John Metzger (Montana)

John Metzger (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Montana's 2nd Congressional District. He lost as a write-in in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Metzger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

John Metzger was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from De La Salle High School. He attended St. Mary's College and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California in 1979. His career experience includes working as an analyst. He has been affiliated with the Special Olympics and the YMCA.^[1]

Elections

2024

Montana's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Democratic primary)

Montana's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 4 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Montana District 2

Troy Downing defeated John B. Driscoll, Reilly Neill, and John Metzger in the general election for U.S. House Montana District 2 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Troy Downing (R)	65.7	181,832
	John B. Driscoll (D)	33.9	93,713
	Reilly Neill (D) (Write-in)	0.4	1,058
	John Metzger (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	40
	Other/Write-in votes	0.0	9

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 276,652
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Montana District 2

John B. Driscoll defeated Steve Held, Ming Cabrera, and Kevin Hamm in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Montana District 2 on June 4, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	John B. Driscoll	33.3	13,420
	Steve Held	26.4	10,649
	Ming Cabrera	20.9	8,408
	Kevin Hamm	19.4	7,813

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,290
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Montana District 2

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Montana District 2 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Troy Downing	36.1	36,269
		Denny Rehberg	17.1	17,182
		Stacy Zinn	13.5	13,581
		Elsie Arntzen	9.4	9,468
		Kenneth Bogner	9.0	9,026
		Ric Holden	7.1	7,108
		Joel G. Krautter	3.4	3,432
	Submit photo	Kyle Austin	3.2	3,177
		Edward Walker	1.2	1,168

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 100,411
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Matt Rosendale (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Metzger in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

John Metzger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Metzger's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

MT District 2 HAS THE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF MY 20+ YEARS AS LEGISLATIVE AIDE-U.S. CONGRESS AND CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS—PENTAGON DURING PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS:

4+ YEARS U.S. CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS 16 YEARS CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS PENTAGON. ADVANTAGE: ‘IMMEDIATELY GET TO WORK FOR MT DISTRICT 2 BEGINNING DAY 1:

I. SIGN (ALREADY WRITTEN) DEMAND FOR AUDIT INTO “PRICE GOUGING” ON COST OF LIVING:  Grocery foods and beverages;  Housing, rent, electricity;  Farm Fertilizer;  Gas and other motor fuel;  Motor vehicle parts and accessories and;  Corporate penalties $50 million (or more)/day for “price fixing”.  Introduce Bill to break up monopolies and insert competition replacing price fixing.

II. INTRODODUCE (ALREADY WRITTEN) BORDER CLOSING AND BORDER SECURITY BILL  U.S. MUST CLOSE THE BORDER: If migrant encounters exceed a specific number—set by U.S. Border Patrol.  INTRODODUCE BILL (ALREADY WRITTEN) BUILDING STEEL BOLLARD WALL AUGMENTED WITH ANTI-CLIMB AND ANTI-DIG FEATURES

III. INTRODUCE BILL (ALREADY WRITTEN) FOR NEGOTIATED PRESCRIPTION PRICE REDUCTIONS:  Increase prescription drugs from 10-15 to “250” prescriptions to directly negotiate price reductions with the manufacturer. 79% cost savings early result

IV. FULLY FUND SOLUTIONS TO WATER SUPPLY OF ST. MARY RIVER AND MILK RIVER BASINS.

 Support continued joint efforts from federal, Tribal and state agencies to collect / monitor water diversions.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

O SAVED TAXPAYERS / CANCELLED $44 BILLION IN WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AS 4+ YEARS LEGISLATIVE AIDE U.S. CONGRESS, APPROPRIATIONS /GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEES DURING PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS
O CONVINCED CONGRESSMAN TO COSPONSOR BILL TO INREASE COMPETITION IN CONTRACTING FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT GOODS AND SERVICES. ENACTED BILL INCREASED COMPETITION AND REDUCED GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND BUDGETS.
O TOP-DOWN WASTE-FRAUD-ABUSE AUDIT OF U.S. DEPT. OF EDUCATION AND MT EDUCATION FUNDING. INVESTING THE SAVINGS INTO INCREASED TEACHER SALARIES, JOB SECURITY, SCHOOL SECURITY, AND CURRENT EDUCATIONAL MATERIEL.
REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES TEAMING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATURE. WILL DEMAND IMMEDIATE AUDITS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT UNNECESSARY PROGRAMS TO ELIMINATE/CUT TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES. Page 3-15, Volume 2 of FY 2024-2025 Budget is clear. Get ready for an UNACCEPTABLE 26.6% “Percent Change” Property Tax forecast for FY 2024. An 81% increase from the 5% forecast in FY 2023. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
HIGH PRIORITY ON FARM COMMMODITY PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR milk, beef, wheat, hay, alfalfa, barley, lentils, peas, chickpeas, canola, corn, safflower, flaxseed, oats, sugar beets, soybeans, rice, sheep, and hogs among others. Strong oversight-through audits-that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) use best-practices TO ANTICIPATE when to fund for trade promotion and food aid, expand crop insurance, increased outlays to producers affected by retaliatory tariffs, disaster assistance for agricultural losses, amend conservation programs, and reauthorize and revise nutrition assistance.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

