O'Neil responds to claims about his record

One of my Democratic opponent’s friends has made some dishonest statements about my legislative history. She stated in her letter to the editor that I have “never introduced a bill that has passed” and that I am against the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. Here is the record:

Bills I have gotten passed — While I am far better at amending bills to make them better and at killing bad bills in committee and on the floor, several of the bills I have introduced have been passed, including bills to:

• Allow a Parental Advocate to be present when Family Protective Services are interviewing alleged abuse (SB308 in 2005)

• Clarify the duties and authority of the Mental Health Ombudsman (SB46 in 2005)

• Require the deletion of unsubstantiated allegations of child abuse from the records (SB191 in 2003)

• Request feasibility study for transfer of federal funds to state tribal programs (SJ24 in 2003)

• Revise penalty for late motor fuel tax returns (SB153 in 2001)

• Eliminate certificate of need laws for certain facilities (SB192 in 2003)

• Prohibit extraterritorial building codes in “doughnut” areas (SB242 in 2001, overturned by the Montana Supreme Court)

• A resolution to strengthen the 10th Amendment and restore states rights by amending the U.S. Constitution regarding the commerce clause (HJ3 in 2013). I am still waiting for other states to climb on board with HJ3 to return some vestige of states’ sovereignty in our federalist system.

Regarding privatization of the Montana Veterans Home at Columbia Falls —  In the 2011 session, I successfully spoke, voted against and helped kill an amendment to HB2 brought by Rep. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, to privatize the veterans home.

The competition from the privatized veterans homes at Butte and Glendive has been stiff and will be a challenge to our Columbia Falls veterans home in the future.

In the 2013 session, I was a leader in the fight to defeat HB263 and retain our full share of tobacco tax money for our Columbia Falls veterans home.

You can find more at www.jerryoneil.com and www.jerryoneil4hd3.com

Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls, represents House District 3.