Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - It was all about taxes at Montana Governor Greg Gianforte’s Thursday press conference in Helena, where his special guest was Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.

Gianforte opened with comments about using Montanans tax money to help subsidize out of staters, while also taking a swipe at local governments who can’t control their own spending.

Gianforte Press Conference Included Tax Expert Grover Norquist

“I don't think we should use what hard-working Montanans pay in income taxes from their work to pay for a property tax reduction for folks who, for example, might live in California and have a second home here,” began Gianforte. “I also don't think we should subsidize local spending with a state bailout using Montana's income tax collections.”

Norquist compared tax rates in other states with Montana and is a firm believer of having each state have just one income tax rate.

“Why one rate?” he asked. “Income taxes at one rate are difficult to raise because you have to look at how you're treating everybody in the state. If everybody pays 3 percent or everybody pays 4 percent whatever the number is, then everybody's treated the same, and people understand what they do pay, and they know what their neighbor pays based on the same percentage. In addition, it's very difficult to raise that rate.”

Gianforte Encouraged 'Vigorous Debate' on State Income and Property Taxes

Gianforte encouraged the legislators to have a ‘robust debate’ on the topic of state income taxes.

“We ought to have a robust debate,” he said. “That's why today I've set out some hard lines for us. I don't think we should be taking income tax revenue and subsidizing local spending. That's a hard line for our office. I think that there are other ideas that are floating around the legislature that could probably enhance our proposal, and I'll look forward to getting a bill to my desk.”

Gianforte addressed the panic that Montana nonprofit organizations went through on Wednesday over a federal funding freeze that was rescinded at the last minute.

Gianforte Praised Trump for 'Tapping the Brakes' on Federal Spending

“Washington has been spending like drunken sailors, so the fact that President Trump is tapping the brakes on spending is a welcome change to the way things have been going,” he said. “That being said, we don't have a lot of specifics on that executive order. It clearly said benefits for Montanans and Social Security and Medicare would not be impacted by that executive order. We're going to work with our federal delegation and ensure that Montana interests are represented as we sort through this. But I'm thankful that we have a president that's finally tapping the brakes on federal spending.”

Watch Gianforte’s entire press conference here.

The legislature continues its work in Helena, gaveling to a close on April 30.

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