MISSOULA—Republican congressional nominee Aaron Flint unveiled a tax-relief proposal in Missoula this week while seeking to make Democratic opponent Sam Forstag’s past lobbying work a central issue in Montana’s 1st Congressional District race.
Flint’s proposal calls for making permanent federal tax breaks on tips and overtime, eliminating federal taxes on military pensions, ending the estate tax on family farms and ranches, and temporarily suspending the federal gasoline tax under conditions tied to energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. His plan would also seek to withhold federal grants from local governments that use taxpayer money to hire lobbyists.
The Republican used the announcement to criticize Forstag’s work as a registered lobbyist before running for Congress, particularly his lobbying for local governments during the 2023 Montana Legislature.
Public records show Forstag lobbied for the cities of Missoula and Bozeman in legislative proceedings, while Missoula records show the city paid Central House Strategies for lobbying and advocacy services. Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices maintains public records showing lobbyists, their clients and spending associated with legislative advocacy.
Flint’s campaign argues that Forstag lobbied in support of legislation that would have allowed Montana’s largest cities to impose a local sales tax. The campaign has also pointed to Forstag’s opposition to proposals aimed at restricting increases in local property taxes.
The fight over Forstag’s lobbying background has intensified in recent weeks. Records and reporting have shown substantial lobbying fees associated with firms and organizations for which Forstag worked, though those amounts weren’t necessarily paid directly to him. Forstag’s campaign has accused Republicans of misrepresenting firm-level lobbying payments as his personal compensation.
Flint is also seeking to draw a contrast over the federal tax law passed by Republicans. His campaign says Forstag would roll back provisions benefiting workers and seniors.
Flint and Forstag won their respective Republican and Democratic primaries in June and will face each other in November for Montana’s western U.S. House district.