| “
|
- Working Families and Unions
- Montana workers are under unprecedented attacks from corporate dark money groups to take away their rights and economic prosperity.
- The Attorney General must stand up for Montana workers and their families.
- Graybill’s strategy includes defending unions, protecting workers from misclassification, and standing up to attacks against workers' rights, pensions, and healthcare. Graybill will continue to stand up to out-of-state special interests groups who come to Montana to buy our elections and implement their anti-worker agenda.
- Montana has a proud history of strong unions, which built and sustain the middle class in Montana. Organized labor has supported thriving communities, good paying jobs, and dignity for workers in Montana for nearly a century. In fact, the very first public-employee labor agreement in America was negotiated by the Butte Teachers Union, AFT Local №332, in Montana in 1935. That’s a history we should celebrate. Here in Montana, we know that unions are the bedrock of an economy that works for everyone.
- But Montana’s legacy as a union stronghold now faces an unprecedented attack from corporate dark money groups outside our state seeking to rip away protections for workers and undermine the bedrock of the middle class. The Attorney General can, and should, step up to defend Montana’s workers from those attacks. Simply put, the people of Montana deserve a chief lawyer who fights for workers, not against them, and the Attorney General should be a bulwark against attacks by anti-worker politicians.
- Standing up for workers is at the heart of Raph Graybill’s campaign for Attorney General. He’s a union alum himself, and his wife is a member of the Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE). Raph is a staunch defender of hard-won labor protections and will fight against dangerous attacks from anti-union activists. Graybill understands the importance of having an Attorney General who Montana workers can depend on.
- As Attorney General, Graybill will:
- Fight in court for the right to organize collectively, drawing on his work defending common sense labor laws before the United States Supreme Court
- Workers’ rights–like the right to bargain collectively–are on the line and will require a new generation of vigorous, assertive advocacy to protect workers. As Attorney General, Graybill will be an independent watchdog for our rights and prioritize the tough fights to advance and defend workers’ rights–whether it’s before the United States Supreme Court, or right in our backyard. Graybill understands that Montana has a unique perspective to bring to upcoming fights in the court system to erode workers’ rights, and will step up to provide leadership through legal advocacy.
- In 2018, Graybill filed a brief before the US Supreme Court, arguing on behalf of all Montana workers that public sector unions should be able to continue collecting ‘agency fees’–the reasonable dues that union members pay to support collective bargaining and contract negotiation efforts. Graybill’s Supreme Court brief pointed specifically to Montana’s history, where ‘agency shop’ arrangements were crucial to our state’s legacy of peaceful, dignified labor negotiations. He told the Supreme Court not to overturn a decades-old policy with a proven record of success in Montana.
- Unfortunately, the Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME kowtowed to the special interest activists that had brought the case, ruling against our working unions. But Graybill knows the fight isn’t over. He knows how crucial it is for unions to have an ally who’s willing to go to court and aggressively and affirmatively defend the labor peace that our predecessors worked so hard to secure. Graybill will continue to take on tough cases where union rights are on the line, and stand up for Montana workers. Graybill will put labor issues front and center as Attorney General.
- Stand up for employees who have been illegally mislabelled as ‘independent contractors’ and other tricks to degrade workers’ rights
- There is a new line of attack to undermine hard-fought worker protections: big, out-of-state corporations illegally mislabeling their employees as “independent contractors.” Graybill recognizes that intentionally mislabelling workers is part of an unfair scheme to reduce wages and deny hard-earned workplace protections and benefits. If a big corporation deliberately mislabels a worker as an independent contractor just to evade common sense labor laws, it violates basic labor rights. This is happening all across the country and it is the role of the Attorney General to step in and fight for working Montanans.
- The problem of misclassifying workers was exacerbated when anti-worker activists hijacked the National Labor Relations Board and issued a new rule, providing that large, out-of-state corporations can use labels to cheat workers out of their protections under the law by declaring workers to be independent contractors, even if they aren’t. This decision takes power away from workers.
