Schreiber's leadership vacuum

Once again, California transplant, “Tax-Hike” Trish Schreiber, posted an article in the local papers, this time on the subject of leadership, criticizing my success and implying that she would be a better leader. Let’s look at the record.

Schreiber moved to Montana a few years ago from the San Francisco area. If you Google her, there is nothing on the web about her life before coming to Montana. She was neither accomplished nor newsworthy. But, come to little Montana with a thick wallet and now she wants to become a “somebody.”

On the web, Schreiber is described as an “educational expert” yet there is no information to prove that she ever spent a day in classroom leading a group of seven-year-olds. There is no evidence to prove that she has ever held a leadership position in a venture not owned by her family. Where is the resume that testifies to her leadership skills?

Listening to Schreiber talk about leadership is like listening to some guy who has never sat in the cockpit of a plane tell you what a great pilot he is, based on having seen the movie “Top Gun.”

Schreiber also repeatedly demonstrates that she has little capacity for independent thinking.  Her entire article was nothing more than a regurgitation of Freedom Caucus sound bites which are demonstrably false.

Schreiber said I voted for a bloated budget. False. According to the legislative staff which computed state spending as required by state law, spending increased 0.7%, over 80% below the rate of inflation.

Schreiber said I supported higher property taxes. False. I voted for property tax cuts for Montana residents. In contrast, Schreiber wants to double your property taxes so she can give people like her mother-in-law, a California resident, a property tax cut on her $2.5 million “cabin” near Helmville.

Schreiber falsely claimed that I support the sales tax. No. I oppose a sales tax. She started that lie after a meeting with the Powell County Commission where the sales tax was discussed, nothing more. You are free to contact the Commission to verify who is telling the truth.

As your representative, to fulfill the obligations of your government, I led the charge to fund the repair and expansion at the Montana State Prison and Warm Springs, obtain money to repair water, wastewater, and irrigation systems, do land reclamation, protect historic facilities in the district, and ensure that state employees received a reasonable salary adjustment.  During the 2025 session, I ranked 5th out of 150 legislators for legislative effectiveness.

In contrast, Schreiber has no real commitment to people of the district. “Tax Hike” Trish wants to double your property taxes. She wants to use public money to fund unaccountable private schools with an anything goes curriculum. Such a policy would be a disaster for small rural schools like those found in Avon, Hall, Garrison, Elliston, Helmville, Ovando, Seeley Lake, Philipsburg, and Drummond. That is just fine with Schreiber because her only goal is to become a “somebody.”

State Rep. John Fitzpatrick is a Republican from Anaconda representing House District 76.