Great Falls Candidates: Jane Weber For HD19
Editors note: Candidates on the November 5 ballot for Great Falls/Cascade County HD19 are Republican Hannah Trebas and Democrat Jane Weber. Trebas did not respond to our request for a candidate profile.
Jane Weber
Candidate for House District 19
I have lived in HD 19 for over 35 years. Like most people, I want our grandchildren to grow up in a safe, beautiful Montana with boundless opportunities for a better life. That’s why I am running for Legislative House District 19, so I can be a voice in our kids’ future.
I was a Cascade County Commissioner for ten years, so I know the cost to provide the needed services to taxpayers. I enjoyed working with county residents, Department Heads, other county elected officials, and city officials developing policy.
Prior to the county commission, I worked with the Forest Service in a variety of hands-on positions. I became the Public Information Officer and worked with the Great Falls community to build the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center which I managed for ten years. I learned the importance of community engagement, volunteer contributions, budgeting, and business management.
At a minimum, the legislature needs to address these three issues:
Prosperity and Equity. Montanans deserve opportunities to prosper. Hard work, grit and determination only gets you so far in these economic times. Laws passed in 2023 did not help working Montanans. Instead of long-term solutions to fund the services we need, the legislature passed short-term fixes that benefited wealthy corporate interests. The legislature did not spread the expense of government equitably. Legislators did not adjust tax formulas that had been successfully used before to stabilize homeowner property taxes; instead homeowners shouldered a disproportionate share of the tax burden while tax breaks for out-of-state corporate interests cost Montana millions in tax income.
Public Education. Our kids went to public schools. When everyone has a good education, everyone benefits. Public education is the great equalizer upon which our nation was built. State government should be a partner with parents, educators, and local school boards in making sure that all kids have safe schools where they can find their strengths and learn skills for a prosperous future. The state should do their part to fund our schools, but the school funding formula for public education is not keeping up with inflation. Montana’s schools are having a difficult time recruiting and retaining quality educators who can give the individualized attention each child needs. Teachers deserve competitive wages and opportunities for advancement, just like the rest of us.
Healthcare Access. When people are sick, they should be able to go to the doctor. Getting health care when it is needed can be a matter of life and death, and is also critical to keeping costs low for insurance companies, the state, and Montanans. When an employer can only provide insurance with high premiums, high deductibles, and co-pays, one emergency room visit can derail a family’s path out of poverty. Over 90% of Montanans with Medicaid Expansion coverage are working people who can seek medical care early and continue to work to support their families. Medicaid Expansion keeps our rural hospitals and nursing homes viable. Renewing this program is the fiscally responsible decision.