- As Attorney General, Graybill will be a vigilant ally against the misclassification of employees and will ensure not only that workers get justice, but also that all Montana workers get the equal protection of labor laws they deserve. Graybill will stand up against non-compete and no-poach clauses that limit an employee's ability to seek better wages elsewhere. And he’ll fend off attacks on bargaining rights to make workers’ wages lower and prevent them from negotiating for better workplace protections and benefits.
- Aggressively protect Montana’s best-in-the-nation campaign finance laws, to keep anti-worker dark money groups out of Montana
- Montana has some of the strongest, most transparent campaign finance laws in the nation. But they are only effective if we have an Attorney General willing to enforce them and hold bad actors accountable. We need an Attorney General who has gone to court against dark money groups and won.
- In 2018, the IRS made a rule change, without the proper process, that would have allowed dark money groups to shield their donors’ names from public scrutiny. It was a direct attack on Montana values and our state’s legacy of fair elections that are free from corporate manipulation. Graybill led the case challenging the rule change by the IRS. He won a resounding victory in federal court in Great Falls, and today that rule is gone.
- But this fight is far from over, and the IRS is again trying to implement the rule to cloak dark money donors in secrecy. The Attorney General can fight against the corruption of money in politics and protect our values from attack. As Attorney General, Graybill will take on the fight to ensure our elections are fair and transparent, which is essential to stopping dangerous efforts like right to work laws in Montana.
- Advocate for workers who are forced into unfair “individual arbitration agreements” that deprive them of their rights in court and prevent collective action
- In recent years, powerful special interests have coerced workers into signing away their rights with unfair ‘individual arbitration agreements.’ These agreements essentially create a private courtroom that is biased in favor of big corporations: a private decision-maker gets paid to resolve workplace disputes, and none of the protections given to workers in regular, public courts apply. Worst of all, the big corporation that forces a worker to arbitrate individually is often the one paying the arbitrator. It’s fundamentally unfair and it’s rigged against workers.
- These types of forced individual arbitration agreements undermine the foundation of American labor law. In Montana, workers have a right to organize and stand up to unfair practices using their collective power. But these forced “agreements” prevent workers from protecting their rights as a group. Instead, workers are required to pursue claims against their employers individually. Forced individual arbitration clauses intentionally divide unions and weaken their ability to stand up for dignified, fair employment.
- As Attorney General, Graybill will investigate the use of individual arbitration clauses to ensure big corporations are not using them to cover up unfair employment practices. He will be an advocate for workers caught up in an unfair system, and will make sure that unions can continue their important work for Montana’s workers.
- Defend workers’ pensions, healthcare, and retirement benefits by holding big corporations accountable for promises made.
- Pensions, healthcare, and retirement benefits are a promise made by employers to their workers for their years of dedication and sacrifice to a company. When these promises are broken by big corporations, choosing profits over people, it shatters lives and the economic health of Montana families.
- Some big corporations have used the courts and bankruptcy laws to deny workers their right to pensions and benefits. These tricks allow big corporations to get out of their obligations made to their employees and leave Montana families high and dry. It is unacceptable and wrong.
- Graybill will go to court to defend the rights of workers to receive their full pensions, healthcare and retirement benefits. Promises made are promises owed, and Graybill will stand by workers to defend them.
- SUMMARY: Graybill knows that Montana’s workers need an Attorney General who works for them, not for out-of-state special interest and dark money groups. He’ll stand up for the right to dignified work, and he’ll defend Montana’s rich heritage of strong unions and peaceful labor settlements.
- Graybill’s campaign for Attorney General centers on bringing advocacy back to the Attorney General’s office. Montana has some of the strongest labor laws in the nation, but they don’t mean anything without an Attorney General ready to defend them day in and day out.
- Graybill is a fighter. He’s the only candidate for Attorney General with a proven record of advocating for fair labor laws. He’s the only candidate who has vowed to keep dark money out of politics, and has refused donations from corporate PACs. And he’s the only candidate for Attorney General who understands the proud heritage of unions in Montana. Montana’s workers need an independent watchdog as Attorney General who works for them, and Graybill is ready to go to work.