AUDIT AND ELIMINATE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE OF HARD-EARNED TAXPAYER MONEY. ELIMINATE Congressional Earmarks-Congressionally directed spending-bypassing the appropriations process. A 2024 U.S. House ‘package’ of 6 appropriation bills HAD OVER 6,600 EARMARKS ADDING $12+ BILLION TO THE FEDERAL DEFICIT reportedly. ELIMINATE taxpayer-funded program that reimburses U.S. House Representatives for food and lodging while on "official business" in Washington, DC. The program DOES NOT REQUIRE THE LAWMAKERS TO PROVIDE RECEIPTS. More than 300 U.S. House of Representative lawmakers were reimbursed at least $5.8 million for food and lodging while on "official business" in Washington last year.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

President Reagan. President Reagan always made time to meet once a week with U.S. House Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill to COMPROMISE on legislation. President Reagan and Speaker O'Neill always put personal matters aside and prioritize compromise on details of legislation.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Movie: "All the President's Men" Book: Machiavelli's Treatise "The Prince"

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

President Reagan and President Trump reminded us it's important elected officials in government 'get out of the way' to create economic growth. President Reagan reminded us elected officials can play a role creating an environment that is friendly to growth. I can help constituents that want to become business owners and entrepreneurs. I can encourage women and men to complete economic plans, evaluate risks, and then allow them to get big rewards when they succeed. The Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator and local SBA leads can do a lot more for District 2:

• U.S. Small Business Administration's Mentor-Protege Program helps team small businesses to partner with a more experienced firm for mentorship. The joint venture may pursue any type of set-aside contract for which the protégé qualifies, including contracts set aside for 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned, woman-owned, and HUBZone businesses.
• These businesses bring competition to ‘break up’ monopolies in Utilities, Finance, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Administrative and Waste Management Services among many other industries.

• These businesses = jobs!

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

 MT District 2 HAS THE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF MY 20+ YEARS AS LEGISLATIVE AIDE/CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS—PENTAGON DURING PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS:

o 4+ YEARS U.S. CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS
o 16+ CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS PENTAGON.
 “Actions speak louder than words”: The ADVANTAGE above let’s me ‘GET IMMEDIATELY TO WORK FOR MT DISTRICT 2 BEGINNING DAY 1:
I. DAY 1: IMMEDIATE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO) AUDIT INTO “PRICE GOUGING” ON COST OF LIVING:
 Grocery foods and beverages;
 Prescriptions;
 Housing, rent, electricity;
 Farm Fertilizer
 Gas and other motor fuel;
 Motor vehicle parts and accessories and;
 Food supply chain for post-farm activities that transform raw food in to finished food products.
 Corporate penalties $25-$50 million (or more)/day for “price fixing” and manipulating wholesale markets.
 GAO to draft legislation to break up monopolies and insert competition replacing price fixing, bid rigging and other predatory/exclusionary acts.
II. INTRODUCE BILL IN THE FORM OF AN AMENDMENT FOR NEGOTIATED PRESCRIPTION PRICE REDUCTIONS:
 Increases prescription drug numbers (e.g., “10”) to “not less than 250” prescription drugs the Center for Medicare Services will directly negotiate price reductions with the manufacturer. Accelerates the negotiation timetable to 2025, 2026, and 2027 and;
 Requests GAO audit Medicare prescription selections and negotiations to ensure “best price” negotiations 2024-2027.

