U.S. News: Senate Takes Major Step Forward on Obamacare Repeal
Senate Republicans on Thursday took a major first step toward fulfilling their long-held promise to gut President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, the Affordable Care Act. Lawmakers in the upper chamber voted 51-48 early Thursday morning in favor of a budget measure that kick-starts the process to defund parts of the law known as Obamacare. The move allows Republicans to avoid a Democratic filibuster on subsequent repeal legislation and allows final votes to be cast as early as a few weeks from now. Democrats have mounted an aggressive counteroffensive against GOP repeal efforts in recent days, touting the benefits of the
Daines: Obamacare Repeal Moving Forward
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today commented on the Obamacare repeal resolution that passed the U.S. Senate at 1:25AM ET. “Over the past several years, I have heard from countless Montanans how Obamacare has failed them. Obamacare is in a death spiral and today we took a monumental step toward repealing it. This is great news for Montanans and great news for America. I will continue to work to ensure that we put the voice of the people back in the healthcare equation. “I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with us and stop using scare tactics — accept
Democrats Repeat Played Out Strategy
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement before the U.S. Senate began an extended vote series intended to undermine the process to repeal Obamacare. “Tonight while the U.S. Senate votes to begin the process to repeal Obamacare, Democrats are predictably continuing to play their reindeer games – introducing unrelated legislation to hold up the repeal of Obamacare. Montanans deserve better.” Earlier today, Daines took to the Senate floor to highlight Obamacare’s failures. Click here to download Daines’ remarks. ###
Daines: One Star For Montana’s Veterans is Disgraceful
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on news that Fort Harrison was downgraded from two stars to just one star in a performance rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “It’s incredibly disturbing that Fort Harrison is performing far below a level that Montana veterans deserve,” Daines stated. “Clearly, major improvements are needed so that our vets get the best possible care. I’m actively engaged with VA leadership to find solutions to better serve Montana’s veterans.” This report was from the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016. ###
Washington Post: Obama’s Interior Dept. calls for major changes to ‘modernize’ federal coal program
With just days until President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Department of the Interior finalized a report Wednesday calling for major changes to the federal coal program by which the U.S. manages the leasing of land to companies for exploration and production across 570 million publicly owned acres. A year ago, new leases were placed on hold pending this report. Trump, who campaigned as an ally of the coal industry, has pledged to reverse that controversial moratorium. Interior Department lands, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, are estimated to contain 7.4 billion tons of coal that could be mined and sold. Environmental groups have
The Washington Times: VA Montana Health Care System rating falls to 1 star
HELENA, Mont. (AP) – An internal evaluation of the VA Montana Health Care System saw its performance rating downgraded to one star for July, August and September, compared with two stars for the same period in 2015, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced Wednesday. Public affairs officer Mike Garcia said that officials are reviewing the report and looking for areas of improvement, but he notes the star ratings are not equivalent to those one might find for a hotel or restaurant. The nation’s VA hospitals are rated on a bell curve, and there will always be a dozen five-star facilities and 12 or 13 one-star
Fairfield Sun Times: Daines Meets with Energy Designee Perry, Invites Texan To Visit Colstrip, Crow Reservation
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, R-Montana, met last week with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of Energy, Rick Perry. “After speaking with Governor Perry, I have confidence that he will work to restore the balance between fossil fuel and renewable energy investments and regulation, a balance that has been lacking in President Obama’s Energy Department,” Daines stated. “Governor Perry will work to make our nation energy secure.” During the meeting, Daines invited Perry to Colstrip and the Crow Reservation and commended his attention to a letter from Lori Shaw, co-founder of Colstrip United, a grassroots citizens’ group
Daines Secures Funds to Repair Chippewa Cree Tribe’s Water System
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Indian Health Service (IHS) has complied with Daines’ request for emergency funding to repair the on-reservation water system in light of recent breakages and contamination. “The repairs to the tribe’s water system are critical for wellbeing of the Chippewa Cree tribal members, ” Daines stated. “I’m pleased that Chippewa Cree Tribe will once again have access to safe drinking water.” Harlan Baker, Chippewa Cree Tribal Chairman: “I want to thank Senator Daines and his staff for all the assistance they afforded the Chippewa Cree tribe during our emergency situation, along with IHS for their
Daines: Mnuchin Will Shake Up Status Quo to Rein in Spending
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after meeting with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s designee for the U.S. Department of Treasury, Steven Mnuchin. “Washington, D.C. is in desperate need of a leader who is willing to make the bold decisions necessary to put our fiscal house in order and back a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda,” Daines stated. “Steven Mnuchin is an experienced leader who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo.” Earlier today, Daines introduced his first bill of the 115th Congress, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act, which strengthens accountability in Washington by requiring members of Congress to pass budgets that balance within ten years, or see their