Mike McGrath Announces for Attorney General

September 25, 2003

Four years ago this month I announced that I was a candidate for Attorney General of our great state. Today I am announcing that I am a candidate for re-election as Montana’s Attorney General.

Being Attorney General has given me an opportunity to use my skills and training as a lawyer on behalf of the people of Montana. It is a position that I truly love and I’m proud that my office has made a positive difference for our state.

In the criminal justice area, we have made substantial improvements to the training programs for law enforcement, as well as prosecutors. The state forensic lab has added much needed staff and will soon become one of the few nationally accredited state crime labs in the country. Under its new leadership, the Montana Highway Patrol has become more focused on its primary mission of keeping our highways safe. I am hoping to improve on the Patrol’s service by adding more women and minority officers to its ranks in the years ahead.

Earlier this year, we began a major initiative to combat the dramatic rise of methamphetamine abuse. This drug, like no other, has a devastating impact on our communities. It causes, not only increased crime, but irreparable damage to the environment and to children. We all pay for meth abuse through social services programs, health care and cleanup costs as well as increased law enforcement activities. While we have begun to see a decline in the number of meth labs, we have much to do. Montana’s designation as part of the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and our increased efforts in prevention, education and treatment are beginning to have an effect. You will be hearing much more from me about combating meth in the next few weeks.

And, of course, I am very proud of the efforts of our newly created Office of Victim Services and the positive difference we are making in the lives of crime victims in our state.

One of the more tragic developments in this country in recent years is the abuse of corporate power by some of the most powerful elements in our society. In Montana, we have seen the negative impacts of this, primarily in the energy area. These companies must be held accountable for the harm they have caused our citizens. That is why I have filed suit against many of the nation’s energy traders. By manipulating Western energy markets, these companies have driven many of Montana’s major employers out of business and cost us hundreds of good paying jobs.

In a similar effort to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable, I filed suit against some major drug companies for defrauding our seniors, as well as taxpayers, by seeking unauthorized Medicaid reimbursements.

And, we also have brought an action against Arthur Anderson, Morgan Stanley and numerous other financial institutions for providing fraudulent information to Montana’s Board of Investments about investing in the now-worthless World Com bonds.

As Attorney General, I believe I have a responsibility to protect Montana consumers – a role I will continue to take very seriously.

In that regard, it is time to move the consumer protection bureau to the Attorney General’s office. We are the only attorney general’s office in the country without primary consumer protection authority. Montana’s consumers deserve the same protections provided the citizens of all other states.

At the same time, it is important for state government to make sure that government itself is not an impediment to legitimate business activities. The Department of Justice has major regulatory responsibilities over gaming and driver services. We have provided a fair and impartial regulatory environment for Montana businesses and, at the same time, we have improved how we do business. Delays at the Title & Registration Bureau have gone from 8 weeks to less than one week. And the time it takes to change a liquor and gaming license has dropped from an average of 193 days to less than 50. I am very proud of the efforts our employees have made to improve Montana’s business climate.

The DOJ also has had many legislative successes the past two sessions:

• from promoting a no-call list to making identity theft a crime;
• from creating the Office of Victim Services and Restorative Justice to establishing procedures for post-conviction DNA testing;
• from encouraging land banking for State lands to outlawing racial profiling.

My office has worked with legislators of both political parties to forge legislation. Perhaps our most successful endeavor was the approval of the $20-million project to totally revamp our dilapidated motor vehicle computer system. I am looking forward to introducing a much-improved system over the next few years.

One area where improvement is needed is in the arena of state/tribal relationships. While the state has made progress in recent years, I am hopeful we will do better – especially with formal adoption of state tribal agreements relating to water use, gaming control and law enforcement cooperation. I am particularly proud of resolving litigation with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe that allowed for the transfer of the Otter Creek coal tracts to the State.

Providing public access to Montana’s state lands and maintaining our clean air and clean water have been major priorities for my administration. Many projects remain, including the litigation to recover the natural resource damages in Butte and Anaconda, and the removal of Milltown Dam near Missoula. For Montana’s economy to prosper and grow, we must give thought to preserving as well as properly developing our abundant natural resources.

Finally, I want to thank the staff at the Department of Justice. We truly have some of the most competent and dedicated individuals working in state government. I am proud to be a part of such a talented team.

There is much to do in the coming years. Many of the projects I have outlined have just begun. I want the opportunity to see these completed. I want the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Montana as Attorney General.

I hope the voters of this great state will give me that opportunity.

Thank you again for coming today.

 

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