III. BORDER CLOSING AND BORDER SECURITY BILL
 Department of Homeland Security MUST CLOSE THE BORDER:
 If migrant encounters exceed a specific number—set by U.S. Border Patrol—in a single day;
 If daily average of migrant encounters per week reaches a specific number set by U.S. Border Patrol;

• Border remains closed until DHS and U.S. Border Patrol have operational control and processing capacity of the border.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

As a prior Legislative Aide at the U.S. Capitol for two Republicans during the Reagan and Bush Administrations we were encouraged to staff "Good Government" initiatives and Bills. I was part of a team that eliminated $44 billion of wasteful government spending.

Below are my plans, my core responsibilities:
■ A detailed plan to increase competition to reduce grocery, housing, and farming costs among others;
■ A detailed plan to reduce the $1.9 trillion federal budget deficit "scored" by the independent Congressional Budget Office;
■ A detailed "path" from a Joint House/Senate team of Republicans and Democrats how Congress will reach the deficit reduction goal separately passing 12 fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills on time;

■ A ban on "earmarks" — "congressionally directed spending items" — attached to spending bills. A 2024 House "package" of six appropriation bills had 6,000+ earmarks adding $12+ billion to the federal deficit according to Bloomberg Government.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Congressman in U.S. House of Representatives leading the U.S. House back to a priority on "Good Government"

 Task Comptroller of the United States create a GAO ‘Red Team’ of auditors, criminal investigators, and other support to audit/investigate the estimated $236 billion “improper payments” (e.g., overpayments, inaccurate recordkeeping, and/or fraud) in fiscal year (FY 2023) in:
 a. Medicare ($51.9 billion ‘improper payments’);
 b. Medicaid ($36.7 billion ‘improper payments’)
 c. All Other Programs ($36.1 billion ‘improper payments’)
 d. Earned Income Tax Credit ($16.2 billion ‘improper payments’)

 In the first 3-4 months in the House: Meet with Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator and all Montana 2nd Congressional District local SBA leads to review their final plans:
 For increases in small businesses in 2025 in Montana 2nd Congressional District that ‘break up’ and compete with ‘monopolies’ (e.g., Utilities, Finance and Insurance, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Administrative and Waste Management Services)
 Task GAO to audit the progress of full SBA implementation with updates every 2-3 weeks and;
 SBA Administrator will send SBA subject matter expert to 'join' my House Congressional Staff with expertise in:
 Funding, Training, Accounting, Contracts and;
 Best Practices in successful SBA small businesses
 Introduce Bills in the form of amendments—ALREADY DRAFTED—on:
 Border Security and;
 Countering fentanyl crossing into United States
■ A detailed plan to increase competition to reduce grocery, housing, and farming costs among others;

■ A detailed plan to reduce the $1.9 trillion federal budget deficit "scored" by the independent Congressional Budget Office;

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Working at the Pentagon during the 9/11 terrorist attack. Returned one day later, with Pentagon still on fire, for selection to Response Team to 9/11 attack.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Laying irrigation systems and landscaping helped pay college tuition.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Lincoln at Gettysburg by Garry Wills. Wills researches the leadership, religious faith, and valor of sacrifice President Lincoln used in the Gettysburg Address.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Protecting my older brother with developmental disabilities from "bullies" when we were growing up as kids.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

435 U.S. House of Representative members REQUIRE compromise, communication, and a priority on passing legislation prohibiting “PRICE GOUGING”, and more businesses (more jobs!) to prevent monopolies on:

 Grocery foods and beverages;
 Prescriptions;
 Housing, rent, electricity;
 Farm Fertilizer
 Gas and other motor fuel;
 Motor vehicle parts and accessories and;
 Food supply chain for post-farm activities that transform raw food in to finished food products.
 Corporate penalties $25-$50 million (or more)/day for “price fixing” and manipulating wholesale markets.
 Government Accountability Office (GAO) to draft legislation to break up monopolies and insert competition replacing price fixing, bid rigging and other predatory/exclusionary acts.
II. INTRODUCE BILL IN THE FORM OF AN AMENDMENT FOR NEGOTIATED PRESCRIPTION PRICE REDUCTIONS:
 Increases prescription drug numbers (e.g., “10”) to “not less than 250” prescription drugs the Center for Medicare Services will directly negotiate price reductions with the manufacturer. Accelerates the negotiation timetable to 2025, 2026, and 2027 and;
 Requests GAO audit Medicare prescription selections and negotiations to ensure “best price” negotiations 2024-2027.

