Sharon Stewart-Peregoy: Indian Country priorities in Montana

Despite progress in the state of Montana as a whole, unemployment on our reservations remains far too high.

The Montana American Indian Caucus has been fighting to continue full funding for Indian Country Economic Development, which provides resources to tribal businesses to expand operations and facilities and train and employ new workers. This is a vital program that assists tribal members with finding full-time, permanent jobs, starting their own businesses, and improving their lives.

Democrats have proposed several other common-sense jobs bills that will create jobs across Montana.

One of the most important would increase access to Medicaid. Over the next eight years this plan would bring $6 billion dollars into Montana, translating into $4 billion dollars in wages and 10,000 new Montana jobs. It will cover over 60,000 Montanans, helping children, seniors, and people with disabilities afford doctor visits so they can avoid expensive emergency room care. Working Montana families can get treatment when they are sick without risking their financial health as well.