Republican Factions Offer Differing Views of Legislation Awaiting Governors Pen
Freedom Caucus is called out for "protecting the elite" as they pressure governor to veto bills, including one that reduces property taxes on primary residences
By Denise Rivette
On Thursday, May 15, Republican State Senator Wendy McKamey sent out an op-ed calling out the Montana Freedom Caucus for “protecting the elite at the expense of everyday Montanans” in the legislative session that just ended. The Montana Freedom Caucus issued its own statement on Substack the following day calling on citizens to ask the governor to veto several bills, including property tax bills that would shift some of the burden of property taxes from primary residences to other property categories. Their statements are presented below.
Freedom Caucus fought against property tax reform
By Senator Wendy McKamey, District 12, Great Falls
| May 15, 2025 12:00 AM
Montanans are being crushed under the weight of skyrocketing property taxes. Longtime residents are watching their tax bill soar as wealthy out-of-staters scoop up land and inflate home values across Montana. Families, seniors, and working people across the state are pleading for relief.
This session a group of Montanans – Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals – came together to deliver meaningful property tax relief. Unfortunately, a group of Montana lawmakers stood in the way and are now actively campaigning to get Governor Gianforte to veto meaningful property tax reform for you. That group is the Montana “Freedom Caucus.”
You deserve to know their names. Barry Usher, Nelly Nichol, Jerry Schillinger, Theresa Manzella, Carl Glimm and Bob Phalen all fought to prevent you from receiving a property tax cut.
These legislators – all members of the “Freedom Caucus” – voted against cutting your property taxes from 1.35% to 0.76% on your primary residence. Instead, they wanted to offer you a token $240 rebate and call it good enough.
It's not just them. Jeremy Trebas, Daniel Emrich, Ken Bogner and Daniel Zolnikov all seem to want you to pay high property taxes. Jeremy Trebas wants to serve on the Public Service Commission. If he won’t protect you from high property taxes today, how can you expect him to protect you from high utility costs tomorrow?
Instead of fighting for Montana residents, these lawmakers chose to protect the pockets of wealthy nonresidents who own second homes in exclusive enclaves like the Yellowstone Club and the shores of Whitefish Lake. Every one of these legislators voted against bills that would cut tax rates on your primary residence – just so wealthy, nonresidents don’t have to pay more.
That’s not conservatism. That’s not freedom. That’s protecting the elite at the expense of everyday Montanans.
It should be no surprise these legislators don’t want to cut your taxes. When it comes to protecting the taxpayer, these legislators are missing in action.
All are supporters of Senate President Matt Regier, who wants to spend more and grow government, rather than save you money. Matt Regier tried to get the part-time Legislature to build a $160 million office building, and he has spent large sums on high-priced lawyers, new office furniture and a fancy electronics suite.
Montana’s property tax system is broken. We need reform and Matt Regier, the “Freedom Caucus” and Jeremy Trebas, Daniel Emrich, Ken Bogner and Daniel Zolnikov said, “No!”
The next time those legislators campaign on “low taxes” and “standing up for Montana,” remember they didn’t want to cut your property taxes. They wanted to stick it to you and force you to pay the same exorbitant tax rates you are paying today.
When it mattered most, they stood with wealthy outsiders and fought against real property tax relief for you.
On Friday, May 16, the Montana Freedom Caucus put out a call to action on their Substack page:
Please call Governor Gianforte’s office at 406-444-3111 daily, requesting a veto on the following bills. He has ten days to act or the bill automatically becomes law.
HORRIBLE - HB231: Revise property tax rates for certain property - Jones - (67% tax increase on second homes/cabins, 40% tax increase on businesses, it’s a shift not a cut) - Sent to the Governor on 5/7
HORRIBLE - SB542: Generally revise property tax laws - Galt - Sent to the Governor on 5/6
HORRIBLE - HB 924: Generally revise state finance laws - Jones (Unaccountable slush fund) - Returned from enrolling.
HORRIBLE - HB 2: General Appropriations Act- Jones (18% growth in government) - Returned from enrolling.
HORRIBLE - SB 535: Revise laws related to experimental treatments - Bogner (Would turn Montana into the world’s largest unregulated human medical experimentation lab and be the largest expansion of the medical industrial complex since Obamacare) - Sent to the Governor on 5/5.
HORRIBLE - HB863: Generally revise state finance laws - Jones (More slush fund work) - Sent to the Governor on 5/7
HORRIBLE - HB 599: Revise student data collection laws - Nikolakakos, M - (Would allow schools to conduct “mental health screenings” on students. This is an anti-parents rights bill) - Sent to the Governor on 5/7
Mckamey's rhetoric unveils who she is: a left-wing legislator posing as a Republican, ranting about how the Conservatives are protecting the wealthy elites...Nice try, ma'am. We know who you are, and who is supporting you financially, and it's not the Conservative Republican people of Montana.