III. BORDER CLOSING AND BORDER SECURITY BILL
 Department of Homeland Security MUST CLOSE THE BORDER:
 If migrant encounters exceed a specific number—set by U.S. Border Patrol—in a single day;
 If daily average of migrant encounters per week reaches a specific number set by U.S. Border Patrol;
• Border remains closed until DHS and U.S. Border Patrol have operational control and processing capacity of the border.
• Migrants who attempt to cross while the border is closed are barred from applying for asylum and/or to cross the border.

IV. BUILDING A STEEL BOLLARD BARRIER [“THE WALL”]

 THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEEL BOLLARD PEDESTRIAN BARRIER BUILT AT LEAST 18 TO 30 FEET IN EFFECTIVE HEIGHT AND AUGMENTED WITH ANTI-CLIMB AND ANTI-DIG FEATURES

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

20+ YEARS COMPROMISING ON LEGISLATION FOR"GOOD GOVERNMENT" SOLUTIONS TO CONSTITUENT ISSUES

MT District 2 HAS THE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF MY 20+ YEARS AS LEGISLATIVE AIDE/CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS—PENTAGON DURING PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS:
4+ YEARS U.S. CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS
16 YEARS CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS PENTAGONAs a prior Legislative Aide at the U.S. Capitol for two Republicans during the Reagan and Bush Administrations we were encouraged to staff "Good Government" initiatives and Bills. I was part of a team that eliminated $44 billion of wasteful government spending.
Below are my plans, my core responsibilities:
■ A detailed plan to increase competition to reduce grocery, housing, and farming costs among others;
■ A detailed plan to reduce the $1.9 trillion federal budget deficit "scored" by the independent Congressional Budget Office;
■ A detailed "path" from a Joint House/Senate team of Republicans and Democrats how Congress will reach the deficit reduction goal separately passing 12 fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills on time;

■ A ban on "earmarks" — "congressionally directed spending items" — attached to spending bills. A 2024 House "package" of six appropriation bills had 6,000+ earmarks adding $12+ billion to the federal deficit according to Bloomberg Government.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

I. IMMEDIATE AUDITS INTO “PRICE GOUGING” ON COST OF LIVING, and more businesses (more jobs!) to prevent monopolies:

 Grocery foods and beverages;
 Prescriptions;
 Housing, rent, electricity;
 Farm Fertilizer
 Gas and other motor fuel;
 Motor vehicle parts and accessories and;
 Food supply chain for post-farm activities that transform raw food in to finished food products.
 Corporate penalties $25-$50 million (or more)/day for “price fixing” and manipulating wholesale markets.
 GAO to draft legislation to break up monopolies and insert competition replacing price fixing, bid rigging and other predatory/exclusionary acts.
II. INTRODUCE BILL IN THE FORM OF AN AMENDMENT FOR NEGOTIATED PRESCRIPTION PRICE REDUCTIONS:
 Increases prescription drug numbers (e.g., “10”) to “not less than 250” prescription drugs the Center for Medicare Services will directly negotiate price reductions with the manufacturer. Accelerates the negotiation timetable to 2025, 2026, and 2027 and;
 Requests GAO audit Medicare prescription selections and negotiations to ensure “best price” negotiations 2024-2027.

III. BORDER CLOSING AND BORDER SECURITY BILL
 Department of Homeland Security MUST CLOSE THE BORDER:
 If migrant encounters exceed a specific number—set by U.S. Border Patrol—in a single day;
 If daily average of migrant encounters per week reaches a specific number set by U.S. Border Patrol;
• Border remains closed until DHS and U.S. Border Patrol have operational control and processing capacity of the border.
• Migrants who attempt to cross while the border is closed are barred from applying for asylum and/or to cross the border.

