GREAT FALLS – Democratic U.S. House candidate John Lewis denied helping write the Affordable Care Act as an aide to U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, while Republican Ryan Zinke insisted he’s released all of the military personnel records in his possession and had a stellar record as a Navy SEAL.
They and Libertarian Mike Fellows debated Tuesday night at Great Falls College Montana State University in an event sponsored by the college, Great Falls Tribune, Montana Farmers Union and STARadio. It was the final House debate before the Nov. 4 election and the fifth between Lewis and Zinke. Fellows has participated in three of them.
Zinke has been charging throughout the campaign that Lewis helped draft the Affordable Care Act. Zinke has called the health care law a sinking ship that needs to be abandoned.
“My role living in Montana as the state director for Sen. Baucus was to listen to Montanans,” Lewis said.
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When the question came up again in the debate, Lewis called it ridiculous. He said the question didn’t address the fact that millions of Americans have no health insurance.
Zinke noted that part of Lewis salary was paid by the Senate Finance Committee, which Baucus headed and whose staff worked on the bill.
“Even though you say you didn’t write it, you had to have helped,” Zinke said as Lewis’ supporters groaned loudly.
Montana Democratic Party officials, meanwhile, have been asking about Zinke’s missing June 1999 Navy fitness report. They say that report came after Zinke said he was ordered to pay back the Navy $211 after it disallowed a flight he said he made to Whitefish to scout locations for Navy SEAL training sites.
Panelist John S. Adams of the Great Falls Tribune asked Zinke if he would release the June 15, 1999, fitness report before the election or reveal what is in it. While U.S. Sen. John Walsh, D-Mont., had released more than 400 pages of his military records, Adams said there have continuing questions about the 1999 fitness report missing from the records Zinke has released to reporters. The panelist said one former SEAL Team Six officer has said the fitness report is related to Zinke’s departure from that team.
“First of all, I have released every scrap of paper I have,” Zinke said.
Since 1999, Zinke said he was screened and promoted to commander and executive officer, he was mission commander in Kosovo, he was deputy and acting commander of Special Forces in Iraq, he was awarded two Bronze Stars for combat and four meritorious service medals and he was the commander and officer in charge of the SEALs advance training command.
“To allege my military career is anything but extraordinary and distinguished as a SEAL I find it an affront.” Zinke said to applause.
When Adams asked what was in that particular document, Zinke said, “There is nothing in my record that does not distinguish myself or me in honorable service. To allege anything different, Mr. Adams, is unjust, unfair and shameless.”
Lewis said he respected Walsh for releasing all of his military records, and it’s up to Zinke to decide to release all of his records.
At one point, Fellows, a former Army reservist, said Zinke had crossed the line by using his Navy uniform for political purposes.
