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President Trump plans to host a group of Republican senators at the White House on Monday night as he seeks to persuade them to back the Senate’s new healthcare bill.  White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced the meeting but declined to provide a list of senators expected to attend.  Later in the evening, a White House official said the following GOP senators were attending: No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn (Texas), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Steve Daines (Mont.), James Lankford (Okla.), Richard Shelby (Ala.), and John Thune (S.D.). Senate leaders face a tough task in generating momentum for their plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare.    Two Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Susan

The delegation for Montana and North Dakota have displayed its support this week for the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project. Oral arguments that will determine the fate of the proposed project at the Intake Diversion Dam to make the project more fish friendly are scheduled to be heard during this month. “Especially with the current drought and especially in far eastern Montana, the irrigation is critical,” U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said during a press conference call on Wednesday. The senator added, “We really do need to more forward with the construction. We need to have people come together and make

One major problem with the care system for veterans was people who did a bad job could not get easily fired. Stories of bad treatment, waiting months to see a doctor and workers who didn’t do their jobs where widespread. One of the first things President Trump did, which was supported by Montana Senator Steve Daines, was to make it easier to get rid of people not doing their jobs. Senator Daines helped secured provisions in the FY 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that will increase Montana veterans’ ability to get care for injuries they sustained

HELENA – U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Thursday that Senate Republicans’ latest proposal to repeal and overhaul the Affordable Care Act “still smells like a pigpen” and should be scrapped. Montana’s other senator, Republican Steve Daines, said through a spokeswoman that he’s going through the latest draft and wants more information before making a judgment. He also wants to listen to what Montanans have to say about the new Republican proposal, which was unveiled Thursday morning. It’s unclear whether Republicans even have enough votes to bring the bill to the Senate floor, let alone pass it. Tester, who’s been

After meeting privately with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Tuesday, Sen. Steve Daines says he’s confident Pruitt will visit Butte this year. In an interview with The Montana Standard Wednesday, Daines said Pruitt is determined to “get results” with the Superfund program. “Some of these sites have been languishing for decades. Administrator Pruitt is focused on outcomes,” Daines said. Daines said he renewed his earlier invitation to Pruitt to visit Montana, this time specifically suggesting a trip to Butte, and got a positive response. Daines didn’t spare the business jargon as he discussed Montana and Superfund, saying that said getting Pruitt

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’ll have an updated health care bill ready Thursday for the legislative body to work on. In a press call with reporters, Montana’s Democratic  Senator Jon Tester said he’s willing to work with Republicans on compromise health care legislation. “I think I can work with anybody,” Tester said. “I think there’s an opportunity to get things done here, but you need to go in with the goal of improving affordability and accessibility.” Tester says that he’s willing to cooperate, but not if it means using the health care bill the House passed in May

The Indian Health Service’s top official dodged frustrated lawmakers’ questions about unsafe care at the federal agency and whether proposed budget cuts would worsen the situation during a tense Senate committee hearing Wednesday. Members of the Senate Indian Affairs and Senate Appropriations committees repeatedly cited two articles published last week in The Wall Street Journal on the agency, which provides health care to 2.2 million tribal members. The articles examined agency-run hospitals that failed to meet basic U.S. standards and employed doctors who are now accused of crimes, while the IHS’s political leaders focused on other priorities. The Journal identified 11 patients