Missoulian: Daines, Zinke, Fox Rally to Stop Missoula Gun Ordinance Requiring Background Checks
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox on Thursday said he disagrees with the Missoula city attorney over the legality of a proposed ordinance requiring background checks for firearms sold or transferred within the city. Fox released his opinion via a one-sentence news release. Two hours later, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke, both Republicans, also released a joint statement urging the city to withdraw the ordinance. While they support local control, they said, the ordinance presented a “rare occasion” to express their opposition to what they described as “misguided” legislation. City officials vowed the public hearing set for Monday
NBC: Gun Ordinance Proposed in Missoula Garners GOP Attention
Missoula’s proposed gun ordinance restricting sales hit a possible snag Thursday. The state’s attorney general thinks it’s unconstitutional. The ordinance aims to require background checks for all private gun sales. There are a few exceptions — antique firearms, guns sold within a family and for temporary use while hunting. People will have to meet with a federally licensed dealer for the background check and to finalize the deal. Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Ryan Zinke and Montana Attorney General Tim Fox are three of the top Republican officials putting pressure on the Missoula City Council over the ordinance. “Contrary to the
Great Falls Tribune: Tester, Daines and FCC Chairmen Push for More Broadband
With laptops and tablets for all elementary students and the support of local Internet providers, the students at Fairfield Elementary School are fairing pretty well when it comes to Internet accessibility. But as Federal Communications Chairman Tom Wheeler, Montana’s senators, school officials and providers discussed Tuesday, only 49 percent of Montana’s public schools have access to high-speed Internet. “Fairfield was a school that was an early adopter (of technology) and worked diligently,” said Kirk Miller, executive director of School Administrators of Montana. “That isn’t the case with much of the rest of Montana.” According to a report given to the Montana
Daines: Nationwide WOTUS Stay is a Victory for States’ Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today applauded the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision to issue a nationwide stay on Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) misguided Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “The Sixth Circuit Court’s nationwide stay on the EPA’s misguided WOTUS rule is a victory for states’ rights, local governments, farmers, ranchers and landowners. This ruling pushes back on the extreme overreach of the Obama administration, which threatened Montana agriculture and natural resources, Montana jobs and Montanans’ property rights. While this is welcome news, it is not the end of the Obama administration’s egregious power grabs. I will continue
Daines Honors Montanan of the Week: Jessica Anderson of Deer Lodge
Senator Steve Daines today honored Jessica Anderson, the 2016 Montana Teacher of the Year. Ms. Anderson is an outstanding educator at Powell County High School in Deer Lodge. Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here. Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: http://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve
Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Daines Discusses Intellectual Property, Says He Backs Patent Reform
Local tech entrepreneur-turned-politician U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, meeting with the local business community at the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce on Friday, said he agreed with concerns raised by several people about the need for reform in the U.S. Patent system. “There’s this kind of arms race where you have to develop a patent portfolio to protect yourself from the other big guys who have patent portfolios,” said Bob Wall, a former engineer with RightNow and Oracle, now with startup IronCore labs. “This world of patent trolls, and people making their living on that, it is stifling innovation to some extent,”
Daines Calls on Senate to Take Up Rural Water Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today reaffirmed his commitment to moving forward Montana rural water projects and called on the Senate to take up his bills to ensure the completion of authorized projects across Montana. During today’s Energy and Natural Resources hearing on western water legislation, Daines emphasized the challenges associated with inadequate water management in western communities, including many regions in Montana. “My bills would facilitate water delivery to over 23 million acres in Montana and millions more acres across the West for rural communities without good access to quality water supply today,” Daines stated. “If we are going to address
Daines: Democrats Blocking Funding for Water, Infrastructure Projects is Shameful
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today slammed Senate Democrats for blocking the FY2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, which funds critical infrastructure projects administered by the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation – including Montana rural water projects. “Despite the vast majority of Democrats supporting this bill during an Appropriations Committee vote this summer, once again Democrats have chosen to block legislation that protects Montanans’ interests and strengthens our national security through increased energy and water security,” Daines stated. “This legislation works to enhance our energy efficiency while funding important projects that modernize our nation’s energy and water infrastructure. It’s