- The attorney general can help lower healthcare prices and protect Montanans with pre-existing conditions.
- The Attorney General can fight to lower prescription drug prices, end surprise medical billing, and make healthcare affordable--now. Graybill's strategy includes measures to protect Montanans during the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Montanans must have the right to access quality, affordable healthcare and life saving medications. This has never been more important than now, where the outbreak of COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of fair, affordable healthcare coverage for all.
- But the federal government and our current Attorney General are asleep at the wheel, allowing the biggest corporations in the world to take away our healthcare choices and make Montana families pay more for their prescription drugs. We need action, and we can’t afford to wait for Congress or the Montana Legislature. The Montana Attorney General can take action now--today--to fight against rising prescription drug costs and make healthcare affordable for all Montanans.
- Graybill’s strategy relies on the inherent powers of the Attorney General, existing Montana law, and innovations in other jurisdictions that the current Republican Attorney General fails to adopt. As Attorney General, Graybill will initiate bold, decisive action to fight for Montanans against out of control insurance and pharmaceutical corporations on day one.
- As Attorney General, Graybill will:
- Fight to protect Montanans with preexisting conditions
- Graybill will intervene and personally litigate on behalf of Montanans--including before the United States Supreme Court--to stop efforts by activist Republican Attorneys General to gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that would end protections for Montanans with preexisting conditions and eliminate the bipartisan Medicaid expansion in Montana. Graybill is the only candidate with the experience personally litigating against the biggest corporations in the world, and even the President of the United States, and winning landmark decisions in court for Montanans. He’s a leader ready to take on this crucial work on day one.
- The ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 further underscores the challenges that Montanans could face without insurance or if they are denied coverage. But Graybill’s leading Republican opponent has made repealing the ACA the centerpiece of his campaign.
- Crack down on pharmaceutical corporations who steal from Montanans through price fixing or other illegal behavior
- Graybill will investigate and prosecute big pharmaceutical corporations who use loopholes in the legal system, or illegally collude, to increase prescription drug prices. The Attorney General has a critical role in ensuring a fair, open, and competitive market for prescription drugs--making sure big pharma doesn’t break the law. When the federal government refuses to defend Montanans, Attorneys General must step up to fill the void.
- Graybill will use Montana’s unfair trade practices laws, competition laws, and federal competition law to investigate and hold pharmaceutical corporations accountable for illegally raising drug prices. This unlawful conduct costs Montanans millions of dollars, and forces many Montanans to choose between food and having their life saving medication. This is wrong. Montana’s laws prohibit this conduct now--but enforcement hasn’t been a priority of our current Attorney General. Graybill will change that in Montana, and won’t rely on other states to do the work and reap all the benefits of a win in court.
- Automatically review increases in drug costs for unfair or deceptive practices
- Graybill will conduct a review anytime a prescription drug sold to Montana increases in price 50% or more year-over-year. If the review detects unfair competition practices, price fixing, or other deceptive business practices, Graybill will initiate litigation to recover money for Montanans.
- Enforce price gouging laws for essential medicines during public health emergencies--like the COVID-19 outbreak
- Graybill will prevent pharmaceutical corporations from taking advantage of public health crises to price gouge on essential medicines like insulin or vaccines. Outbreaks of communicable disease disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Montanans deserve a fighter in the Attorney General’s office who will prevent big corporations from exploiting a crisis. Graybill will use Montana’s unfair and deceptive business practices laws to protect Montanans from illegal price gouging in times of crisis.
- Graybill will also empower and reinvest in frontline consumer protection work in the Attorney General’s office to ensure enforcement against price gouging on other goods-- such as personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitizers, toilet paper, cleaning products--during communicable disease outbreaks.
- Graybill will recover millions of dollars for Montanans by fighting “delay” schemes on generic drugs--especially when taxpayer dollars pay for a drug’s development
- Graybill will enforce state and federal fair competition laws against pharmaceutical corporations who exploit loopholes in our laws to delay the entry of generic drugs into the market. These schemes occur too often and artificially inflate the price of drugs for Montanans. Even though such schemes are against the law, they remain widespread in the absence of serious enforcement by the Attorney General.
