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Sen. Steve Daines led a bipartisan group of lawmakers asking the FCC to exempt small businesses from certain net neutrality regulations. “Without commission action, small businesses soon face regulatory uncertainty and will potentially be subject to burdensome requirements,” Daines wrote today in a letter, which is also signed by Sens. Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp, Jim Risch and Dan Sullivan and Reps. Greg Walden, Dave Loebsack and Bob Latta. “When the commission adopted this exemption, it acknowledged that requiring small businesses with limited resources to comply with the complex disclosure requirements would have been particularly burdensome.” The FCC’s “enhanced transparency requirements,” part of the 2015 Open Internet Order, require internet service providers to offer

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said Tuesday that he would wait to meet Exxon Mobil Corp. CEO Rex Tillerson before passing judgement on his fitness to serve as the country’s secretary of state.  “I haven’t had a chance to meet him. I look forward to conversations with him,” Daines said during a meeting Tuesday with the Chronicle’s editorial board. “After I have a chance to meet with him, to have a discussion, I’ll let you know.”  President-elect Donald Trump announced Tillerson’s pick as the nation’s top diplomat on Tuesday. Under Tillerson, the oil and gas giant negotiated with Russia a $500

President-elect Donald Trump has asked Montana’s lone congressman, Ryan Zinke, to be secretary of the Interior, according to sources close to Zinke. Zinke met with Trump in New York City on Monday. He was reportedly in the mix for one of a handful of Cabinet positions that include the departments of the Interior and Veterans Affairs.  Zinke, a Republican, was flying back to Whitefish on Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.  U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., was meeting with The Gazette when the news broke. “The Interior is all about public lands. It’s about wildlife and national parks.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have reportedly told Montana’s congressional delegation the Raymond Port of Entry will remain a 24-hour entryway into Canada, shelving plans to close it for six hours daily due to low traffic volume. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., put out news releases last week stating that plans to reduce hours at the port 15 miles north of Plentywood had been scrapped. Daines said that he and fellow Montana Republican, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, met with CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, Commissioner urging him to abandon reduced hours at the port, which

Among its final actions before the 114th Congress closed session, the U.S. Senate followed the lead of Montana lawmakers Steve Daines and Jon Tester and passed the long-awaited Blackfeet Water Compact. The water settlement was included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation Act, a water resources agreement that also includes legislation to address the Flint water crisis, provide drought relief in California and across the West. The U.S. Senate passed the bill on Dec. 10. President Obama is expected to sign it into law at the end of the month. “Today is a historic day for the Blackfeet Tribe,

Obamacare will go through some serious changes early in the new Trump presidency, Montana Sen. Steve Daines predicted on Monday.  “Now we’re playing with live ammunition,” Daines said during a visit to the Missoulian. “It’s a very real discussion. This time, it needs to be thoughtful and not jammed down.” Officially known as the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare was targeted for complete repeal by Republican congressional candidates and president-elect Donald Trump. While that’s likely to happen, Daines said it would go through a transition process to keep some of the popular parts of Obama’s healthcare program.  Those include expanded access

Sidney High School students received the opportunity to talk with an U.S. senator face to face when U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., took part in a Skype call on Wednesday afternoon. Brad Faulhaber, government teacher, said the call was part of the school’s civic engagement’s opportunities beyond the classroom. The classroom consisted of mainly seniors along with a junior and a couple of sophomores. Daines encouraged students to stay engaged in the political process. “We have an amazing country,” the Republican said. He also said they should consider being in political service. “I never dreamed I would be doing this