“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands… may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” – James Madison in The Federalist Papers, Number 47

Americans devised a representative republic instead of a parliamentary system to ensure a strict separation of powers, prevent centralized authority, and safeguard individual liberty. In parliamentary systems, voters primarily elect parties in blocs, and those parties, not the people, choose the head of government – concentrating power within party leadership.  

Our structure makes representatives directly accountable to their constituents, not to party leadership, reinforcing the idea that government derives its power from the people. The diminished role of parties helps preserve liberty by encouraging independent judgment, protecting minority views, and reducing the risk of partisan dominance that could undermine the rights of individuals or regions. 

This is precisely why George Washington warned against “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men” who would hijack parties to divide the public and destroy democracy from within. Washington warned against the kind of party-over-country mindset that new Montana GOP Chair Art Wittich, former Senator Keith Regier, Senator Barry Usher and the Montana Freedom Caucus (MFC) promote. 

This is my official and public response to the questions posed by Art, Keith, the Montana Freedom Caucus and their surrogates that serve on the “Conservative Governance Committee (CGC)”. Since the membership of the politburo styled CGC is secret, it is important to shine as much light as possible on those behind it – the Montana Freedom Caucus, those aligned with them and their local surrogates. A sadly humorous side-note is the hypocrisy of having a secret politburo “providing transparency” to voters. 

I appreciate the invitation to share my views and hold a mirror up to the most strident voices attacking Montana Republicans. The Montana Freedom Caucus and their associates claim to be the “Constitutional North Star” while they slander Republicans across all forms of media and focus on name calling instead of debating policy. 

In a clear example of this type of deception, Senator Daniel Zolnikov stated in the closing moments of the 2025 session, “This is supposed to be a decentralized process. Fifty people from 50 different areas, each representing 20,000 people each, so everyone in this state has a voice, through us”. 

What a hypocritical statement from a Senator lamenting the failure of his scheme to have President Matt Regier strip nine sitting Republican Senators of their committees before the session even started. 

If the Regier and Zolnikov plot had succeeded, over 180,000 Montanans would have been disenfranchised. Thankfully, those nine Senators had the backbone to defend their constituents instead of kneeling to party bosses. 

My responses are below: 

1. Why are you running for this position? 

To defend constitutional freedoms, protect Montana’s way of life, and deliver practical solutions that serve the people of Carbon County and Montana – not party insiders. I have served to support and defend the Constitution since entering the US Army at 17. 

2. What is the role of government? 

To protect our God-given freedoms, provide public safety, national defense, and administer justice equally under the law. Government should provide services that the free market cannot or will not, and intervene only as necessary to correct market failures like public goods, externalities, information asymmetry, equal educational opportunity for all, monopolies, etc. 

3. Do you support the Montana Republican Platform? How could the Platform be improved? 

I support the parts that are Constitutional, conservative, and in the best interests of my constituents. If the State GOP insists that it should “be treated like the Constitution and Bible” with top-down enforcement like some in the Montana Freedom Caucus have, I recommend first getting in line with the National GOP platform and Constitutions. Instead, I believe the platform should be a concise statement of broad principles, like the Sharon Statement, rather than a detailed list of policy prescriptions used for purging and purity tests. 

Examples of what I don’t support: 

The unconstitutional principle of nullification – that’s no different than Biden refusing to secure the border. 

The transfer of public lands. 

Undermining the Constitutional separation of powers. 

4. What principles guide you in determining how you vote on spending bills? 

Constitutionality, fiscal discipline, benefit to all Montanans, and long-term sustainability. At the National level, I also support using Article V, Convention of States, to establish a Constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment. If you haven’t signed the petition, I encourage you to do so at the Convention of States Action link.  

Montana Freedom Caucus on Spending: 

Representative Jane Gillette’s opposition to Medicaid expansion to support low income working families because, “In the end [Medicaid expansion] squeezes out other priorities”, like House Bill (HB) 783 that she unsuccessfully co-sponsored to add free Ozempic to the state employee health plan that some legislators participate in at a cost of $1.5 million per year to the taxpayer. 

Senator Barry Usher dramatically claiming the biennial budget as “the BIGGEST BUDGET in the HISTORY of MONTANA” while simultaneously voting to add over $209 million in spending over the next four years by voting to override governor vetoes. 

Senator Matt Regier stating “Love what he’s done here,” “It had to be done here, and [I] appreciate him doing it” about governor vetoes before voting to override vetoes to add back over $168 million in spending. 

Creating a position for a former Senator, Keith Regier (President Matt Regier’s father), at a cost of $45 an hour to taxpayers after he termed out of office. 

Creating a position for a former Representative, Rhonda Knudsen (working for President Matt Regier), at a cost of $42.63 an hour to the taxpayer after she lost her Senate race. 

The Montana Freedom Caucus push for a new and unnecessary $180 million legislative complex. 

5. How should the government address affordable housing? 

By streamlining zoning and permitting and reducing other arbitrary impediments to increased free market supply. Selective use of free market incentives like low interest loans for workforce housing and first-time homebuyers. 

6. How can Montana lower property taxes? 

Constraining local spending and using other revenue sources to directly offset property taxes. I supported Senate Bill (SB) 117 to constrain local spending growth and campaigned on homestead tax exemptions, taxing short-term rentals like the commercial entities they compete with (i.e. more free market) and exploring the use of a statewide sales tax to offset property taxes dollar for dollar.  

HB 231 and SB 542 are not perfect but in line with my campaign promises to explore every avenue to lower property taxes for Montana residents. I also sponsored ballot initiatives (HB 841 and HB 842) to ask voters if they want to use the constitutionally capped 4% statewide sales tax to lower the property taxes that support education by $1.3B. These initiatives would provide Constitutional protection that sales tax could only be used to lower property taxes and would result in a 42% reduction based on Tax Year 2025 modeling.  

