Remarks to Montana Medical Association

It’s a privilege to speak to doctors, a community that has my profound respect. I’ll be working toward a stronger healthcare system that blends the best aspects of Medicare for All with the existing strengths of the Affordable Care Act.

I’ll first use these few minutes to answer specific questions I know you have.

Regarding growing a larger physician workforce in Montana, I feel interfering in the present expansion by two Osteopathic Medical schools would be unhelpful until all the issues of clinical and residence training have been addressed.  Over my first term in Congress I would try to increase the flow of EMT-trained volunteers in our Volunteer Ambulance service across the state, by instituting  two-year scholarships for Pre-med or Nursing programs for those qualified to enter such programs after serving as EMTA’s for two years, available 24 hours per week. We’d be improving the flow of volunteers and starting rural-based individuals into the physician/nursing pipeline. Regarding medical malpractice insurance premium costs that I realize must weigh on physicians, I would support capping non-economic costs.  Regarding funding my campaign, I am purposefully not raising campaign funds and intend to remain under the $5,000 personal expenditure reporting threshold established by both the U.S. Federal Elections Commission and the U.S. House of Representatives. I’ve concluded that a lot of the disruptive behavior we’ve seen in the last few congresses stems from congressmen performing for badly needed campaign contributions, much like bears in Yellowstone Park looking for that next peanut  butter and jelly sandwich.  As of today, September 27, 2024, allowing for the $500 deductible repair of deer collision damage experienced September 23, I have $870.77 left to spend for gasoline, truck stop showers and possibly a rental car during two weeks in late October when the car has been scheduled for repair. That amount is sufficient to continue introducing myself during walkabouts of the communities in the eastern Congressional District.  I’ve been endorsed by the Montana Brotherhood of Locomotive and Railway Engineers, I think, because of my proposal to help electrify the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad so it can remain in business during the economic adjustments required to respond to climate change.

You have asked what distinguishes me from the other candidate and I will first point out how we are similar.  We’ve both been elected Commissioners, him with one term as Montana Securities Commissioner, myself with three terms as Montana Public Service Commissioner. We both have the benefit of military experience, and have been sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, which I take most seriously.  Probably the biggest differences between us derive from (1) my responsibilities as an elected Montana Legislator, serving as House Majority Leader in 1975-76 and as House Speaker in 1977-78, when I learned how to balance budgets and to create and enforce conditions for Legislators to talk to each other in order to use the committee system to solve complex problems in short periods of time, (2) of my many assignments over 32 years, my responsibilities for Operational Security of the Montana National Guard during the period of intensified anti-government activity by The Order, the Militia of Montana, the Freemen and the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building.  You will find those years summarized in a Strategic Research Paper for the U.S. Army War College, “A Chaordic Threat, Right Wing Terrorism in the United States,’ published by the Defense Technical Information Center (https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA308596) and the Department of Homeland Security (Chaordic Threat: Right Wing Terrorism in the United States), and (3) the fact that on 9/11 I was a Colonel serving on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon’s new section in front of American Airlines Flight 77, while Commissioner Downing by contrast, by then a private pilot and entrepreneur, was motivated by the attacks to join the military for 8 years.  I believe many of the former officers and NCO’s of our U.S. Military, still sworn to protect and defend our constitution, would take a much more dim view of present common talk of a crushing a “deep state.”

Specific areas where I think our health care system requires strengthening are care for the unsheltered, transportation to specialty care for our Native American citizens, more mental health care for our rural population, better funding for our Indian Health Services, broader funding for veterans requiring prolonged treatment outside the Veterans Administration facilities.  I think the best approach is to blend the central concepts of Medicare for All with the recent gains and choice available in the Affordable Care Act.  Such hybrid model could offer better care, universal access, and improved affordability, while keeping flexibility and choice at its core.

