Daines Statement on Crow Tribe Elections
BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on the Crow Tribe’s recent elections: “Congratulations to Chairman-elect AJ Not Afraid on his election. I appreciated the opportunity to work with him as Secretary of the Crow Tribe and I look forward to continuing to do so in his new role. “And I want to thank Chairman Old Coyote for inviting me to his home and welcoming me to Indian Country. I deeply respect the Chairman’s dedication to the sovereignty and economic security of his people.” ###
Daines Urges Colleagues to Reverse the Ninth’s Circuit Cottonwood Decision
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today urged the members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to reverse the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals disastrous Cottonwood Decision. In a memo to his colleagues, Daines underscored the critical nature of quick action to avoid further crippling of federal land management across Ninth Circuit states, and demonstrate why Congress should statutorily reverse the decision this year. “To avoid the ‘crippling’ impacts on federal land management across Ninth Circuit states, Congress should statutorily reverse the Cottonwood decision by amending federal law to codify DOJ’s legal position in legislation enacted this year,” Daines wrote.
The Billings Gazette: Daines Huddles with Business Owners on Health Insurance Tax
Montana businesses are turning to U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., to repeal, or at least delay, a federal tax on health insurance. Daines met with representatives of the Montana Auto Dealers Association and local Billings businesses in Billings on Wednesday. Insurance premiums are going up, Daines said. But on the horizon is a tax on top of those premiums that is going to work against employees. “The discussion we’re seeing nationally today is primarily focused on premium increases, deductible increases,” Daines said. “We’re here today to talk about a tax increase on top of all this, which will flow through
Daines Asks “Share Your Obamacare Story”
BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced a new opportunity for Montanans to share their experiences on the Obamacare exchange with his office. “Since Obamacare became the unhappy law of the land, Montanans have been hit with higher costs and fewer choices,” Daines stated. “I want to make sure Montanans feel heard and represented in Congress – that’s why I’m asking for them to share with me their story on how Obamacare has affected their lives.” Montanans who want to share their story can do so by visiting Daines’ website: https://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/share-your-story Earlier today, Daines held a roundtable in Billings with local business
Missoulian: Daines Ups Heat to Overturn Lynx Decision
After the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a pair of logging projects near Bozeman on Tuesday, Sen. Steve Daines has increased his effort to make Congress overturn the legal decision. Daines, R-Montana, sent a memorandum on Wednesday asking the Senate and House of Representatives to “promptly reverse” the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center vs. U.S. Forest Service ruling. Known as a “Dear Colleague” letter, Daines’ message asked for a statutory amendment codifying a different court’s decision. “Today’s disastrous ruling against a commonsense project to reduce wildfire risk and protect Bozeman’s watershed makes it even more urgent that we enact meaningful
Daines Statement on Latest Ninth Circuit Decision
BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals applied their decision in Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. Forest Service to rule against a forest health restoration project near Bozeman. “Today’s disastrous ruling against a commonsense project to reduce wildfire risk and protect Bozeman’s watershed makes it even more urgent that we enact meaningful forest reform that will remove this sort of absurd regulatory burden.” ###
Great Falls Tribune: Berger Named Director of VA Montana
HELENA — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs named Kathy Berger permanent director of VA Montana, saying she will oversee delivery of health care to nearly 35,000 veterans and a budget of $226 million. “We are excited to bring Dr. Berger on board in a permanent capacity as director of VA Montana Health Care System,” said Ralph Gigliotti, Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 director. “She has served exceptionally well as acting director for the past four months and we look forward to great things for Montana in the future under her direction. The announcement brought comment from both of Montana’s
The Billings Gazette: Daines Raises Issue of Colstrip Closure Next Year
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., raised the issue Friday of a secret plan to shut down Colstrip’s oldest units in 2017, much earlier than has been disclosed to the public. In a letter to Talen Energy CEO Paul Farr, the Republican senator said he’s heard from constituents that the decision has already been made to shut down Colstrip Units 1 and 2 next year, but that the company is delaying the announcement. Daines asked Farr to disclose whether the state of Montana is also in the loop on quiet plans to close the units. “It’s imperative for Units 1 and
Daines Demands Transparency Around Colstrip Closure
BOZEMAN, Mont. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today demanded transparency around the closure of Colstrip Units 1 and 2 to provide certainty to hardworking Montana families who rely on good-paying jobs at Colstrip. In a letter to Paul Farr, the President and CEO of Talen Energy Corporation, Daines sought clarification if a decision had already been made to close Colstrip Units 1 and 2 at the earliest opportunity in 2017 and if the disclosure of this decision is being withheld. Daines requested Farr to confirm that: No decision by Talen has been made to close these facilities in 2017 or any other future date;