suggest that you not talk about it, as it is plain to me that you don’t know what you’re talking about, big time.
Mark you’ve blown my cover. There is no problem with SS, I’m an agent for the Koch bros and talk radio.
See Scary’s comment above ya.
And its a pity no one would listen to Chomsky on the radio.
http://www.chomsky.info/articles/20050601.htm
Then you’d be a TR tool also.
Chomsky has been advised to spice it up and refuses, claiming the message is more important than the messenger. If you lack attention span and cognitive ability, he’s not for you. Stick with Beck.
The “problem” with Social Security is that it’s enemies are running around claiming there is a problem. That’s perception management. I could lay out the funding and all of that, and it would take time and effort, you would not read it and then you’d listen to Rush tomorrow and return here with the same bullshit. That’s why my advice – you don’t know shit, so please STFU about SS. stick to what you know. Gunshays and and abortion.
Guns, gays and abortion.
Do worry ’bout laying it out Mark. I’ll just read Noam’s piece.
What are “Gunshays”?
Autocorrect for guns gays and abortion. As noted.
And no, you won’t read Chomsky, any more than would Rush. Stop with the bullshit.
Jeez I cant believe I am agreeing to the above conversation of Mark today… Miracles do happen!
Oh I’ve read him. He’s certainly intelligent. But so was Kaczynski, 167 IQ if I remember.
In fact you share some similarities with Ted.
FBI behavioral psychologist Kathleen Puckett said that the Unabomber was very narcissistic and very convinced of his superiority and his superior intellect.
Which explains why you can’t have a couple sentence conversation with out insults.
Ouch! Good comeback Ingy!
I was very pointed in my criticism, Ingy, that you had not put up any substance in your crticism of SS, and even after having debates on the subject where substantive issues were put before you, you still fell back on parroting talk radio points without offering substance. (Now you’ve got Norma cheering for you. Rah rah sis-coom-bah!)
You might have glanced an article or listened to a few minutes of Chomsky somewhere, but if you don’t know him as modest and ingratiating in the presence of all save professional intellectuals, you don’t know him. My conclusion: You haven’t read him.
Your Kacyznski remark is beneath contempt. In the real world you come around and drop links and non sequiturs into otherwise useful conversations. You have no chops. If you did, you’d say something about SS indicating you understood the origins, funding base and future prospects, and would also know that the program is not in trouble, financially, but is threatened by right wingers. Far more dangerous, however, Obama and the Democrats, who are false friends.
Stop with the false front. It doesn’t take a 167 IQ to see there’s nothing behind it.
Politically speaking you’re living in Ted’s tar paper shack, Mark.
A loner, outcast from past friends.
The bombs you build are comments filled with insults, your posts lack solutions read like Kacyznski’s manifesto.
Other than I am not a loner or an outcast, and that I have maintained my important friendships in Montana, most in Bozeman, you’re right. Many Billiingsites in oil and gas consider me a traitor to their cause, and they are correct. I place the commons above industry. I fear not the slings and arrows …
I leveled some of what you considered “insults” at you, but if you go back and re-read, you’ll find them to be substantive criticisms. You do parrot talk radio, you rarely engage in substance, and you do non sequitur links. When factual matters are brought to your attention at my website, you vamoose, so that I don’t even bother anymore. I know that if I labor to answer you you’ll just leave and reappear with the same thoughts at a later date. You are impenetrable.
Rick Hill doesn’t stand an icicle’s chance in Hell of defeating Bullock and Walsh. The only way it would happen is the GOP can somehow convince the rational voting public to stay home in Nov.
The real question is whether Gillan can beat Daines. The Polls say no but I am not convinced.
I think Gillan has a chance given that the polling on that race had her within about 5-7 points of tying with him earlier this year. I’ll try to find the poll.
Yeah…because Montana’s overwhelmingly hate coal development and love Obamacare. Wait, nope. Bullock is toast as long as Hill doesn’t make any major mistakes. Bullock voted against Otter Creek, which has overwhelming support across Montana and he refused to defend Montana against federal abuses of power (not just limited to Obamacare – he let the Feds steamroll medical marijuana operations too).
If the report just released by CNN is to be believed (and the numbers are pretty straight forward) it is the agriculture industries that are actually hurting. Montana is one of seven states that saw a shinkage in the state economy, in large part because of the losses in Agriculture related fields and the loss of public employment.
Which goes against everything Montana itself is saying.
Montana Economy to Outperform U.S. in 2012
http://www.bigskybusiness.com/index.php/business/economy/2377-montana-economy-to-outperform-us-in-2012
http://www.ourfactsyourfuture.org/admin/uploadedPublications/4799_eag-0412.pdf
It is nice that Barkley predicts that the Montana Economy will outperform the US economy but that doesn’t change the fact that Montana was one of seven states to actually shrink it’s economy in 2011. I found Barkley’s statements to be somewhat optimistic but given the audience, it isn’t really that surprising. We will see what happens.