 

Women’s’ Rights & Congress

Montana PBS Impact

Adapting and Overcoming

For Immediate Release

September 25, 2024

Contact Phone: 406-437-1526 

Contact email: driscolljohn37@gmail.com

“The estimate for repairing the damages to our one car from the deer I hit in the dark up on the Marias River is $7,402.78. We can now squeeze into it better and freely use it until October 25 when it’s scheduled for the work to be done. The $500 deductible payment required by our insurance will have to be included in our “up to” $5,000 of personal expenditures allowed by the U.S.Federal Elections Commission and the U.S. House of Representatives before having to file any reports with either. Including the $500 deductible leaves us with $870.77 to cover gas, truck stop showers and possibly a last minute rental car for the closing days of the campaign.

Once I get cranked back up I intend to head into the Shonkin Sag for the remaining towns of the Judith Basin and the Hi-Line. Don’t forget to register to vote. The official website for my campaign is: johnbdriscoll.blogspot.com”

John B Driscoll, Candidate 

U.S. Congress Eastern Montana

https://johnbdriscoll.blogspot.com/?m=1

https://www.facebook.com/john.driscoll.585112?mibextid=LQQJ4d

@steward-magazine

Montana Nurses’ Interviews

  

     The Montana Nurses Interviews  of Senator Jon Tester for U.S.Senate, myself for the U.S.House, Ryan Busse and Rafe Graybill for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and Ben Alke for Attorney General. All other candidates for these positions were not interested in answering the questions from 20,000 nurses.

Tightened Eastern MT Race

From John Twiggs for PBS, YPR and Lee Newspapers:

“Hi John,

 

During the past four weeks, the Downing campaign has asked for more time to decide about the debate offer.

For our own planning, staffing logistics, a deadline was set last week for the Downing campaign to respond to the offer.

They have not responded so we are cancelling the event.

 

We appreciate your willingness to participate.

You can adjust your calendar accordingly (Thursday, October 3^rd, 7 pm, deleted)

 

Thanks again,

John”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

 

What Have We Learned?

 

My 9-11 Pledge

In nuclear war fighting the United States maintains a counterforce strategy, aiming our nuclear weapons at an adversaries missile silos, command and control centers and other military infrastructure, with the purpose of destroying their nuclear capabilities before they can be used. In recent years there has been a debate within U.S. policy circles about adopting a “No First Use Policy,” which would state that the U.S. would only use nuclear weapons in retaliation, not as a first strike. Right now the U.S. does not endorse a first use policy, but does not rule it out, depending on the situation.

The sitting U.S. President has sole authority to order the launch of nuclear weapons. The President is briefed by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff but the decision to launch is solely the President’s, after authenticating identity and authority with a special code, referred to as the nuclear football. The order is then executed by those in the nuclear chain of command, such as submarine commanders, bomber crews or missile silo operators. There are no checks or balances in place that can override the President’s decision to launch nuclear weapons once the decision has been made. A formal declaration of war has not been required for the President of the United States to order the use of nuclear weapons, an authority based on the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces and is intended for rapid response in extreme situations. Meanwhile our U.S. Constitution still grants Congress the sole power to declare war.

Today as many as 450 nuclear missiles could be launched from their silos in less than five minutes after the President gives the order. In a situation with North Korea two submarines on launch-ready patrol in the Pacific would fire 200 missiles in 15 minutes. Bombers on full alert with ordnance loaded would require 8 hours to fly from their U.S. Bases to deliver around 500 gravity bombs and cruise missiles. This has led to debates about the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual and to discussions about the need for additional safeguards against imprudent or impulsive unrestrained action. The additional risk of mistaken launch on false warning continues to be significant concern, adding to the pressure to pre-empt an imminent attack. The cause for launching on warning is a belief that silo-based missiles must be used or lost.

Two conclusions must follow: 1. When silo-based missiles are lost to an enemy first strike, so are also lost the surrounding and downwind population of Montana, and 2. In the absence of a formal Declaration of War by Congress, the U.S. must adopt and communicate a policy of No First Use.

Left unchanged our present U.S. nuclear war-fighting posture invites a preemptive nuclear first strike on our 150 nuclear missiles and the surrounding Montanans in House District 2.

I will always work to insure U.S. nuclear weapons are never used in a first strike without there first being a Congressional Declaration of War against the targeted nation.

First Driscoll-Downing Exchange

 https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/downing-driscoll-eastern-congressional-race/article_b8b816a8-67ae-11ef-8c27-17cf65226499.html