Briefs for March 3, 2021
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Daines pushes back on Paris Climate Agreement
News from the office of Senator Daines
U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines introduced legislation to prohibit U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. Daines also introduced a Senate resolution calling on President Biden to submit the Paris Agreement to the Senate for review. “President Biden violated the Constitution when he chose to rejoin the poorly negotiated and deeply flawed Paris Climate Agreement - a deal that’s horrible for America and good for China,” Senator Daines stated. “This deal will do nothing except cause more hard-working Americans to lose their jobs and burden American families with higher energy prices. We must ensure not a single penny of taxpayer dollars are used to implement this disastrous deal.”
Daines named ranking member
News from the office of Senator Daines
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines was named ranking member of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care.
“I look forward to representing Montana and serving as ranking member of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care,” Daines stated. “There is a lot of work to be done to address many issues impacting Montana including continuing to combat the challenges posed by the pandemic, lowering the costs of prescription drugs, addressing the meth crisis devastating Montana communities, ensuring responsible spending of taxpayer dollars, and addressing rural healthcare needs for Montana.”
Governor’s bills clear Senate, head to House
News from the office of Governor Gianforte
HELENA — Two of Governor Greg Gianforte’s signature “Montana Comeback” bills have cleared the Senate. The next step for the Montana Entrepreneur Magnet Act and the COMPETES Act is consideration in the House of Representatives.
The governor said, “With the Senate passing these critical pro-jobs, pro-growth bills, we are one step closer to making Montana more competitive, getting our economy going again, and getting Montana open for business.”
Background: The COMPETES Act, S.B. 182, sponsored by Senator Greg Hertz (R-Polson), makes incremental and responsible reductions to Montana’s top income tax rate, one of the highest in the Rocky Mountain West.
The Entrepreneur Magnet Act, sponsored by Senate President Mark Blasdel (R-Kalispell), encourages entrepreneurs to bring their businesses to Montana. The measure, S.B. 184, will help attract entrepreneurs and their long-term, good-paying jobs to Montana by exempting qualifying new businesses from paying capital gains tax on the sale of employee-owned stock.
These bills serve as important economic development tools to make Montana more competitive.
Governor provides Mother’s Day present
News from the office of Governor Gianforte
HELENA — Exciting news. Governor Gianforte signed into law SB 61, making fishing free on Mother’s Day weekend. Senator Pat Flowers (D-Bozeman) introduced the bipartisan bill.