IV. BUILDING A STEEL BOLLARD BARRIER [“THE WALL”]
 THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEEL BOLLARD PEDESTRIAN BARRIER BUILT AT LEAST 18 TO 30 FEET IN EFFECTIVE HEIGHT AND AUGMENTED WITH ANTI-CLIMB AND ANTI-DIG FEATURES

 Construction of pedestrian barriers will be at locations identified in the Border Security Improvement Plan

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

In favor of two-year term limits for U.S. House. Replace the "Seniority" metric for higher "ladder rungs" in political power with members working hardest to enact "good government" Bills in both House and Senate. Then we'll have a Congress communicating with constituents.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

In favor of term limits for U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Replace the "Seniority" metric for higher "ladder rungs" in political power with members working hardest to enact "good government" Bills in both House and Senate. Then we'll have a Congress communicating with constituents.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Two "Pioneers": Davy Crocket, defender of the Alamo and U.S. Congressman. Jeannette Rankin, first woman elected to the U.S. Congress.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Too many stories from District 2 Montanans not being able to afford:

 Grocery foods and beverages;
 Prescriptions;
 Housing, rent, electricity;
 Farm Fertilizer
 Gas and other motor fuel;
 Motor vehicle parts and accessories and other cost of living goods and services.
I. TOP PRIORITY: IMMEDIATE AUDITS INTO “PRICE GOUGING” ON COST OF LIVING, and more businesses (more jobs!) to prevent monopolies:
 Grocery foods and beverages;
 Prescriptions;
 Housing, rent, electricity;
 Farm Fertilizer
 Gas and other motor fuel;
 Motor vehicle parts and accessories and;
 Food supply chain for post-farm activities that transform raw food in to finished food products.
 Corporate penalties $25-$50 million (or more)/day for “price fixing” and manipulating wholesale markets.
 GAO to draft legislation to break up monopolies and insert competition replacing price fixing, bid rigging and other predatory/exclusionary acts.
II. INTRODUCE BILL IN THE FORM OF AN AMENDMENT FOR NEGOTIATED PRESCRIPTION PRICE REDUCTIONS:
 Increases prescription drug numbers (e.g., “10”) to “not less than 250” prescription drugs the Center for Medicare Services will directly negotiate price reductions with the manufacturer. Accelerates the negotiation timetable to 2025, 2026, and 2027 and;
 Requests GAO audit Medicare prescription selections and negotiations to ensure “best price” negotiations 2024-2027.

III. BORDER CLOSING AND BORDER SECURITY BILL
 Department of Homeland Security MUST CLOSE THE BORDER:
 If migrant encounters exceed a specific number—set by U.S. Border Patrol—in a single day;
 If daily average of migrant encounters per week reaches a specific number set by U.S. Border Patrol;
• Border remains closed until DHS and U.S. Border Patrol have operational control and processing capacity of the border.
• Migrants who attempt to cross while the border is closed are barred from applying for asylum and/or to cross the border.

IV. BUILDING A STEEL BOLLARD BARRIER [“THE WALL”]

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

20+ YEARS COMPROMISING ON LEGISLATION FOR"GOOD GOVERNMENT" SOLUTIONS TO CONSTITUENT ISSUES

MT District 2 HAS THE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF MY 20+ YEARS AS LEGISLATIVE AIDE/CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS—PENTAGON DURING PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS:
4+ YEARS U.S. CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS
16 YEARS CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS PENTAGON
- COMPROMISE ON COMPETITION IN CONTRACTING ACT RESULTED IN LOWER COSTS FOR GOVERNMENT GOODS, HIGHER RELIABLITY IN GOVERNMENT GOODS AND LOWER BUDGETS FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
- COMPROMISE ON REQUIRING WARRANTIES ON MILITARY HARWARE AND SOFTWARE RESULTED IN GOVERNMENT SAVINGS AND MORE RELIABLE MILITARY HARWARE AND SOFTWARE

- SENATOR'S QUOTE: "I GET A WARRANTY ON MY TRACTOR; WE SHOULD GET WARRANTIES ON TANKS!"

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

20+ YEARS COMPROMISING ON LEGISLATION FOR "GOOD GOVERNMENT" SOLUTIONS TO CONSTITUENT ISSUES

MT District 2 HAS THE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF MY 20+ YEARS AS LEGISLATIVE AIDE/CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS—PENTAGON DURING PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS:
4+ YEARS U.S. CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS
16 YEARS CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS PENTAGONAs a prior Legislative Aide at the U.S. Capitol for two Republicans during the Reagan and Bush Administrations we were encouraged to staff "Good Government" initiatives and Bills. I was part of a team that eliminated $44 billion of wasteful government spending.
Below are my plans, my core responsibilities:
■ A detailed plan to increase competition to reduce grocery, housing, and farming costs among others;
■ A detailed plan to reduce the $1.9 trillion federal budget deficit "scored" by the independent Congressional Budget Office;
■ A detailed "path" from a Joint House/Senate team of Republicans and Democrats how Congress will reach the deficit reduction goal separately passing 12 fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills ON TIME;

