Daines bill would block conservation easement abuse
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, has teamed up with Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, to block a loophole abusing the conservation easement tax benefit. The pair reintroduced the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act of 2019 on Thursday. It would limit tax deductions on conservation easements to 2.5 times the owners original cost for the property. An Internal Revenue Service report to Congress noted that abuses of the benefit totaled $20 billion between 2010 and 2016, with some owners claiming 20 times their original purchase price on the easement deduction. “The conservation easement tax incentive is meant to
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to End Abuse of Conservation Easement Tax Incentive
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines (MT) today introduced the bipartisan Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act of 2019, a bill that would curb abuses of the popular conservation easement tax benefit while allowing it to continue to serve as an important tool for conserving land and protecting family farms and ranches. “The conservation easement tax incentive is meant to help conserve land and protect family farms, not be used as a tax shelter,” Daines said. “This bill makes several important changes to the tax incentive that will help curb abuses and make sure that the program remains an important conservation tool.” The bill limits qualifying conservations contributions,
Day in the life in Washington, D.C., with Sen. Steve Daines
WASHINGTON — As Wednesday rounds out the 26th day of the government shutdown, it continued to dominate conversations in Washington, D.C., including ours with Republican Sen. Steve Daines. We had a bright and early start when we shadowed him Wednesday, just as we did with Sen. Jon Tester Tuesday. He took us on a personal tour of the Capitol building and even to the Senate floor, where no cameras are allowed. From there, the Montana Coffee, where Daines was joined by Tester and Rep. Greg Gianforte, a one-stop delegation event held every Wednesday for Montana constituents. “It’s a unique Montana
Bipartisan Senators Introduce Tricare Reserve Improvement Act National Guardsmen, Reservists
U.S. SENATE – A bipartisan coalition led by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (MT) and Joe Manchin (WV) today introduced the Tricare Reserve Improvement Act, which extends eligibility to all National Guardsmen and Reservists, regardless of their civilian occupation. Under current law federal employees who serve in the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserve are prohibited from participating in Tricare Reserve Select (TRS). This disparity creates a financial incentive for transitioning service members to take their skillset and credentials away from the federal government, and penalizes those who choose to serve their country in a civilian capacity. It also limits the effectiveness of TRS as
Daines Pushes to Permanently End Government Shutdowns
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the End Government Shutdowns Act, which permanently prevents federal government shutdowns. “Shutdowns don’t work. Yet we’re seeing them happen time and time again,” Daines said. “The End Government Shutdowns Act will hold Congress accountable to funding the government and ensure that hardworking folks aren’t paying the price for the partisan, political games being played in DC.” The legislation is sponsored by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Background: The End Government Shutdowns
Sen. Steve Daines Introduces Bill Withholding Pay From Congressmen During Government Shutdowns, Others Join
Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines introduced a bill on the Senate floor Thursday that would withhold the pay of members of Congress during future government shutdowns. Daines’ introduction of the bill, sponsored by Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn, comes hours after Daines announced he sent a letter requesting the secretary of the U.S. Senate withhold his pay during the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government. “Members of Congress are sent to Washington, D.C., to represent the great people of their state and keep the federal government open, working, and funded. So it’s simple. If they can’t do that, they
Daines: Term Limits Will Hold Members of Congress Accountable
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined his Senate colleagues in supporting a constitutional amendment limiting senators to serving two terms and representatives to three. “Too often, career politicians lose sight of why they are in Washington, D.C. and who they are there to serve. When politicians become more focused on looking out for their own self-interest instead of the needs of their constituents, it’s time for things to change,” Daines said. “Term limits will help ensure that the government is accountable to the people and bring new voices with fresh ideas to the Capitol.” To read the full text, click HERE. Background:
Daines Fights to Protect Montanans’ Second Amendment Rights
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined his colleagues in supporting the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, to allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in other states that also have concealed carry laws, while abiding by the respective state’s laws. “As a concealed carry permit holder myself, I will always fight to protect Montanans’ Second Amendment rights,” Daines said. “This bill is commonsense – it simply allows Montanans to exercise their constitutional freedoms while traveling across state lines.” The legislation is sponsored by U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and cosponsored
Daines: If the Government is Shutdown, Members of Congress Shouldn’t Get Paid
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced the No Work, No Pay Act, which requires all members of Congress to withhold their pay during a government shutdown until the government reopens. “In Montana and across our country, folks are suffering at the expense of the political games being played in Washington,” Daines said. “It’s simple – it is the fundamental role of Congress to fund the government and until that happens, they shouldn’t get paid.” Click HERE to download video This legislation follows Daines’ request to the Secretary of the Senate over the weekend that his pay is withheld until the end of this