Category: News Article

Billings Gazette: Daines, Tester, Gianforte not ready to regulate bump stocks

The gadget that transformed a Las Vegas terrorist’s semiautomatic rifles into machine gun-style weapons is under criticism, but Montana’s congressional delegation isn’t ready to ban the device — at least not yet. The aftermarket devices known as “bump stocks” are in the sights of some congressional leaders who say the products should be restricted, if not banned. The National Rifle Association indicated Thursday that it, too, thought bump stocks should be subject to additional regulation. Montana Sens. Jon Tester, a Democrat, and Steve Daines, a Republican, said hearings on bump stocks were in order. They stopped short of saying they

Montana Public Radio: Daines, Tester trying to reverse court ruling on Lynx Habitat

Montana’s senators are trying to reverse a controversial federal court case out of Bozeman they say is partly to blame for the state’s devastating wildfires. But some environmentalists say it’s actually an assault on the Endangered Species Act. At a congressional hearing last week, Republican Senator Steve Daines said there’s a saying in Montana: “Either we’re going to manage the forests, or the forests are going to manage us.” And he says a recent 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling known as the Cottonwood decision means the forests are managing Montana. Daines testified alongside Democratic Senator Jon Tester in

ABC Fox Montana: Daines Returns from Security, Trade Mission to South Korea, Taiwan

Senator Steve Daines returns from a two-day trip to South Korea and then to Taiwan. Senator Daines told ABCFOX Montana the trip to South Korea overall was a success. He helped to expand the markets for Montana products. Also, he got a first-hand look at the nuclear threat of North Korea. First from the air, Senator Steve Daines hopped aboard a Blackhawk helicopter to the Korean demilitarized zone looking into North Korea. “It was chilling you see face to face the threat. It makes us that much more grateful for the men and women, who put their lives in harm’s

Montana Standard: Daines, Tester, Gianforte all demand investigation of meat-inspection agency in Montana

In strongly worded letters to the Secretary of Agriculture and to the acting head of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, all members of Montana’s congressional delegation — U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte — are calling for investigations into the FSIS and its treatment of Butte’s Riley Meats and other small Montana meat processing plants. The letters follow a two-day series, “Through the Meat Grinder,” in The Montana Standard and other Lee Montana newspapers last week detailing a pattern of nonexistent regulations being applied to Riley’s Meats and several other Montana plants. In

Daily Inter Lake: Daines Discusses Cyber Threats with FBI Director

The cyber threats made against families and schools in the Flathead Valley earlier this month got national attention Wednesday when U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., probed FBI Director Chris Wray to explain how his bureau is working to bring the criminals to justice. “Cyber-terrorism is an emerging threat that has become all too real in Montana,” Daines said. The senator told the FBI director the threats made against the Columbia Falls School District promised harm and demanded a ransom, forcing the closure of more than 30 schools for three days and impacted more than 15,000 children. “This is unprecedented. We

KGVO: FBI Director Answers Questions About the Flathead Valley Cyber Threats

Cyber-crimes are being committed all across the United States and Montana is no exception. On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke with the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the recent cyber threats in the Flathead Valley. “Cyber-terrorism is an emerging threat that has become all too real in Montana,” said Daines. “Two weeks ago, the Columbia Falls School district received cyber-threats promising harm and demanding ransom. This forced the closure of more than thirty schools across multiple school districts and affected over fifteen thousand Montana children. This is unprecedented. We have not seen that before.” The culprit responsible for the

New York Times: Corporations Have Rights. Why Shouldn’t Rivers?

DENVER — Does a river — or a plant, or a forest — have rights? This is the essential question in what attorneys are calling a first-of-its-kind federal lawsuit, in which a Denver lawyer and a far-left environmental group are asking a judge to recognize the Colorado River as a person. If successful, it could upend environmental law, possibly allowing the redwood forests, the Rocky Mountains or the deserts of Nevada to sue individuals, corporations and governments over resource pollution or depletion. Future lawsuits in its mold might seek to block pipelines, golf courses or housing developments and force everyone

The Washington Post: The American West is Burning

Hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma and Maria are unstoppable. They rip at our coastlines and tear at our hearts. The yellow, orange, red, even purple colors on the Doppler radar and weather maps this summer have been horrific to see, but that’s nothing compared to the images of flooded streets and wrecked homes. Those images inspired Americans to band together and do what we could for our neighbors in the South. In crises such as these, Americans show what they’re truly made of: unwavering resolve and kind hearts. But if you could, return to the weather map, zoom out for

Utah Policy: Sen. Lee introduces ‘CBO show your work’ bill

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the “CBO Show Your Work” Act Thursday, legislation designed to improve the legislative process by making the Congressional Budget Office more transparent and accountable. “Congress does need a scorekeeper to provide budgetary estimates for the policy changes it considers,” Sen. Lee said. “But at a bare minimum, that scorekeeper should be forced to show how its models work. Currently the CBO doesn’t have to do that.” “That is why I have introduced the CBO Show Your Work Act of 2017,” Lee continued. “This bill would require the CBO to publish its data, models, and all details

Ekalaka Eagle: Ceremony for Wendelburg, Aug. 14

Back in February, the Ekalaka Eagle reported that Belle Wendelburg was recognized by Senator Steve Daines as Montanan of the Week for her continued work in serving her community. Wendelburg retired from Dahl Memorial in July of 2016 after working there for more than 20 years. In his statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, Daines wrote, “Throughout the past 20 years, Belle has remained faithful in her love for her home and the eastern Montana prairie. I want to express my deep gratitude to Mrs. Belle Wendelburg for her dedication and service to her community, Montana, and our