Frankly, I am not that optimistic at this point. Given what will happen at the end of the year, unless things RADICALLY change, we could very well be looking at a recession that makes the one in 2008 look mild by comparison. It is foolish to believe that Montana will weather a second recession any better than the rest of the country and given Montana’s economy’s performance in 2011, that is not a comforting thought.
Who knows.. maybe the stuffed shirts in Congress will get off their butts and actually pass a budget so there isn’t a shutdown threat at the end of the year. Maybe they will magically agree to budget cuts so that the automatic cuts (that are guarenteed to result in a double dip recession) don’t happen. Maybe they will agree to some kind of revenue fix so that the end of the SS tax holiday and the end of the Bush Tax Cuts don’t result in another recession. Of course, Barkley did not address any of those things in his presentation. Maybe he isn’t worried about them. I sure as hell am.
BTW, neither link disputes that Montana’s economy shrank in 2011. They just claim it will magically fix itself this year.
We’re still losers compared to our neighbor to the East.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/north-dakota-voters-consider-ending-property-tax.html?_r=1&hp
No property taxes, wouldn’t that be sweet.
It should be n here that repeal of Glass Steagal and the Commodity Futures Modernization Act were signed by … Bill Clinton. While you’re ragging on Hill, who is a good target, do self reflect a bit.
Yes, let’s all vote against Bill Clinton for Governor of Montana. ~hehe~
You’re so cute, Tokarski.
Wanna talk Helen Keller again, oh deep one? I am in need of a good chuckle, and Kailey political analysis oughtta do it.
You’re in need? Suffer, bitch.
No no no.you gave me my chuckle. This post railed on Hill for voting for teo bills that Clinton signed into law. Are you unable to see irony?
Chuckle …chuckle. Thanks!
There is a reason comments are reviled – the above exchange is puerile in the extreme.
No comments, no readers. Cowgirl even invents avatars to comment, ergo the list of non-repeating anonymous comments. S/he/they are generating interest.
No here comes the real BS. Miracles are short lived!
All of Hill’s opponents you list in this post, except Fanning, have already endorsed Hill over Bullock. Like Obama, Bullock would like to run on anything but his record for growing the economy or creating jobs, as during his tenure as AG he did everything possible to kill investment in this state. Thus your need for mud, even if it has no substance. Montanan’s are beginning to learn about Bullock’s record and will ultimately choose a job creator like Hill over a career politician. People want the dignity and independence of a good paying job – not a government handout.
State AGs don’t Grow economies or create Jobs they enforce the Law, or adjudicate it. Where do you get your information at Scoop?
The gubmint has to find you a JOB, Poop? Wow! You really ARE a loser, dufus! Ever thought that maybe YOU ought to take the initiative to find your lazy ass a job?? What are you qualified to actually DO, dink? Maybe that’s a good place to start! Accept some RESPONSIBLITY for your life, teaboy!
You see, Poop, I’ve found that there’s PLENTY of work out there for folks who have the drive, intelligence, and ability! Why should we creATE jobs for losers? I think the state would be better off without these kind of folks, don’t you?
This is Montana, Poop. If you want to live here, you gotta EARN it! Sorry to be so blunt, dufus, but that’s the TRVTH! I suggest that you might try Texas. I hear that they have a good welfare program for losers like you!!!
Hope this helps.
I just LUV the sound of teatard whining in the morning! Don’t you?
bwhhahahahahahaaaa! Poor widdle Poop. He ain’t got no job. Ain’t got no prospects. Ain’t got no gubmint help! He’s GOTTA blame someone for his own inadequacies. Why not the gubmint???
He’s the new American male, a FOLD! Fat, obese, lardassed, diabetic in need of a Rascal scooter and an OXYgen tank, so’s he can make it to the polls and vote like a patridiotic Murcan for ALL them Jaysus luvin’ teatards like Dopey Reeburp!
Ain’t that America!….well, no, it’s NOT!
http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/sectors/item/11661-for-billionaires-only-uncle-sams-real-estate-fire-sale
It is totally irrelevant whether or not Hill or Bullock wins the Gubernatorial race in Montana . Both are establishment shills and will fully cooperate with the Banksters when they come for the collateral.
When you don’t understand a situation “follow the money”. This was the only reason I ran ; I was the only one in the race who had the backbone & brains to address foreclosure fraud. The rest of the field was running for Prom King using styrofoam words and taking zero risk. Keep playing this Red team vs. Blue team game to your own demise.
…for the grapes were sour….
THE SOUR GRAPES OF WRATH, by Boob Whinebeck!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!
HEY, I think I seen a wolf go by!bwhahahhhahaahaaa! Us outta staters don’t LIKE the fact that there’s shit here in Montana that can EAT us! We LIKE to be on the top of the food chain, the fatassed, lardbutted, Walmart supersized food chain!
Me, personally, for the record, the ONLY thing I supersize is my beer! Fosters anyone????
Wolfman, you a funny dude, dude!