Congressman Zinke Tackles Rural Infrastructure Needs in Montana

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Montana’s First District Congressman Ryan Zinke was live in the KGVO studio on Wednesday to field questions from Talk Back listeners, and they kept him busy.

Zinke said his travels took him to rural Montana, where infrastructure spending is desperately needed.

Ryan Zinke was Live on KGVO's Talk Back Show on Wednesday

“We were up at Noxon and looking at that bridge, and there are holes the size of a trash can lid there,” began Zinke. “It's 104 years old. That bridge needs to be replaced. “I'm glad I’m in Appropriations, because this is exactly where federal dollars should go. Our smaller communities in Sanders, Mineral and Lincoln Counties, are all, I would say, pretty hardship counties. They don't have a lot of money in the coffers, but that little bridge is a lifeblood of little Noxon.”

Zinke was asked about recent problems with popular Flathead Lake, which experienced low levels last summer.

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Zinke Addressed Issues Surrounding Flathead and Seeley Lake

“You have a faucet, which is the Hungry Horse dam,” he said. “In that basin, you’ve got the bathtub as Flathead Lake, and you’ve got the drain as the dam. So guys, you should find better technology, understand how much moisture in there, and set the gates so you're at full pool on 15 June, is what the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) license mandates, and then keep the full pool until 15 September. There are a lot of businesses that make their business in those three months, and if they don't have a good business in three months, they're out; same as Seeley Lake. If you have a bad winter and you don't have an underlying economy, you're going to go under.”

Speaking of Seeley Lake, Zinke was asked about problems in that Montana resort community.

“You know, Seeley Lake doesn't have a car wash because they don't have a sewer system,” he said. “That's about $19 million bucks, so they need some help on that. Of course, you know that (Pyramid Lumber) mill went down, and part of the reason why the mill went down is because they don't have affordable housing and part of affordable housing is to have a sewer and water system you can plug into.”

Zinke said Work is Required to Receive Medicaid

Zinke also addressed Medicaid and being eligible for that government assistance.

“If you're an able body, male and you can work, guess what?” he asked. “You’ve got to do 80 hours of work a month. Now you can go volunteer at a food pantry, but you know what? You're not going to get Medicaid sitting on the couch. So that's where the biggest change is. But if you deserve the benefit, if you're a child, if you're a mom and you deserve the benefit, you're going to get the benefit.”