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James Cossitt

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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • Certified, Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification, 2005-2014
  • Certified, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification, 1995-2014
  • JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1983-1986
  • BA, Political Science; History; Economics, Iowa State University, 1978-1982

Professional Experience

  • Certified, Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification, 2005-2014
  • Certified, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification, 1995-2014
  • JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1983-1986
  • BA, Political Science; History; Economics, Iowa State University, 1978-1982
  • Attorney and Council at Law, James H Cossitt Professional Corporation, 1996-present
  • Partner, Payer, Hunziker, Cossit, & Oeth, 1988-1995
  • Bankruptcy Attorney, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 1986-1988

Political Experience

  • Certified, Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification, 2005-2014
  • Certified, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification, 1995-2014
  • JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1983-1986
  • BA, Political Science; History; Economics, Iowa State University, 1978-1982
  • Attorney and Council at Law, James H Cossitt Professional Corporation, 1996-present
  • Partner, Payer, Hunziker, Cossit, & Oeth, 1988-1995
  • Bankruptcy Attorney, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 1986-1988
  • Candidate, Montana State House of Representatives, District 7, 2018

Other Info

Favorite TV Shows:

CNN; PBS; History Channel

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Climbing (alpine and waterfall ice); skiing (resort and back country); road cycling; hiking

— Publications:

  • Cracking the Means Test, 2012, The King Bankruptcy Practice Series, Morgan King Company;
  • Working Paper: Best Practices for Debtors' Attorneys, Nov 2008, The Business Lawyer published by the American Bar Association, Business Law;
  • Attorney Liability Under Section 707(b)(4) of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, Feb 2006, The Business Lawyer, published by the American Bar Association, Business Law Section

Policy Positions

Montana State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Montana's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

5. Eliminating block grants to public school districts?
- No

6. Decreasing funding to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- Removing various special interest deductions - capital gains, waters edge and oil and gas holiday.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- I support Move to Amend and the campaign to end corporate personhood. Artificial entities do not need the same rights as natural persons. Also support repeal of Citizens United.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Montana?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Montana?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support open access to state and public lands. I do not support transfer of federal lands to the states.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Use the vehicle license and driver license regulatory model and apply it to guns. License both the item and the operator, require proficiency test and require liability insurance.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Montana's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Do you support increasing state funding for tracking and reporting opioid usage and overdoses?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Montana state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Should individuals be required to use a bathroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- ? ECONOMIC FAIRNESS & OPPORTUNITY: o a livable wage o equal pay for equal work o affordable housing ? AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE & COMPETITIVE MARKETS o Reasonable prices for medical care and prescription drugs o regulation of monopoly or oligopoly industries & providers ? PUBLIC LANDS & ACCESS & BALANCED RESOURCE USE: o providing for, continued access and wise use of our public lands and resources o ensuring that extractive industries post the necessary financial instruments for clean up at the front end of their activities. ? ETHICS & INTEGRITY OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS