Category: News Article

Tax-advantaged land deals known as syndicated conservation easements are set up solely for tax avoidance and will continue to cost the government billions in lost revenue if allowed in their current form, a Senate Finance Committee investigation found. A bipartisan report, released Tuesday, compared the deals to inserting a dollar into a vending machine and getting two back. It sets the stage for Congress to pass legislation to stop abusive versions of these transactions, which have been under IRS scrutiny for years. “The abuse of the charitable conservation easement tax incentive must be put to an end,” said Sen. Steve

Bad internet could have parents choosing between their child’s safety or their education. “You know there are some families that just don’t have internet and they rely on the school for their kids to get access to technology,” said Scott Chauvet, superintendent for Geyser Public Schools. One in 3 Montanan’s lack access to reliable broadband. And in a time where so many students are learning from home, that access has become more crucial than ever. “It’s really important that we’re able to teach kids while they’re at home, that’s why we need good broadband,” said Senator Jon Tester. Senator Tester

U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester have announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will be directing $3,900,000 through the EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance program and $11,209,000 through the EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to support Montana communities, small businesses and jobs amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “This funding is about empowering Montana small business owners whose operations have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening our local communities,” Daines said. “I will continue working to ensure our small business owners get the help and support they need to get through these

Montana Senator Steve Daines toured the new YWCA shelter under construction on South Third Street West called ‘The Meadowlark’ on Friday, that is being built with innovative financing called New Market Tax Credits. At the site headed up by Sirius Construction, YWCA Executive Director Cindy Weese outlined the purpose of the $12 million facility. “For 20 years the YWCA has operated a domestic violence shelter out of a seven bedroom three bath house in a residential neighborhood where we serve hundreds of women and children each year,” said Weese. “It is clear and has been for over 10 years that

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and community leaders sang the praises of a federal tax credit program Friday during a tour of Missoula’s still-under-construction shelter for homeless families and those experiencing domestic violence. “Everything you see today would not have happened if not for the New Market Tax Credits,” said Cindy Weese, executive director of YWCA Missoula, which will partner with the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative’s Family Promise program to run the new Meadowlark facility on South Third Street West. Left unsaid as the group in hard hats and lime-green safety vests made their way through the spacious, framed-out rooms was the

Conservationists, forestry leaders and local elected officials met with Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in Kalispell Monday morning to discuss the introduction of a new bipartisan reform bill that aims to reduce environmental litigation, increase active forest management on federal lands, accelerate post-wildfire restoration and more. Daines recently introduced the bill, known as the Emergency Wildlife and Public Safety Act of 2020, with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Daines told local leaders during a roundtable discussion that the proposal, which has been a few years in the making, has already received widespread support. “Either we are going to manage our forests or

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.: “Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. One of the trailblazers that led the #WomenSuffrage movement was MT’s very own Jeannette Rankin, the 1st woman to serve in Congress. Let us honor her legacy and leaders like her today.”

KALISPELL, Mont. — Sen. Steve Daines made a trip to the Flathead Valley Monday morning to talk about a bipartisan forest management reform bill. Daines was joined by elected officials as well as conservation and timber leaders. The bill is about addressing wildfires, wildlife, watersheds and workers. Daines is working with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, on the bill. “Montanans are tired of breathing smoke during fire season, and they want to see people back in the forest actively managing them. At the end of the day, we’re either going to manage our forest or the forest is

After meeting with timber, fire and wildlife supporters in Kalispell on Monday, Sen. Steve Daines predicted a new forest management bill he’s co-sponsored could be law in four months. “We spent the time to get a strong, bipartisan launch,” Daines said on Monday. “There’s a high probability we’ll have a hearing when we go back in September, and the goal is to get the bill signed into law by the end of the year.” Republican Daines and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California introduced the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act on Aug. 4. It has since picked up two

HELENA — State judges presiding over Montana’s drug-treatment courts said they’re a much better route than throwing addicts in prison. But, late last week, treatment court officials told U.S. Senator Steve Daines that they could use more resources for more courts and that the pandemic isn’t helping either. Members of Helena’s drug-court treatment team met with Senator Daines on Friday to talk about successes and struggles. Two drug-court treatment graduates, Dawn Knowles and Joe Wolhers, said the program has helped them recover, after years of addiction and family trauma. Daines said he’s a big proponent of treatment courts which sometimes