Montana Freedom Caucus’ Principles on Property Taxes: 

The Montana Freedom Caucus ordered their subordinates in the Legislature and intimidated others to go against the interests of their own constituents by voting against HB 231 and SB 542 to lower property taxes for Montana residents. Representative Terry Falk explained that he opposed the bills because of the potential impact on out-of-state lake vacation homeowners. 

7. What role does government have in developing Montana’s economy? 

Creating a predictable regulatory environment, protecting property rights, protecting water rights, investing in and maintaining critical infrastructure, and ensuring access to quality education. 

Montana Freedom Caucus on Government’s role in the economy: 

Representative Nelly Nichol’s work to benefit her own family’s business, Victory Insurance Co., with HB 678 to change workers’ compensation laws in the 2023 session. Victory is even named in the whereas clauses of the bill. 

8. What should be done with the budget surplus? 

Surpluses from volatile revenue should be used to pay down long-term liabilities, invest in infrastructure and savings (GO Trust – HB 924), lower taxes for everyone in future years, and one-time rebates that are proportional to what a taxpayer paid with the remainder. They should not be used for blanket, recurring, DC-style rebate gimmicks that can worsen deficits and redistribute general fund dollars like SB 90 sponsored by Montana Freedom Caucus member, Senator Carl Glimm.  

9. What are your views of government-funded education, charter schools, and home schooling? 

I will defend our Constitutions and our Nation’s founding principles. 

Article X of the Montana Constitution is very clear. It requires “establish[ing] a system of education which will develop the full educational potential of each person. Equality of educational opportunity is guaranteed to each person of the state…The legislature shall provide a basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools.” 

“The objects of this primary [public] education…would be…to give to every citizen the information he needs for the transaction of his own business….to understand his duties to his neighbors and country…to know his rights. Some think that education…should be left to private & individual effort; not reflecting that…all the sciences which may be useful & even necessary in the various vocations of life…are far beyond the reach of individual means, & must either derive existence from public patronage or not exist at all. This would leave us then without those callings which depend on education, or send us to other countries, to seek the instruction they require.” – Report of the Board of Commissioners for the University of Virginia to the Virginia General Assembly, August 4th, 1818, Thomas Jefferson 

I strongly support public education with accountability and parental rights. Charter schools can expand educational opportunities and home schooling is a protected and respected option, but any use of taxpayer funds must be Constitutional and requires accountability. 

Public education is vital to the health of our democratic processes and national security. All education spending should focus on student outcomes. 

10. When does human life begin? 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”. Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)  

I believe that life began before conception and biological life begins at conception. I have consistently supported legislation that protects the unborn. I opposed CI-128 that enshrined the constitutional right to abortion and voted for every pro-life bill in the 2023 and 2025 sessions that respected exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. 

Unfortunately, some played politics with this issue rather than pursuing policies to protect life. In the 2021 House, the Montana Freedom Caucus voted unanimously to allow SB 315, the Born Alive Protection Act, to die in committee so they could instead run a failed constitutional ballot initiative. In 2023 with a Republican super majority, House leadership under Matt Regier failed to put forward a pro-life constitutional initiative like a 15-week ban that might have passed.  

11. What are your thoughts on transgenderism? 

Montana law should protect minors from irreversible medical procedures, protect women, protect women’s sports, and protect free speech. I voted to support each of those measures.  

I believe in dignity for all individuals and don’t agree with demonizing transgender folks. I reject the kind of political stunts Representative Jerry Schillinger, Montana Freedom Caucus, attempted with a proposal to add bathroom rules to parliamentary procedures. Inviting the Supreme Court to legislate from the bench on a policy that is not yet supported by statute is not conservative. 

12. What are your thoughts on man-caused climate change? 

Environmental change is constant, and it is currently warming. Energy policy should focus on affordability, reliability and abundance while protecting clean air and water. I support all forms of energy, including our clean coal, and energy diversification through natural, market shifts to more efficient and cleaner technologies. I reject mandates driven by political ideology and virtue signaling. We must streamline permitting and consider nuclear to ensure adequate energy in the future.  

We can meet our energy needs by fully developing our domestic energy resources while meeting our Constitutional requirement to, “maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations”. 

13. What can Montana do to address illegal immigration? 

This is predominantly a federal issue. We should collaborate with federal law enforcement, enforce E-Verify, protect taxpayer resources, and hold employers accountable.  

Montana Freedom Caucus’ mixed messaging on illegal immigration: 

Attacking Representative Tracy Sharp, a conservative Republican and veteran, for championing HB 275 (2025 session) to provide driving privilege cards to LEGAL immigrants so that they can participate in the workforce instead of depending on handouts. The MFC slandered Sharp and others by knowingly and falsely claiming that the cards were for illegal aliens. 

Attacking another conservative Republican and veteran, Representative Dave Bedey, for sponsoring HB 402 (2023 Session) to catch and prosecute any noncitizen that voted. The MFC knowingly and falsely claimed the bill was to allow illegal immigrants to vote. MFC members, Senator Theresa Manzella and Representative Kathy Love, celebrated the defeat of this bill to improve election integrity because it was sponsored by a Republican they have repeatedly targeted. 

14. What gun control laws will you support? 

None that infringe on the Second Amendment. I have an A rating with the NRA.  

Purity tests with predetermined outcomes are not about conservative governance or policy. They are about a few pursuing authoritarian control by cannibalizing and radicalizing the Republican Party instead of pursuing principled, conservative, and consensus-based solutions that work for all Montanans. 

Please email, text or call with any questions or feedback. I am honored to serve my constituents and Montana. I remain committed to continuing to earn your trust. 

Brad Barker represents House District 55 in Carbon County.