Billings Gazette - Key fights on rural issues face Montana's next congressman, candidates say

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Billings Gazette: Key fights on rural issues face Montana's next congressman, candidates say (04/11/2017)

Gianforte committed to clean water for rural communities, as well, but identified two different federal clean water challenges facing small Montana towns: first, project funding and second, the ever-increasing federal water standards that small towns struggle to afford.

"We shouldn't be making cuts to our rural water projects, but we also have to look at excessive regulations from the EPA that make water projects more expensive for rural communities," Gianforte said.

Talks of killing EAS start every spring, usually in the House, where lawmakers suggest killing the airline-funded program created during the Reagan era when commercial air service was deregulated.

"EAS plays a critical role in providing access and connecting our rural communities with commercial air services," Gianforte said. "Without this program, rural Montanans would lose accessibility to critical health care services and see diminished opportunities for jobs and economic growth. With a $20 trillion debt, it's clear we need to get our spending in order, but rural America should not be the sacrificial lamb."

Gianforte supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with something cheaper, but not at the expense of rural health care, he said.

No matter where Montanans live, mail service should be reliable, Gianforte said, but mail service is deteriorating and needs correcting.

"Our rural communities deserve better access, improved services, and faster delivery. No matter where your home is located, you deserve to have reliable mail service," Gianforte said. "I spent my life in business building companies and I know how important is to balance the budget. The USPS needs to come up with a plan to remain solvent in a way that doesn't threaten the services they provide to our rural communities. I will always fight to ensure our rural communities have reliable and timely delivery of their mail."

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