Sen. Daines dines with the president; talks about filibuster, ‘getting things done’
HELENA – Minutes before the Senate Republicans’ health-care bill went down in flames Monday night, Montana’s Republican U.S. senator, Steve Daines, dined at the White House with President Trump – but says they didn’t talk exclusively about health care. “There really wasn’t an agenda,” Daines told MTN News Tuesday morning. “It was a 90-minute strategy about, `How do we get more results in Washington, D.C’ – how do we get things accomplished?” The discussion included health care, tax reform, the federal debt ceiling and the nation’s $20 trillion federal debt, he said. Daines said he has one idea on how
Forest Service museum to open its doors in Missoula
It’s a museum of national scope geared to start telling a very national story — the history of the United States Forest Service. On Thursday it opens to the public right here in River City, or rather 6.5 miles outside of it. The National Museum of Forest Service History will hail the opening of its new visitor center and interpretive trail a mile west of the Missoula International Airport with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. There’ll be cake and coffee, the mayor, and representatives from the offices of Gov. Steve Bullock and U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines.
MT GOP’ers want straight repeal of ‘Obamacare’; Tester, Bullock preach bipartisan fix
HELENA – As U.S. Senate Republicans’ latest plan to repeal and replace “Obamacare” crashed and burned, two of the state’s top GOP officeholders said Tuesday they support a straight repeal of the health-care law – with a delayed effective date. Both U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and state Auditor Matt Rosendale, whose office regulates insurance, told MTN News that the Affordable Care Act should simply be repealed, without a replacement. The repeal can be delayed for two years while Congress works on a replacement, they said. “I think ultimately we have got to have (health) insurance regulation turned back over to
Will VA Doctors Finally Be Able To Recommend Pot To Veterans?
A new amendment aims to lift the current gag order that prevents VA doctors from discussing medical cannabis with their patients. Whether U.S. military veterans should have access to medical cannabis is up for debate again—for the treatment of pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. Last Thursday (July 13), the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 24-7 to adopt an amendment in a budget bill allowing vets to obtain medical cannabis recommendations from VA physicians. Tom Angell at MassRoots notes that the committee adopted a similar measure in last year’s budget bill, which outlines funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Proponents of the measure say
Politico Influence: The National Gaming Association
— The National Indian Gaming Association is in town this week for their summer legislative summit. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Reps. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.),Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Norma Torres (D-Calif.), Rob Bishop(R-Utah), Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) all plan to address the group.
Daines, Gianforte Demand Reliable Water for Rocky Boy’s Reservation
U.S. CONGRESS— U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte today urged the Indian Health Service to provide immediate attention to the emergent water shortage on the Rocky Boy’s reservation. Daines and Gianforte sent a letter to Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, the Acting Director of the Indian Health Service, urging immediate support to the Rocky Boy’s reservation. With high temperatures and low water tank levels, the tribe is at risk for losing all water. “We write with alarm regarding the emergent water shortage on the Rocky Boy’s reservation,” Daines and Gianforte wrote.“As you know, the water supply on the reservation is nearly gone
Daines Announces $1,767,900 in Funding for the Montana Migrant Council in Billings
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $1,767,900 in funding for the Montana Migrant Council to provide improved continuity of care, mobile services to rural locations and increased access to affordable care. “Montana’s Community Health Centers provide reliable access to affordable healthcare close to home,” Daines stated. “This additional funding will help the people of Billings, and other communities, to see improved primary care services.” Carol Townsend, CEO Montana Migrant Council, Inc: “For a statewide program, this is pertinent funding in order to continue access to primary health care for ag workers in Montana and Wyoming.” The Department of Health and
Who we know is going to Trump’s health care dinner
President Donald Trump will host a dinner at the White House on Monday night with Republican senators for a discussion on the health care bill, which has been delayed while Sen. John McCain recovers this week from a surgery. So far CNN has confirmed that at least seven GOP senators will be at the dinner: Lamar Alexander of Tennessee James Lankford of Oklahoma John Thune of South Dakota Roy Blunt of Missouri Steve Daines of Montana John Cornyn of Texas Richard Shelby of Alabama White House press secretary Sean Spicer said during Monday’s press briefing that the President “is going to
Latest health care bill collapses following Moran, Lee defections
The Republican Party’s efforts to gut former President Barack Obama’s legacy health care law came to an abrupt — if temporary — halt Monday night. Just hours after the Senate was gaveled back into session, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was handed two more public defections on his health care bill to overhaul Obamacare. The dramatic and simultaneous announcement from Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas and Mike Lee of Utah means McConnell officially does not have the votes to even begin debate on his legislation to overhaul the Affordable Care Act. The development deals a devastating blow not only to