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Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Sheila Hogan: “Your taxpayer dollars, jobs, and resources are being funneled to the East Coast, thanks to Greg Gianforte”
Helena, MT – In a new op-ed, Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Sheila Hogan slams Governor Greg Gianforte for attacking Montana’s social services network by outsourcing Montana jobs, resources, and provider services to the East Coast within the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
Read more below:
The Missoulian: Gianforte is dismantling public assistance programs
September 7, 2024
Sheila Hogan, Montana Democratic Party Executive Director
Earlier this year, we learned that Career Futures in Butte and the Career Training Institute (CTI) in Helena would be forced to close their doors after decades of service to their communities. Gianforte’s DPHHS would no longer be contracting with them for employment training and food assistance programs. Maximus, a for-profit, global government contractor headquartered in Virginia, took over the $15 million statewide contract.
So, what’s the issue here? Well, there’s the obvious: Local organizations are shutting down and Montanans are losing their jobs.
Then there’s the quality of service. Gov. Gianforte is telling us that a call center thousands of miles away is the best we can do to help connect a single mom trying to put food on the table with a job in rural Montana?
And get this — according to 2017 congressional financial disclosure documents, Gianforte had previously invested in Maximus. Is the Governor still invested in Maximus? Is he profiting from this lucrative new contract? Montanans deserve answers.
This month, we learned Gianforte’s administration is at it again — this time, it’s childcare.
Social service organizations across the state like Butte 4-C’s and Child Care Connections announced last week that because they’ve lost funding and programming they’ll be scaling back operations. Gianforte’s administration awarded a new contract to Shine Early Learning, a for-profit, out-of-state company headquartered in New York City.
These Montana organizations previously supported childcare providers with trainings, criminal background checks and helped families secure childcare scholarships. Now, these important organizations have unknown futures and employees are already looking for new work.
Navigating the childcare system can be challenging for families and providers alike, but we know investing in childcare supports a thriving workforce and economy in all communities. In-person services and human connections are the backbone of social service systems, and the state should not be in the business of outsourcing them out of state.
There’s been no indication that our local agencies have failed our communities — so why are we outsourcing all these jobs and services across the country? And what statewide social services organization is next on the chopping block?