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Tag: Business

Missoulian: Study: EPA’s Clean Power Plan could lead to closure of Colstrip plants

November 21, 2015

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, if enacted, could lead to the closure of the four-unit power-generating station in Colstrip, according to a study released last week by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana.  “If you look at the emissions of Colstrip and the amount of tonnages that Montana has to eliminate, it does not mathematically show that Colstrip has to go. But it clearly indicates that it’s going to affect Colstrip in some way,” said Patrick Barkey, BBER’s director and the lead author of the report. The EPA released the final rule for

Daines: UM BBER Report Reaffirms Devastating Impact of Obama’s War on Affordable Energy

November 18, 2015

Announces telephone townhall to discuss alarming UM report, Daines’ efforts to block anti-coal regulations    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today called a new report on the impact of President Obama’s anti-coal regulations “devastating for Montana” and announced that he will hold a telephone townhall meeting this evening to discuss the alarming report with Montanans. The University of Montana (UM) Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) today released a study on the economic implications of implementing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan in Montana.   The study shows that the EPA’s new regulations will likely lead to the full

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Pipeline Safety Bill

November 10, 2015

“SAFE PIPES” Act Would Reauthorize PHMSA Through 2019  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today introduced bipartisan legislation to help ensure the safety of America’s pipeline network.  The legislation, known as the Securing America’s Future Energy: Protecting Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (SAFE PIPES) Act, would reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) through 2019. The SAFE PIPES Act is also sponsored by U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). “Safe and secure pipeline infrastructure is critical to our nation and is especially important to Montanans – both for economic opportunity and environmental

Daines Works to Protect Consumers from Backlash Over Online Reviews

November 9, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today announced that he has signed onto bipartisan legislation to protect consumers who want to write honest online reviews of companies, without fear of financial repercussions from the businesses being reviewed.  Daines is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Consumer Review Freedom Act, which would prohibit the use of non-disparagement clauses referred to as “gag clauses,” which are often found in little-read online user agreements.  Businesses can use these clauses to penalize or fine customers for negative but honest reviews of their services on websites such as Yelp or TripAdvisor. Non-disparagement clauses stifle consumer speech by silencing

Daines Applauds Senate Passage of Legislation Stopping WOTUS Rule

November 4, 2015

Reaffirms Commitment to Stopping Obama Administration Overreach WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the bipartisan Senate passage of legislation nullifying the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greatly expanded Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and reaffirmed his commitment to stopping the Obama administration’s overreach through any means possible.  “Today a bipartisan Senate spoke loud and clear: President Obama’s Waters of the United States power grab is unacceptable and infringes on the rights of our farmers, ranchers and landowners,” Daines stated. “But the fight to protect Americans from the Obama administration’s extreme overreach isn’t over. I’m thankful that 31 states, including Montana,

Daines Slams Senate Democrats’ Failure to Protect Americans from Obama Administration WOTUS Power Grab

November 3, 2015

Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats after all but four members of the Democrat caucus blocked legislation that would have directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “Today the Senate came just a few votes shy of passing legislation to protect our farmers, ranchers and small business owners from major new costs and regulatory burdens. I appreciate the bipartisan support demonstrated today by four key Senate Democrats and am disappointed that others chose instead to put President Obama’s agenda ahead of doing what’s right. Montanans know that this power

Daines, Klobuchar, Gardner Introduce Legislation to Expand Broadband Infrastructure

October 8, 2015

Legislation would increase broadband deployment by cutting red tape for companies, states, and local governments that want to install broadband infrastructure on federal land and promotes the simultaneous installation of underground broadband conduit during the construction of federal transportation projects  Yesterday the president of the Wireless Infrastructure Association announced his support for this important legislation at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) have introduced bipartisan legislation to expand broadband infrastructure. The Streamlining and Investing in Broadband Infrastructure Act would increase broadband deployment by cutting red tape for companies, states, and

Daines Hails Passage of Legislation to Protect Small Businesses from Costly Obamacare Mandates

October 2, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines hailed the unanimous passage of bipartisan legislation to protect small businesses from costly and burdensome Obamacare mandates. H.R. 1624, the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act sponsored by Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY) would alter the definition of the state based small group markets under Obamacare. The Act allows states to change their definition of “small employers” from businesses with 50 or fewer employees to businesses with up to 100 employees.  “I am pleased that the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to ensure that our small businesses and mid-size businesses that provide health care coverage

Daines, Coons Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Open Science and Innovation in Government

October 1, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage and increase the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science within the federal government to advance and accelerate scientific research, literacy, and diplomacy. This is the first ever legislation to grant explicit authority to the government to use these methods. “In the private sector, I’ve seen firsthand how empowering Americans to innovate can yield cost savings, greater efficiencies and better results,” Daines stated. “The federal government should encourage the same by enlisting tools like crowdsourcing and citizen science in many of its projects. The best solutions to the challenges

Daines Discusses Montana Trade Opportunities With Taiwanese Business Leaders

September 16, 2015

 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today met with Taiwanese business leaders to discuss future opportunities to export Montana goods to Taiwan.  Taiwan is Montana’s fourth largest export market in Asia and seventh largest export market in the world. In 2014, Montana’s exports to Taiwan reached $44 million in exports.  Taiwan is one of Montana’s top foreign markets for agricultural products, especially the state’s hard red winter and hard red spring wheat crops, as well as barley and durum. Taiwan is Montana’s second largest market for grains in Asia, after Japan. “I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss expanding markets for Montana goods