Indianz.Com > News > Senate candidate touts tribal agenda in closely watched race
Senate candidate touts tribal agenda in closely watched race
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Indianz.Com
Speaking to tribal leaders on Indigenous Peoples Day, Democratic Montana Gov. Steve Bullock promised to respect tribal sovereignty and support much-needed federal programs that benefit Native people if elected to the U.S. Senate.
“Today we recognize and pay homage to the indigenous communities and culture that certainly have been damaged throughout history due to historical injustices,” he said, speaking to a virtual forum of Montana tribal leaders on Monday.
Bullock is in a tightly contested and very expensive race against incumbent Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican who serves on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and the outcome could decide which party controls the chamber, currently in GOP hands. The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan newsletter, has called the race a toss-up, while spending by both candidates has topped $75 million, a record for Montana, according to the MTN News Network.
On Monday, Bullock criticized his opponent for supporting President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, which he said have largely favored corporations and the very wealthy.
“In these uncertain times, Montana really needs a leader who’s certain who they’re working for, and I’ll never forget that,” he said.
If elected, Bullock said he would support fully funding the Indian Health Service, increasing funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for law enforcement, increasing the number of Native veteran service officers and living up to the federal trust obligations for tribes. He said he plans to meet Wednesday with leaders from eight Montana tribes at the state Capitol, and he said he planned to raise the flags of all eight tribes in front of the Capitol prior to the meeting. “No Native American should ever feel like they should walk through the back door of our Capitol,” he said. Several tribal leaders asked questions of Bullock during the virtual forum Monday, including Blackfeet Nation Chairman Timothy Davis. Davis asked Bullock what he would do to ensure Native people are treated equally under the law. Bullock responded, saying he would first seek to ensure Native people were provided adequate health care. He said Native people in Montana live on average 20 fewer years than non-Native Montanans. Without proper health care, Native residents would never enjoy equal treatment, Bullock said.Today, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and with that, the culture and the heritage that our Tribal Nations bring to our state. pic.twitter.com/jkwQhVys8H
— Steve Bullock (@stevebullockmt) October 12, 2020

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