Daines Rejects Calls for Impeachment of President Trump
U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement: “Now is the time to stand united, move forward together and have a peaceful transition of power. Pushing partisan driven articles of impeachment through Congress days before the inauguration will further divide our country.”
Following Daines’ Work, Tax Incentive Regulations for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Finalized
U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued their final regulations in regards to the 45Q tax credit, which will incentivize the use of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies as well as create jobs for Montanans. “These final regulations will help give stakeholders needed certainty to develop and implement CCUS technologies. The 45Q tax credit provides a powerful financial incentive for responsible, innovative, economic, made-in-Montana energy,” Daines said. “I am glad that after years of work, Montana’s energy sector will have true access to this critical incentive for innovative solutions
Lost Trail easement near Marion finalized
Another large swath of timberland in Northwest Montana will remain open to the public in perpetuity after groups finalized the purchase of the Lost Trail Conservation Easement. The 7,256-acre parcel near Marion will complement an existing network of public lands stretching across Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties. Situated within the recently proposed 100,000-acre U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Lost Trail Conservation Area, the prized single block of land also shares nearly 7 miles of border with the 7,876-acre Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge near Kalispell and is close to the sprawling 142,200-acre Thompson-Fisher Conservation Easement. The property protects the
Daines to Big Tech: Stop Censoring the President, Reinstate His Account
U.S. SENATE— U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called on Twitter to reinstate President Trump’s Twitter account following their censoring of the President of the United States. This displays a clear and indisputable attempt to eliminate American’s access to important information and their ability to connect with their elected officials. It also further inflames and divides the nation during a time of unrest. “The banning of a duly elected official, especially the President of the United States, will have serious repercussions on the dissemination of information and the right of the people to know what their government is doing,” Daines wrote.
Daines Secures Over $71 Million for COVID-19 Testing, Vaccine Distribution for Montana
U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana will be receiving more than $71 million to expand COVID-19 testing and vaccination distribution. The funding will also be used for contact tracing and mitigation efforts to help monitor and suppress the spread of COVID-19. “As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s essential we have the appropriate resources needed to combat this virus,” Daines said. “I’m glad I could help secure this critical funding to help expand testing and vaccination distribution in Montana, and I’ll continue working to ensure our state is equipped to beat this virus.” The funding
CARES Act funding depleted; state and local governments awaiting guidance on new federal COVID funds
HELENA — The COVID-19 pandemic response has been a costly endeavor at all levels of government. Lewis and Clark Public Health (LCPH) alone has already spent more than $1 million responding to the public health crisis. To put that into perspective, LCPH spent a total of $781,689 during their entire 2019 fiscal year. “That’s primarily because we’ve had to hire so many extra people to help do this work,” Lewis and Clark County Health Officer Drenda Niemann. “We’ve had to hire 70 contact tracers for example, more people to help with code enforcement and support staff to answer phone calls.”
Health Officials Urge Patience about Covid-19 Vaccinations
Ravalli County and Missoula County Public Health Departments have been overwhelmed with phone calls about COVID-19 vaccination schedules. And both departments are asking the public to quit calling. Instead, Ravalli County Public Health Director Tiffany Webber said that in Ravalli County, the staff has started an online appointment and waiting list for those who are requesting appointments. The Ravalli County vaccinations have started for the healthcare workers and first responders, but there is a limited supply. Webber said that as the department works to coordinate an efficient distribution program, they are starting an online way for you to request information
USDA Announces Financial Assistance for Montana Producers Impacted by Natural Disasters
U.S. SENATE—U.S. Senator Steve Daines shared that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Montana’s farmers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 will be eligible to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program to receive funds that will help alleviate financial loss due to severe weather incidents. “This is long overdue for our farmers in Northeast Montana who have faced excessive rain and substantial flooding in the past few years,” Daines said. “I am thankful that the USDA has granted access to this vital program that will help our producers get back on their feet after devastating
Montana music venues, theaters see ‘glimmer of light’ in relief bill
The COVID relief bill passed by Congress in late December includes $15 billion that could aid eligible independent music venues and movie theaters in Montana that have been shuttered since March. The passage was like “finally getting a sigh of relief,” said Sean Lynch, the owner of the Pub Station concert venue in Billings. He helped the push for the Save Our Stages Act through the National Independent Venue Association, a group formed at the beginning of the pandemic. Its members estimated that up to a thousand venues could close without more relief. Here in Missoula, Logjam Presents, the owners