Montana Senator Steve Daines made a brief appearance on the KGVO Montana Morning News show on Friday to talk about a number of subjects.
After saying he would be speaking later in the day at a 9-11 ceremony in Bozeman, Daines then spoke of the fires burning throughout the state, especially in Gallatin County, and how a bill he is sponsoring in the U.S. Senate may bring relief.
“We’re going to have a hearing on this bill that I introduced with Dianne Feinstein,” said Daines. “Now, it’s kind of hard to believe that you’ve got a liberal Senator from California, Dianne Feinstein working with the conservative Senator from Montana, Steve Daines. We have found common ground, and it relates to enforcement. In fact, I just spoke with Dianne Feinstein yesterday when I was on the floor of the Senate. I went to Dianne to express my condolences for the fires and the loss of life that they’re seeing there in California with these wildfires, and we’ve got to get this done.”
“You think about those western Montana counties that are surrounded by national forests, and yet that we can’t get in and harvest timber because of these frivolous lawsuits coming from these extreme environmental groups.”
Daines pointed out the work already done on this legislation.
“I sent a letter to the Senate leadership, urging them to get a vote on this bipartisan forest legislation as soon as possible, because when you when we manage our forests, we get great outcomes. We reduce the risk of wildfire, we improve wildlife habitat, we protect watersheds, and importantly, get our workers back in the forest. You think about those western Montana counties that are surrounded by national forests, and yet that we can’t get in and harvest timber because of these frivolous lawsuits coming from these extreme environmental groups.”
Daines also aimed a barb at his Democratic opponent in the U.S. Senate race, Montana Governor Steve Bullock over the issue of creating a carbon tax.
“I’m concerned that we see the left and the liberals wanting carbon taxes that would destroy our energy economy that would kill 35,000 jobs here in Montana,” he said. “That’s why I’m fighting on behalf of Montanans here, and I tell you my opponent, Steve Bullock, he checked yes about a carbon tax with the Washington Post when he ran for president.”
Daines and Bullock are locked in a close race for the seat that might decide if the Senate remains with a Republican majority, or switches to a Democratic majority.