Rehberg Opposes Schweitzer-backed Legislation to Expand Federal Regulation of Montana’s Water
Denny Rehberg, in a letter to Governor Brian Schweitzer, announced his strong opposition to legislation Schweitzer is pushing that would expand federal control over Montana’s water.

“Montanans shouldn’t have to fill out a bunch of federal forms for every single ditch, creek, and puddle on their property,” said Rehberg, a rancher and member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. “Unfortunately for agriculture, outdoor recreation, private property owners, and our construction industry, the Clean Water Restoration Act equals one big bureaucratic mess. This bill is bad for Montana and it's disappointing to see Governor Schweitzer gave it his stamp of approval.”

Originally enacted in 1948, the Clean Water Act created federal standards for controlling and mitigating pollution on ‘navigable’ waters within the United States. The Clean Water Restoration Act, introduced by Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), would remove the word ‘navigable’ effectively making all Montana waters subject to federal control and regulation.

Rehberg Works to Ensure Affordable Healthcare Access for Montana’s Veterans
Denny has cosponsored legislation to ensure affordable access to healthcare for Montana’s veterans. “With gas prices skyrocketing and healthcare costs going up, a visit to the VA medical center can be an expensive trip,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “So, anything we can do to ease the burden on Montana veterans is a huge step. This bill would go a long way in ensuring they can afford to see the doctor.”

The Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act would allow a veteran who lives more than 25 miles from the nearest VA Medical Center to receive up to $400 in tax deductions that will help compensate for travel expenses when receiving treatment of their service connected disability.

Speaker Pelosi Playing Political Games with our Troops
In late April, I cosponsored a new monumental G.I. Bill that would expand educational benefits for post-9/11 service members to a level which hadn’t been seen since World War II. One of the best ways we can provide for our troops after their service is by giving them quality educational benefits so they can go back to school, expand their education, and go into the career of their choice. Nearly 300 of my House colleagues also signed on in support of this legislation, a sign that these benefits were well on their way to our troops.

Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi and company had a different plan, a plan that puts politics first. So, they took an annual troop funding measure, which received next to no debate, and attached it to deadlines for troop withdrawal and a $51.6 billion tax increase. To me, legislation to fund our troops is a no-brainer. I wholeheartedly support funding our troops and my record proves it. However, I can’t support legislation that ties the hands of our commanders on the ground and threatens Montanans, already faced with a struggling economy, with more taxes. (Read more...)

Hearing Set for Rehberg’s Bill Seeking Care for SHAD Veterans
Helena Independent Record - Veterans who believe they’re suffering health problems from secret chemical weapons testing conducted years ago will be testifying before Congress next week, on a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont. Rehberg and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Ca., have been trying for nearly seven years to get the U.S. Defense Department to acknowledge that the tests occurred and that affected veterans should be compensated and given medical treatment for their diseases. (Read more...)

Related: Montana lawmakers break ranks more than average (Billings Gazette)

House Panel Hears Testimony from Rey, Rehberg on Elkhorn Cemetery Property
Missoulian - An effort to change the Elkhorn Cemetery from federal to county-owned property - which would allow people to legally be buried on the land - got some support last week from U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg and Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey. