Category: News Article

Two Senate Democrats are facing criticism for voting to defy President Biden and overrule his decision to kill the Keystone XL oil pipeline — before later voting to reverse themselves. Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia initially voted for a Republican amendment that would have put support for the pipeline in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that Democrats are drafting under budget reconciliation. Their votes meant the amendment passed 52-48 just before midnight, threatening to reverse Biden’s decision last month to end construction of the pipeline from Canada, citing environmental concerns but costing thousands

Early flashpoints in the Biden administration’s environmental agenda came to a head last night on the Senate floor, as Republicans used a marathon session of budget votes to put Democrats on the record on drilling and the Keystone XL pipeline. While nonbinding and largely symbolic, the handful of energy and environment votes during the budget resolution “vote-a-rama” that went into this morning’s early hours offered a preview of the legislative fights to come, with Republicans seeking to wield tensions within the Democratic caucus against Biden’s early executive actions. Democrats initially turned the tables on one attack by uniting as a

There has been one law nipping at the heels of the U.S. Postal Service for the past 15 years. It requires USPS to put money toward retiree health benefits some 50 years ahead of schedule. The mandate has the Postal Service funding benefits for workers it has yet to hire. And the burden has contributed to budget challenges as the USPS cuts staff and reduces post office hours. Montana has frequently been on the short list for cuts. Now, after years of postal workers lobbying Congress to deliver relief, it appears lawmakers might give their stamp of approval to removing

Nearly 50 senators have signed on to a letter pledging to oppose taxpayer funding of abortions. Senate Pro-Life Caucus chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced the letter on Friday, as “a unified message” to Democratic leadership that the 47 signers would “vote to block any bill that would undermine the Hyde Amendment or any other pro-life protections.” “We are united in our resolve to guard against any changes to Federal law that would unsettle nearly half a century of bipartisan consensus against taxpayer funding for abortion on demand, or otherwise threaten the lives of unborn children,” the letter states. The Hyde

The Postal Service seeks to cut costs and its regulator gave the agency greater flexibility setting higher mail rates, but Congress could have a far greater impact putting the Postal Service on firmer financial footing — if it chooses to act. Members of the House and Senate have introduced variations of the same postal reform bill in recent years, but nearly all failed gain much momentum. Lawmakers this week, however, brought forward the first major postal reform bill of the new Congress. Reintroduction of this bill, which passed the House last year — along with other recent postal actions on

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Tuesday introduced the bipartisan TRICARE Retiree Protection Act to ensure that America’s military retirees will not lose their healthcare as a result of new policy changes that took effect on January 1st, 2021. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) cosponsored the legislation. “Our servicemembers bravely fought for our nation and as they retire after years of selfless service, it is our duty to ensure they’re taken care of,” Manchin said. “I introduced the TRICARE Retiree Protection Act to extend the grace period from 180 days to 12 months to enroll in a payment

Energy Secretary nominee Jennifer Granholm easily moved out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this morning on a bipartisan 13-4 vote. Lawmakers will now race to see whether they can get her approved by the full Senate before the chamber gets bogged down by impeachment next week. That vote has not yet been scheduled. The former Michigan governor earned bipartisan praise from lawmakers on the committee. Incoming Chairman Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) heralded her leadership during the 2008 financial crisis and its effects on the auto industry. “She helped save the auto industry. She helped diversify Michigan’s economy. She

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said during a press conference Tuesday that President Joe Biden “wiped away” America’s energy revolution with the stroke of a pen.

McCarthy, speaking alongside several other House Republicans at Enterprise Products in Houston, slammed Biden’s anti-American energy policies:

We’ve watched America in the last few years become almost energy independent, making America stronger, creating more jobs, lowering the price of energy for Americans, and also making the world safer against our adversaries. I had never envisioned all of that success could be wiped away with one pen.

Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), Michael McCloud (R-TX), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), and Yvette Herrell (R-NM) joined McCarthy for the press conference.

