Contact

➤ LOCATION

PO Box 305
Bozeman, MT 59771

☎ CONTACT

ed.stafman@mtleg.gov
(406) 640-3362

CLIMATE & ENERGY

The climate crisis and the urgent need to shift to renewable energy is THE issue of our time. It can be done, while also creating good jobs that strengthen our economy. We cannot fail to save our precious planet.
In both of the sessions in which I served, I introduced legislation that would have reduced carbon output from Northwestern Energy by a third, while also saving ratepayers millions. The bills were tabled twice, but I will try again. More. . .

EDUCATION

I strongly support public education. I believe that parents, teachers and administrators can work together to best educate our children. When my children were in school, I was president of the School Advisory Committee (SAC), a formal parents group which offered parents’ perspectives to administrators and teachers on school issues. I oppose siphoning taxpayer dollars to unaccountable private religious schools and I introduced legislation that would have required accountability from private schools accepting public money. I also support public pre-K. More. . .

TAXES

Our tax system is broken. This last session, Republicans cut the capital gains tax, the business equipment tax, and the top income tax rate. The great majority of the savings will benefit the wealthiest Monta. Ordinary Montanans’ taxes continue to rise while Republicans seek to placate them with one time rebates. I introduced legislation to curb the rise of property taxes and which would have prevented much of the increase we’re seeing now. I also introduced legislation which would have offered a tax credit to families with children. We must repeal the many tax breaks given to the wealthiest Montanans and reform the tax structure for ordinary Montanans. We must also give local governments the ability to tax tourists who use our roads and parks. More. .

CONSERVATION & PUBLIC LANDS

I’m proud to have been dubbed a “lifetime champion” of conservation, receiving scores of 100% from the Montana Conservation Voters for my work during both the 2021 and 2023 legislative sessions. It was a hike to Fairy Lake with wildflowers in bloom where Montana first captured my heart. As an avid cyclist, skier, kayaker, and hiker, I highly value Montana's beauty, clean water, and open public lands. We need to keep it that way. More. .

CIVIL RIGHTS & voting rights

As an attorney, I advocated fiercely for the civil rights of minorities and women, winning a Civil Libertarian award. I also know voting rights because I was lead counsel in one of the Florida 2000 election cases. Today, we are still seeking equal rights and pay for women. During the last session, much of my work involved countering attacks on voting rights through my work as the lone House Democrat on the Special Select Committee on Election Integrity. We must also limit the impact of money in politics . . More. . .

SAFETY & GUN VIOLENCE

I consistently support law enforcement in keeping our communities safe. I support responsible gun ownership (I own a gun), but I also support sensible gun safety. In my first session, I opposed bills that will bring more guns onto MSU’s campus, into bars, banks and other places. In my second session, I introduced common sense safety legislation — similar to the law in many states — that allowed a judge to remove a gun from someone where it is proven that he will use it to harm himself or others, while protecting the rights on gun owners. More . .

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE RIGHTS

Neither the government nor religious agenda should overrule a woman’s conscientious decision, made with her physician and spiritual advisers, about pregnancy before a fetus is viable. I introduced legislation this past session that would protect the conscience rights of those seeking abortion just as the religious rights of those opposing abortion are protected by law. More . . .

AFFORDABLE HOUSING & CHILD CARE

The lack of affordable housing and childcare is harming our local businesses and our quality of life. No matter the challenge we face, when we scratch the surface, the lack of affordable housing and childcare are a core cause. We lack health care and mental health providers because they can't afford to live here. Businesses can’t find employees because they cannot afford to live here. Schools need more teachers, but they can't afford to live here. I introduced several bills to address homelessness and co-sponsored other bills that addressed the affordable housing crisis. More. . .

ECONOMIC JUSTICE

We need better renter protections, affordable healthcare, fair wages, and to protect medicaid expansion. We also need to promote better mental health services. We must reduce our poverty rate, especially among children. I have introduced legislation for a child tax credit which is proven to reduce childhood poverty, legislation to assure that kids do not lose their health care coverage on technicalities, and legislation to greatly expand Montana’s mental health network.
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lgbtQ+ JUSTICE

I was honored to officiate at my first same sex wedding soon after it became legal. I opposed the torrent of anti LGBTQ laws that Republicans passed this past session, and will continue to advocate against such laws going forward.
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values

I will continue to bring to Helena the fundamental values of caring for our planet, providing a better world for our children, and loving our neighbors. I will also work to build on the many commonalities of all of us, regardless of political party. More . . .