Repudiating the extremist dishonesty machine

By Representative John Fitzpatrick

Published in the Anaconda Leader

February 18, 2026

Dear Editor:

On February 13th State Senator Bob Phalen of Lindsay, MT (population 12) in Dawson County published a letter in the Leader talking about strong leaders needed to secure our borders. He then went on to claim that I had voted to give illegal aliens Montana Drivers Licenses. 

Phalen’s claim is false, a deliberate, calculated lie to the voters of HD 76. Phalen’s claim is in reference to HB 275 which provided non-citizens who were in the country legally, the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license. The exact language of the bill states:

“HB 275 Section 2 (2): Each (license) application must include the applicant’s proof of identity including the full legal name, date of birth, and the applicant’s proof of Montana residence, and proof of lawful residence in the United States.”

Why would Phalen who lives almost 500 miles to the east be sticking his nose into a legislative race in western Montana. The answer is simple. Republican “Party Bosses” like Party Chairman, Art Wittich, previously convicted in a District Court for campaign finance violations and Senate Minority Leader “Raise Your Taxes” Matt Regier cannot tell me what to do. I represent the people of HD 76, not them. So, Phalen gets instructions to send a letter lying about me and, ever the follower, Phalen does what he’s told.

The Republican “Party Bosses,” Americans for Prosperity, a dark money group from Virginia, the Flathead Regier Dynasty, and the California Schreiber money machine are collectively engaged in a crusade against the common-sense conservatives in the Republican Party. The Common-Sense Team are the effective legislators who get things done for the people of Montana – like enacting residential property tax relief, drafting a conservative budget, addressing the crises we have in our mental health and correctional systems, treating state employees fairly, and investing in both public education and the University System. The “Bosses” want to replace those legislators with a group of mindless lemmings who take orders from on high. 

California “Tax-Hike” Trish Schreiber is the “Party Boss” pick in HD 76 and that group is not on your side.

John Fitzpatrick

House District 76

Republican