Praises Gov. Gianforte’s tax cut as “conservative, Trump-style” policy

HELENA, MT – Governor Greg Gianforte on March 31st, thanked Donald J. Trump Jr. for endorsing Senate Bill 323, the governor’s income tax cut proposal to cut income taxes for Montanans at every income level and deliver the largest tax cut in state history.

“I appreciate Donald J. Trump Jr. for endorsing our conservative income tax cut proposal,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Montanans at every income level have benefited, and will continue to benefit, from our conservative tax cuts. Our income tax rate, however, is still too high. I look forward to working with legislators to get these tax cuts across the finish line.”

On Friday, Trump posted on X, “.@GovGianforte pushing for the largest income tax cut in Montana history, just like my father’s historic tax cuts! Montana leading the way with conservative, Trump-style tax policies! Get it done! #MAGA .”

Sponsored by Sen. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, Senate Bill 323 includes the largest income tax cut in state history, reducing the income tax rate most Montanans pay from 5.9% to 4.9%. The proposal, which was included in the governor’s November budget, provides Montanans with more than $800 million in permanent income tax relief, the largest in state history. Montana currently has the highest income tax rate in the Rocky Mountain West.

On Friday, the governor joined Montanans and leadership with Americans for Prosperity for a rally in support of Senate Bill 323 and extending the federal Trump tax cuts, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Unless Congress acts on the Trump tax cuts set to expire this year, Americans will face a $4.5 trillion tax hike.

In January, Gov. Gianforte joined Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform to advocate for a flat tax. Since 2021, the governor and the legislature have simplified Montana’s income tax code from seven to two brackets and lowered the income tax rate most Montanans pay from 6.9% to 5.9%.

“The rest of the country is looking at doing exactly what you’re doing here, bringing income taxes down, and making them a single rate so that people can comfortably understand what's happening on their tax burden,” Norquist said.

Last week at the Montana State Capitol, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis encouraged legislators to pass the governor’s conservative tax cut proposal.

See Gov. Gianforte’s X post praising the endorsement here.