■ A ban on "earmarks" — "congressionally directed spending items" — attached to spending bills. A 2024 House "package" of six appropriation bills had 6,000+ earmarks adding $12+ billion to the federal deficit according to Bloomberg Government.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

MT District 2 HAS THE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF MY 20+ YEARS AS LEGISLATIVE AIDE/CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS—PENTAGON DURING PRESIDENTS REAGAN AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS:

4+ YEARS U.S. CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS
16 YEARS CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS PENTAGONAs a prior Legislative Aide at the U.S. Capitol for two Republicans during the Reagan and Bush Administrations we were encouraged to staff "Good Government" initiatives and Bills. I was part of a team that eliminated $44 billion of wasteful government spending.

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Audits and Inspector General audits and investigations can inform "Good Government" legislation for
■ A detailed plan to increase competition to reduce grocery, housing, and farming costs among others;
■ A detailed plan to reduce the $1.9 trillion federal budget deficit "scored" by the independent Congressional Budget Office;
■ A detailed "path" from a Joint House/Senate team of Republicans and Democrats how Congress will reach the deficit reduction goal separately passing 12 fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills ON TIME;

■ A ban on "earmarks" — "congressionally directed spending items" — attached to spending bills. A 2024 House "package" of six appropriation bills had 6,000+ earmarks adding $12+ billion to the federal deficit according to Bloomberg Government.

What committees interest you?

U.S. House Appropriations Committee, U.S. House Agriculture Committee, U.S. House Veterans Committee, U.S. House Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. House Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The Washington Post reported on June 4, 2024:

“More than 300 [U.S.] House [of Representative] lawmakers were reimbursed at least $5.8 million for food and lodging while on official business in Washington last year under a new taxpayer-funded program that does not require them to provide receipts.”

As a former Legislative Aid on Capitol Hill, we ALWAYS provided travel, food, and lodging receipts. It was good Government. The costs were public information. It was communicating with taxpayers it matters what ‘bills’ get paid with their taxes. It enabled a serious discussion whether taxpayers wanted to pay those receipts.

Not requiring “receipts” leaves taxpayers scratching their heads asking “Why Not?” It disables that necessary accountability discussion between taxpayers and their U.S. House Representatives.

House lawmakers saw no need for “receipts” for “Rubbergate” in 1992 and what happened? The General Accounting Office (GAO) found House members ‘bounced’ 8,331 checks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single year. GAO found 66 worst offenders wrote about 20,000 ‘rubber’ checks totaling $10,846,856. The ‘disconnect’ discussing accountability cost House lawmakers their jobs at reelection.

Time for a GAO audit of the $5.8 million for food and lodging in 2023. The audit should include 2024. It’s past time House lawmakers provide receipts, discuss the ‘taxpayer-funded’ program with constituents, and hear from constituents whether the program should even exist.

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Campaign website

John Metzger’s campaign website stated the following:

“

John is passionate about government and has written multiple bills to propose to congress. See the issues outlined on this page for more information.

Request to the Government Accountability Office
Grocery and gas prices are out of control. John Metzger has a plan to approach the Government Accountability Office with a request for an audit or investigation. See details in the expanded description page.

Draft Bill for Medicare Services Price Negotiation
Medicare prescription prices are unreasonable. John Metzger has a solid plan to propose prescription drug reform if elected.

Draft Bill for an Organized Fentanyl Response
Fentanyl is wreaking havoc on our country. John Metzger has drafted a bill to help organize our country's response to this frightening issue.

Draft Bill to Secure the Border
The border continues to be a major challenge for our country. John Metzger has drafted a bill for congress that would secure the border more than ever before.^[2]

”

—John Metzger’s campaign website (2024)^[3]

Campaign finance summary

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Candidate

U.S. House Montana District 2

Website

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 1, 2024
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ John Metzger’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed October 23, 2024

[show]

Montana's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Steve Daines (R)

Tim Sheehy (R)

Representatives

District 1

Ryan Zinke (R)

District 2

Troy Downing (R)

Republican Party (4)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 1, 2024

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] John Metzger’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed October 23, 2024

[1]

[2]

[3]

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John Metzger (Montana)

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Montana District 2

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Montana District 2

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Montana District 2

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

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