- So called “pay to delay” price gouging schemes are wrong, especially when the public has contributed public dollars to the development of a drug. Graybill will place a special focus on investigating and prosecuting these cases, where the public has the right to receive the benefits of the drug research they finance--such as a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Stand up to insurance companies and fight surprise medical billing, other deceptive practices
- Graybill will investigate and bring action against deceptive or unfair billing practices by insurance companies. Montana law currently prevents deceptive business practices. But the business model of creating surprise or misleading bills remains all too common. For some isolated bad actors, these practices are designed to take money away from Montanans. Graybill will hold these bad actors accountable so Montanans can understand and trust the bills they receive for the care they need.
- Stay honest and loyal to Montanans by refusing all money from big pharma PACs
- It’s no secret why politicians have failed to act on rising prescription drug prices and deceptive billing practices: big pharma finances political campaigns. Graybill is the only Attorney General candidate--of either party--who has pledged not to take any money from corporate PACs, including insurance corporations and big pharma PACs. Graybill is committed to representing Montanans, not out of state corporations.
- Graybill is ready to lead--personally--on day one
- Graybill’s campaign for Attorney General is about bringing advocacy back to the Attorney General’s office--giving force to the laws that protect Montanans, but don’t mean anything without a fighter ready to use them.
- Graybill is a fighter. He is the only Democratic candidate who has taken on the largest corporations in the United States and won, and has the experience to lead complex civil litigation to make healthcare affordable for Montanans. That’s what the Attorney General does, and Graybill is ready to take his experience fighting and winning for Montanans to work on day one to ensure fairness and access to affordable healthcare.
- Public Lands and Public Access
- The land that belongs to all of us faces an imminent threat from Washington D.C. and wealthy special interests.
- The Attorney General must stand up for Montana’s natural heritage.
- Montana stands apart from other states because of its natural character: jagged river canyons met by low hills in the east, mountains springing to life from the prairie in its central portion, and luscious forests, lakes, and rivers in its western frontier. If public lands are America’s “greatest idea,” then Montana is its finest showcase.
- Public lands make Montana special. They’re where we hunt, fish, recreate, connect with our families and seek out solitude. They’re part of who we are as Montanans. And they’re worth fighting for.
- But they are under unprecedented political attacks. The federal government has installed, unlawfully, anti-public lands extremists to manage the areas we wish to conserve for future generations. Wealthy out of state special interests are pouring millions into Montana’s elections to undermine access to our natural heritage. And politicians, focused on what divides us more than what unites, have interfered with farm and ranch families’ exercising their property rights to conserve land and wildlife habitat.
- As Attorney General, Graybill will be an independent watchdog for our public lands, the rights of landowners, and the bold aspiration of our Montana Constitution, ensuring a healthy environment for our children and grandchildren.
- When Land Board members tried to stifle private property rights and inject politics into public access to Montana’s great outdoors, Graybill won a landmark case at the Montana Supreme Court that protects Montana’s open spaces, public access, as well as private property rights. Now, Graybill wants to bring that same independent leadership to the Attorney General’s office, where he’ll continue to stand up for Montana families, public access to public lands, and responsible use of our resources.
- Lots of politicians talk about public lands, but Graybill is a proven winner for the public interest. He won’t back down to special interest lobbies that prefer our public lands be fenced off or divvied up for personal profit. He believes that protecting our Montana heritage requires tireless advocacy that the Attorney General is uniquely-positioned to provide.
- Graybill’s strategy relies on using the full extent of the Attorney General’s powers in the courtroom and on the Montana Land Board, where he’ll be an unwavering voice in support of Montana’s hunters, anglers, and recreationalists as well as lessees who farm and ranch on state trust lands. He’ll also oversee the creation of a novel position, the Public Access Advocate, who will work under the auspices of the Attorney General’s office to coordinate fair, efficient resolutions to illegally blocked public access.
