Dr. Al Olzsewski, Republican candidate House District 11, testified in support of Gov. Bullock’s HB 590 Medicaid expansion bill — suggesting it would give “access to health care and affordable, legitimate health coverage.”

What good is “affordable” health insurance if you can’t get care?  Doesn’t Al know access to an insurance card does not equal access to health care? It is not rational to separate Medicaid expansion from Obamacare. Bankrupt government cannot afford to take over more medical care. It is not compassionate to promise what you cannot deliver. An overburdened system will get worse, leading to deteriorating services for those who need it most.

Al now says he opposed Medicaid expansion and was misquoted. The best evidence of Al’s position is his own testimony as recorded on video, www.northwestlibertynews.com. Viewing his testimony from beginning to end, his support of HB 590 is clear and unconditional. Al implies he had to testify for HB 590 as a board member of the Montana Medical Association. I am a member of the same board.  Nobody could force me to support something I oppose. Based on my experience testifying, being close to the front of the line of proponents suggests Al was a star witness for Medicaid expansion.

It’s terribly distressing writing in opposition to a beloved colleague, but I must oppose candidates who alter their views depending on audience. My personal affinity for Al doesn’t change the fact that candidates promoting expansion of our bloated, bankrupt government are opponents of liberty, putting us all at risk.

Mike Hebert, also running for HD 11, is the type of representative we need. He says what he means, means what he says, and will uphold the Republican Party platform and the U.S. constitutional principle of limited government.

Bukacek is a resident of Bigfork