“I had never envisioned President Biden, on the day of being sworn in, talking about unity, but in less than two weeks, wiping away tens of thousands of Americans’ jobs, of empowering our adversaries to be stronger, and putting the energy costs of Americans on a path to go higher,” McCarthy added.

McCarthy also added that Biden’s actions to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline and new oil and natural gas mining permits on federal lands would harm Americans that service the energy industry.

The House GOP leader asked rhetorically, “What about the small hotel owner or the restaurant owner that are now losing their jobs because of his action?”

McCarthy said he and other House Republicans will join with Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) to introduce the Keystone Pipeline Preservation Jobs Act. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) will introduce the Senate version of the legislation.

“If President Biden is serious about any unity, come to Houston, come to middle America, come look in the faces of those workers, who earn $80,000 a year and tell them why you took their jobs away without even talking to them,” McCarthy said.

Two senators have introduced legislation to extend the reinstatement period for tens of thousands of military retirees who have lost their health care coverage because they didn’t set up their payments for the new enrollment fee.

By law, in order to continue coverage under Tricare Select, retiree sponsors were required to start paying new monthly enrollment fees as of Jan. 1, and they were required to set up a payment plan with their Tricare contractor by the end of 2020 by allotment, bank account or credit card. If they didn’t take this action, their coverage was dropped as of Jan. 1, and some may not realize it until they seek medical care and a claim is denied.

The proposal introduced Tuesday by Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., would extend the grace period from June to the end of 2021 to allow retirees to reinstate their coverage. Defense Health Agency officials had previously extended the grace period to six months, but military advocates have asked for one year’s grace period.

“This extension helps ensure no retired service member is left without health care coverage, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Manchin, in a statement announcing the proposal.

In 2021, for the first time, retirees and family members enrolled in Tricare Select must pay enrollment fees in order to continue their coverage. This doesn’t apply to retirees and family members enrolled in Tricare for Life. Nor does it affect active duty families on Tricare Select, survivors of deceased active duty members, or medically retired retirees and family members.

The new enrollment fees are:

• for individuals: $12.50 per month or $150 a year

• for families: $25 per month or $300 per year

Those affected are so-called “Group A” retirees and their dependents — working-age retirees under age 65 who entered the military before Jan. 1, 2018, their family members and survivors. Previously, these beneficiaries didn’t have to pay enrollment fees for Tricare Select, but a 2017 law required the Defense Department to start charging these enrollment fees by Jan. 1, 2021.

As of early January, about 20 percent of this population, or 174,754 out of 872,886 beneficiaries, hadn’t taken action to set up their payments, or to actively opt out, according to data provided by the Defense Health Agency. Those beneficiary numbers include the retiree sponsor as well the retiree’s eligible family members enrolled in Tricare Select.

Anyone who is dropped from Tricare Select will have access to direct medical care only at a military treatment facility, and only if space if available. Claims for medical treatment after Dec. 31, 2020 will be denied, but coverage can be reinstated if back enrollment fees are paid. Tricare will then pay the claims that were denied back to Jan. 1 because of the coverage termination.

The grace period is currently through June. Officials previously said that at the end of January, regional Tricare contractors would start sending out letters to these beneficiaries notifying them about their disenrollment. Contractors have also started sending emails to those who haven’t yet paid.

“Our bipartisan bill will help ensure we take care of our veterans and continue to provide quality health care for their service to this nation,” Daines said, in the announcement.

HELENA, Mont.- The future of the Keystone XL pipeline project remains unclear, and so does it’s impact in Montana. On his first day in office, President Biden stopped production, saying plans were not consistent with the administration’s economic and climate values. The 1,700 mile project runs through a large part of the state and would ship nearly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast. Both sides oppose the President’s permit suspension because of significant job loss in Montana. Exact numbers weren’t easy to find because it’s winter and there aren’t many Montanans working on