- As Attorney General, Graybill will:
- Create a Public Access Advocate to reduce conflict in illegal road closure disputes and facilitate re-opening access
- Graybill will create a new position in the Attorney General’s office, the Public Access Advocate, an Assistant Attorney General who will coordinate with County Attorneys, local law enforcement, and other crucial stakeholders to make sure they have the tools and resources to keep public access available for all of us. Access to public lands is at the heart of the Montana way of life, but illegal barriers are closing off access points that have been used for generations. Graybill understands that wealthy out of state special interests shouldn’t be able to seal off public lands for private profit. He’s proud of Montana’s long tradition of public access and will fight to keep it alive. Solving complex access issues requires empowering and partnering with local leaders and authorities. Graybill will use the power of the Attorney General’s office to facilitate solutions to access closures that are in the public interest.
- Hold the federal government accountable to its promises, regardless of political party
- The biggest threat to our public lands comes from extremists in the federal government, who are bent on transferring or selling off the outdoor places that belong to all of us. In the last few years, Montanans have witnessed a sustained attack on public lands from ideologues in the federal government and wealthy special interest groups across the country.
- Graybill will stand up to federal officials abandoning their promises, regardless of their political party. He’s the only candidate running for Attorney General who has taken the federal government to court and won. Graybill is currently lead counsel in a case to hold Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management and longtime anti-public lands advocate William Perry Pendley accountable to the law for his unconstitutional tenure in federal government. As Attorney General, Graybill will be an independent leader who will stand up for Montana and its natural character when the federal government seeks to undermine our public lands.
- Defend Habitat Montana and stand up for Montana families’ right to protect their land from destructive outside interests
- For decades, Montana farmers and ranchers have ensured the legacy of their property with easements that protect working landscapes and valuable habitat from future subdivision and destructive development. This wildly successful program, called Habitat Montana, has been a boon for the families that work the land and want to preserve their traditional livelihood. And Montana’s hunters and anglers have gained access to tens of thousands of acres of additional land for recreation and sustainable use.
- When the current Land Board undermined the foundations of Habitat Montana, threatening both public access and our private property rights, Graybill went to court to fight for Habitat Montana and won. The fact of the matter is, Montana families should be able to dictate the future of their own property. Graybill’s victory upheld that guarantee. As Attorney General, he’ll continue to fight for the property rights of Montanans who want to protect their land from outside interests.
- Graybill will also lead efforts to expand surface owner rights under Montana’s Split Estate law, enabling ranchers and farmers to have better outcomes when it comes to development on private land. For too long, the balance of power has been shifted towards wealthy, out-of-state interests when it comes to surface use agreements that disrespect operations of landowners, as well as the stewardship of their lands. It’s time to bring Montana’s Split-Estate Laws into the 21st century, and to bring fairness to landowners.
- Fight for expanded public access and forward-thinking, sustainable land use on the Montana Land Board
- One of the most important responsibilities of the Attorney General is to vote on decisions facing the Montana Land Board, a five-person committee who oversees the management of our state lands. Graybill’s opponent has a long record of kowtowing to out-of-state developers at the expense of private property rights, opposing new protections for big game habitat, and objecting to easements that would expand access for Montana’s hunters and anglers. He’s also voted to eliminate FWP’s ability to purchase small tracts of land in order to open up thousands of acres of land-locked public land.
- As Attorney General, Graybill will be a fierce Land Board advocate for expanded public access, long-term stewardship, and thoughtful management of our public lands, while advocating for property rights, rather than giving them lip service. Graybill won’t stand for families being steamrolled when they want to defend their surface rights or decide to sell small parcels in order to open up large tracts of public lands.
- Build on Montana’s successful public lands programs with continued expansion, focusing in particular on “Hotspots”
- Many parts of our state remain critically underserved by our public lands access programs, especially Eastern Montana. Other places are seeing a change of traditional access on timber lands to closed lands, kicking people out of long-established family elk camps. From the Land Board, Graybill will advocate for continued land acquisitions by the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks as well as the Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, so that all Montanans can hunt, fish, and camp across our state. Restricting access to the prime elk, deer, antelope, upland bird and turkey habitat that exists in Montana not only harms our rural economies, it goes against Montana’s historic commitment to robust public access programs that help cultivate a new generation of hunters, anglers, and land stewards. Graybill will continue to push for expanded access, and not let prime habitat become monopolized by private interests.
