A boycott from Republican members of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee last week delayed the vote for President Joe Biden’s nominees to the Federal Reserve. The boycott was due to question over the nominees’ past affiliations but committee member Jon Tester argued the Federal Reserve’s operation can’t afford to get political.
Over $1 Billion Infrastructure Funds To Address Tribal Water Rights
U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Tuesday the Biden administration will use $1.7 billion from the infrastructure bill to fund 16 tribal water rights settlements. They include the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes along with the Blackfeet and Crow Nation. The money will ensure that tribes get access to water they’ve been...
Senator Daines Highlights Economic Losses From Keystone XL Cancellation
Senator Steve Daines and other lawmakers sent a letter to the Biden Administration’s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm demanding her agency to disclose the number of jobs lost when President Biden canceled the Keystone XL oil pipeline. He notes Eastern Montana as one of the areas whose economies has suffered due to it cancella...
Senator Tester Weighs In On Russia Conflict
Monday, both President Biden and the European Union announced sanctions against Russia in response to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s acknowledgment of separatist groups in Eastern Ukraine on the brink of a possible invasion of Ukraine. Senator Jon Tester agrees the U.S. should intervene if that would happen.
Gov. Gianforte Calls To Reinstate Vaccine Exemption For Truckers
Governor Greg Gianforte has joined Alberta and Saskatchewan officials in calling on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden to reinstate the COVID-19 vaccine exemption for truckers. Their termination for essential service in January by both governments touched off an 18-day trucker pro...
Republican Senators Boycott Federal Reserve Nominees’ Confirmation
Tuesday Republican members of the Senate Banking Committee boycotted a confirmation vote for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and President Biden’s other nominees to the central bank’s board of governors including Montana Senator Steve Daines who was a no-show. Democratic committee member Jon Tester was critical of the boycott saying pol...
Montana Ordered To Phase Out Medicaid Premiums
In late 2021, Montana was informed by the Biden administration that its plans to charge premiums to low-income adults enrolled in Medicaid would not go forward and the state had to phase out existing ones by the end of this year. Kaiser Health News reports the state has already eliminated its continuous eligibility for adults. The Biden admini...
Governor Gianforte Writes To Montana Health Care Workers Ahead Of Vaccination Deadline
Governor Greg Gianforte sent an open letter to Montana’s health care professionals Thursday thanking them for their work and dedication particularly during the pandemic and urged ...
Senator Daines Pushing For Leases To Continue In Montana
Despite a federal judge striking down a Biden administration moratorium on oil and gas leases last year the Bureau of Land Management has yet to resume them in Montana. At a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing this week Senator Steve Daines said there is no reason for this
Montana May Receive Over $40 Million For Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Nearly $5 billion will be made available nationwide under the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program established by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out a national electric vehicle charging network. Under the formula funding announced Wednesday, Montana is eligible to receive up to $42.9 million fo...