In The News

The cuts proposed to Medicaid under the Senate version of a health care bill meant to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act could hit Montana so hard the state would struggle to pay for priorities such as education and infrastructure. That’s according to a report released Tuesday by Manatt Health and commissioned by the Montana Health Care Foundation. Under the Senate’s proposed Better Care Reconciliation Act, Montana would lose $5.3 billion in federal Medicaid funds between fiscal years 2020 and 2026. That’s 40 percent of the state’s current federal Medicaid funding. “We’re putting at risk coverage for 75,000 Montanans

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally proposed Tuesday to repeal the Obama administration’s controversial regulation that extended the reach of the federal government over small waterways. Under the proposal from the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, federal officials would go back to enforcing a guidance document from 2008 when deciding whether a waterway is subject to federal oversight for pollution control purposes. It’s the first formal step by the EPA to fulfilling President Trump’s campaign promise to repeal the 2015 “waters of the United States” regulation, which Republicans and numerous industry groups have long argued would have subject farmers, developers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers released a proposal on Tuesday to repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule, the latest move by the Trump administration to unwind environmental regulations put in place under former President Barack Obama. The agencies are working to rescind the rule, known as the Waters of the United States rule, and reinstate the language of the rule before it was changed in 2015. The rule updated the federal Clean Water Act to define what waterways – including streams, rivers and other bodies – can be regulated by the federal government, stirring anger

Senate Republicans Tuesday postponed a planned vote on the GOP bill to replace Obamacare until after the July 4th recess.  The move is a blow to Republican leaders who had been pushing for a vote this week out of concern that a delay would only make it more difficult to pass. But it became clear that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not have time to round up enough support in the few days before their desired deadline of Friday. Republican leaders plan to work on a revised version of the bill with the goal of coming to an agreement

Savage High School student Soda Rice doesn’t think she ever wants to be a politician, but she greatly appreciated the trip to the nation’s capital for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour earlier this month. Rice, who is entering her junior year, was one of 27 students in Montana who was selected for the trip by their local cooperative after completing an essay. Rice was chosen by the Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative. She was encouraged to apply for the trip after seeing students Trey Bloesser and Owen Nelson, each of Savage, benefit from the experience.  “They had

BIG SKY – Big Sky is world famous for its outdoor recreation, and on Sunday night Senator Steve Daines spoke at the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Awards and Dinner about how those popular outdoor activities continue to the economic success of the area. The Keynote speaker addressed members and guests after the chamber presented its economic outlook for the next year, elected new board members, presented awards to community leaders and recapped the successes of the past year. Daines also spoke about how the federal government can help communities like Big Sky and Bozeman as their populations continue to

BILLINGS — Montana’s Republican U.S. senator, Steve Daines, says he’ll decide whether to support his party’s health care bill after hearing from constituents. The Billings Gazette reported Saturday that Daines will host a telephone town hall next Wednesday on the Senate Republican proposal. At least five GOP senators have declared their opposition to the party’s legislation to undo much of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul — more than enough to defeat the measure. Daines criticized the U.S. House GOP’s health care proposal after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that 14 million Americans would lose their coverage next year under

Both of Montana’s senators will host virtual town halls this week ahead of the U.S. Senate vote on its version of a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Democratic Senator Jon Tester will hold a Facebook Live Town Hall Tuesday, June 27 at 6:00 p.m. Tester hosted an in-person town hall to talk about healthcare in Great Falls over the weekend. Republican Senator Steve Daines will host a “tele-townhall” over the phone on Wednesday night at 6:15. To register for the call, text  “SenatorDaines” as one word to 82-82-82 or call any of Daines’ offices. Senate leaders hope to vote on

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Steve Daines of Montana isn’t saying how he’ll vote for the latest Republican plan to replace former President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Senate Republican health care bill would leave 22 million more people uninsured in 2026 compared to Obama’s law. Daines, a Republican, isn’t expected to take a position before he holds a constituent teleconference on Wednesday. He said in a statement Monday he’s heard from thousands of residents on the importance of repealing and replacing Obamacare, and the question is how to do it. Fifty of