- Seek justice from criminal, industrial-scale polluters and direct the funds to desperately needed restoration programs
- The Attorney General oversees Montana’s critical Natural Resources Damage Program (NRDP), which has generated hundreds of millions of dollars for community restoration projects throughout our state. The NRDP holds industrial-scale polluters accountable for the damage they do to our air, water, and habitat. It’s a crucial tool for making sure out-of-state corporations don’t run roughshod over the public lands that are our birthright as Montanans. As Attorney General, Graybill will pursue polluters who threaten the future of our public lands, public waters, and public health, and he’ll make sure that recovered funds are directed to urgently needed projects that benefit our communities.
- Protect the integrity of Montana’s stream access laws
- Montana’s stream access laws are among the best in the nation, but they require vigilance from ongoing attacks by wealthy special interests. From his position on the Land Board and as the state’s top attorney, Graybill will be a proud defender of Montana’s stream access laws. He’ll be the one standing up in court on behalf of Montanans, ensuring that out-of-state wealthy elites can’t use the power of their purses to steal our access with an army of high-priced lawyers. Montana needs an independent watchdog defending our stream access law as our attorney general and Graybill will stand up to anyone who would try and steal our birthright.
- Uphold Montana’s Constitutional guarantee of a “clean and healthful environment”
- The framers of Montana’s Constitution declared an “inalienable right” to a healthy environment, both for us and for future generations. It falls to the Attorney General to uphold that promise on behalf of all Montanans. As a fifth-generation Montanan, Graybill understands that our rolling plains, clear-flowing rivers, and jagged mountain peaks are part of the legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren. They are a treasure worth protecting, and the duty of doing so falls to the Attorney General. Graybill will ensure our environment is protected through the courts and his position on the Land Board.
- Take on the looming threat posed by climate change to Montana’s farming and ranching communities
- Montana’s farmers and ranchers know better than anyone that extreme weather events, drought, and heat stress threaten the future of our rural economies. Graybill will work with members of the Land Board to ensure that our state trust lands are managed in the best fashion to ensure soil resiliency. He’ll spearhead efforts to hold those accountable in congress and in the courts if they would try to eliminate protections for soil, water and air quality standards. When Congress or any administration fails to stand up for our working family farms and ranches, Graybill will be there to hold the power accountable and ensure that the next generation of family agriculture has the tools necessary to succeed in a changing climate.
- Expose the dark money pouring into special interest campaigns that threaten Montana’s public lands
- Dark money campaigns threaten our democracy in general, but they pose a particular threat to our public lands. Over the past decade, out-of-state dark money has poured into Montana, funding campaigns that seek to overturn our fundamental Montana values. Graybill has already fought dark money once, defeating the IRS’ attempt to allow unfettered anonymous funding into Montana politics. He will continue to aggressively fight for the public’s right to know who is spending money to sway our leaders, especially when our public land and conservation values are at stake.
- SUMMARY: Graybill has won big victories for Montana’s public lands before, and as Attorney General he won’t back down from difficult fights
- Defending our public lands is one of the main reasons Graybill entered this race. Graybill understands the importance of the Attorney General’s dual-role as lawyer for the people and Land Board advocate. In both positions, he will be an independent watchdog for Montana’s public lands and will oppose any effort to harm or sell off our public lands for private profit. He knows that stewardship and access are core Montana values, and that those values must be defended every day.
- Graybill is a proven independent advocate on these issues. He’s stood up for Montana’s public lands against the federal government and out of state special interests, and he’s notched crucial wins for Montana ranching families. As Montana’s next Attorney General, Graybill has the experience of fighting and winning on behalf of all Montanans and will ensure the legacy of our public lands remains strong for future generations of Montanans.[3]
|
”
|
For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.
Roy Davis
Tim Fox Incumbent
