MT AG DEBATE RECAP: Raph Graybill’s Leadership on Full Display
September 25, 2020
During the Montana AG debate last weekend, Raph Graybill demonstrated leadership by outlining his plans to protect health care, defend public lands, and keep communities safe.
Here’s a quick recap of Raph Graybill’s debate victory over the weekend:
- ON AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
Democratic AG nominee Raph Graybill is the only candidate running for Montana Attorney General who is committed to defending access to affordable health care and making sure Montanans with pre-existing conditions do not face discrimination by large insurance corporations.
Graybill: “Right now there is a dangerous, extremist lawsuit that would kill the Affordable Care Act. It would kill 10,000 jobs in Montana. It would hurt our rural hospitals. This is a decision that would be made under the next Attorney General. I will fight every single day to stop that lawsuit and to keep Montanans healthy. Austin [Knudsen] says he is running to support that lawsuit.”
Read Raph Graybill’s plan to protect access to affordable health care here.
- ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS
Democratic AG nominee Raph Graybill is the only candidate running for Montana Attorney General who will protect Montana’s public land. In fact, Graybill has already successfully protected Montanan’s access to public lands at the Montana Supreme Court.
Graybill: “Two years ago, I worked with a family, a family of Republicans, named the Stenson’s out in Wibaux. They were victimized by extremist politicians just like Austin, who tried to kill their good work to give us access to hunt and fish on their land. We went to court and we fought and we won. And you can expect the same from me as Attorney General. To stand up for Montanans regardless of their party and protect our public access.”
Read Raph Graybill’s plan to protect Montana’s public lands here.
- ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Democratic AG nominee Raph Graybill is the only candidate running for Montana Attorney General who has served alongside law enforcement – a key experience given the Montana AG serves as the top law enforcement officer in the state.
Graybill: “I’m the only person running for Attorney General who has actually put on a blue uniform, put on a bulletproof vest, and worked alongside law enforcement. You see when I was in college I worked the New York City Police Department as an auxiliary officer for four years… I know the challenges, the sacrifices that our law enforcement officers make and I will have their backs as Attorney General. That’s why I’m proud to be endorsed by law enforcement, by firefighters across Montana and I will have their back as AG…I think it is so important that we reject this dangerous idea that Austin is pushing to defund the Department of Justice.”
Read more about Raph Graybill’s experience here.
- ON BLOCKING VETERANS FROM ACCESSING AN AMERICAN LEGION PARK
Democratic AG nominee Raph Graybill is the only candidate running for Montana Attorney General who is committed to protecting access to public lands, especially for Montana’s veterans who have sacrificed so much for their state and our country. Raph’s opponent, Austin Knudsen, is currently blocking veterans from accessing an American Legion Park dedicated to World War II veterans. Raph didn’t let him off the hook.
Graybill: “I’ve done my homework, Austin, you’re Vice President of the trust that’s suing these veterans and these vets have sworn to the court that you verbally accosted them in 2016. I think its disgraceful. Look this park has been around since the 1940s and the vets used to use it to have Boy Scout jamborees, church gatherings, and bring American vets coming home from war a place to go to and have some peace and serenity. The fact that you would sue them to block their access and then deny it here in today’s debate, I think tells Montanans all they need to know about what you’re going to do for public access as Attorney General.”
Watch Montana veterans speak out against Austin Knudsen and show support for Raph Graybill here, here & here.
- ON ADDRESSING HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
Democratic AG nominee Raph Graybill is the only candidate running for Montana Attorney General who is committed to addressing rising prescription drug prices.
Graybill: “We’re all paying too much for prescription drugs right now… Look, the meaningful progress that we’ve seen in America on prescription drug prices doesn’t come from the legislature. It doesn’t come from Congress. It comes from state attorneys general who are providing real leadership on this issue… I think this is one of the most important things the AG can do. All these politicians up and down the ballot are going to talk about prescription drug companies and their prices. It’s the state AG who can actually do something about it. I’ll say one more thing. I’m proud to be the only candidate in this race refusing all donations from those same drug companies. That’s because I want to work for you and not the drug companies.”
Read Raph Graybill’s plan to keep prescription drug costs down here.