The Hill: Republican senators wrestle with changes to Medicaid
Republican senators who hail from states that expanded Medicaid are meeting about the future of the program as their party moves ahead with the repeal of ObamaCare. The senators had their first meeting on Wednesday in the office of Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who is from a state that expanded Medicaid and whose Republican governor, John Kasich, has been a vocal defender of it. Asked if the senators were trying to preserve the expansion of Medicaid, Portman told The Hill: “We’re trying to get a sense of where everybody is right now; we’re not decided on anything.” “We found out, not surprisingly,
Daines Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. “Judge Gorsuch will bring impeccable legal qualifications and western commonsense to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Daines stated. “He made clear to me that he understands the proper role of the judiciary and will not legislate from the bench.” Daines and Gorsuch discussed the Founders’ intent in the Constitution, Second Amendment, separation of powers, the role of government and federalism and the Fourth Amendment. On January 31, Daines released a statement upon President Trump’s announcement of his
E&E News: Western senators seek Trump backing to split 9th Circuit
Western Republicans are hoping to get President Trump behind the long-standing push to split the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals into two appellate courts. Breaking up the 9th Circuit — the most populous and geographically largest of the 13 federal appellate courts — has been a priority for decades for some Westerners, who say judges on the 9th Circuit are overburdened by the caseload, thereby delaying citizens’ access to courts and ultimately justice. “If you look at every single stat, if you’re in the 9th Circuit, you get justice later than anyone else,” Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said in
Daines: Sessions Confirmed for Attorney General
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions. “I am thrilled to be able to call my colleague Jeff Sessions Attorney General of the United States,” Daines stated. “As Attorney General, he will faithfully defend the Constitution and enforce the rule of law.” Immediately following Sessions’ confirmation, Daines wrote to him inviting him to Montana to meet with law enforcement and discuss important issues facing the state. On January 12, Daines met with Sessions to discuss the importance of upholding
KRTV: U.S. Senate committee approves bill granting Little Shell Tribe federal recognition
GREAT FALLS – On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved a bill granting federal recognition to Montana’s Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced ‘The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2017’ into committee on Sunday. The act grants the tribe the ability to exercise self-governance and the eligibility to receive federal grants. The tribe was recognized by the state of Montana in 2000, but has been fighting a decades-long battle for federal recognition. The bill also requires the U.S. Department of Interior to provide 200 acres
Daines, Tester Congratulate Libby Student on Air Force Academy Appointment
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today congratulated Colin Maloney, a Libby High School senior on his appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Daines and Tester both called to congratulate Maloney earlier today. He received a nomination from both senators. Maloney is a top cross-country runner at his school and plays varsity soccer, tennis and basketball. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 2014 and has served with the Youth Conservation Corps. “Colin has shown the motivation and dedicated needed to succeed at the highest levels,” Daines stated. “I am thrilled to congratulate Colin on this appointment and
Daines: Little Shell Recognition Moves Forward
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today praised the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs’ unanimous passage of his bill to provide long-overdue federal recognition for the Little Shell Tribe. Daines and U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced this bill on January 5, 2017. Daines delivered the following remarks in the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs: “I’m thrilled the committee is considering the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act here today. While this business meeting marks an exciting occasion, it’s also shadowed by the recent passing of a prominent member of the Little Shell community, Shawn Gilbert. Shawn lost his
MT Standard: Daines stands by decision to gavel down Warren
BILLINGS — Montana U.S. Steve Daines gaveled down Democratic superstar Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday night, cutting off the senator from Massachusetts in mid-debate and ordering her to take her seat. The censure has became a cause celebre as on social media, and Daines, a little-known freshman senator from Montana, drew attention for silencing Warren, a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2020. Daines was chairing a debate about attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions, an Alabama senator with a civil rights record that Democrats have objected to for decades. Daines told The Billings Gazette it just happened to be his turn chairing
Daines, Booker Reintroduce Bill to Increase Transparency in Air Travel
U.S. SENATE — Building off their efforts from the 114th Congress, U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced legislation to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) measure performance goals for new technology shaping America’s air traffic control system. The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) will make air travel safer by moving from a radar-based system with radio communication to a satellite-based one. NextGen deployment has been bogged with delays and cost overruns since it was first congressionally mandated in 2003. The final implementation is to be completed by 2025. Daines’ and Booker’s bill would create measurable performance goals and hold federal