Op-ed: Montana Democrats support rural, agricultural areas

Rural and agricultural areas of Montana and the nation face tougher and tougher challenges. Our hospitals are struggling; our schools operate with reduced state and Federal funding, and our infrastructure is deteriorating. Our friends in agriculture experience uncertainty, higher expenses, and farm bills that are being used as political footballs.

Over the past months, a group of rural, ag-involved Montana Democrats have met to talk about what support for our rural, agricultural areas looks like. We believe that it’s time for Montanans who work the fields, raise cattle, and feed the world get the respect they’ve earned.

Consider what Democrats support for improving our rural areas

● Healthcare and most importantly Medicare and Social Security are critical to sustaining our way of life. We support Medicaid for Montana, our hospitals and nursing facilities.

● Schools, K-12, must be fully-supported at the state and Federal level – no more putting our kids’ education on the backs of local taxpayers.

● We must invest in our roads, bridges, water and sewer systems – the backbones of our communities. Digital infrastructure and the opportunities that come with it are critical investments in rural areas.

And here’s what Democrats support for our farm and ranch economy

● No trade deals about us without us. Agriculture is being used as a pawn in the current trade war and that is unacceptable.

● We demand fair trade policies.

● We support Country of Origin labeling.

● Democrats support a farm bill that works for Montana producers in the new farm economy – crop insurance that fits the reality of Montana producers’ risk; a farm bill that includes partners for SNAP, WIC, and the Conservation Stewardship program.

Sustaining our rural areas, and our farmers and ranchers, should never be a Red vs. Blue thing. We need to elect people to our school boards, to our county commissions, to our legislature, and, yes, to the United States House of Representatives and the Senate who sincerely understand rural Montana and who will fight like hell for us. As you look at candidates – both Democrat and Republican -- ask about school funding and infrastructure. How are your rural hospitals doing? Are you worried about the very real possibility of a trade war with China? Are your neighbors? Rural folks have good reason to be uneasy in these challenging times, but Democrats will never stop working to protect our way of life.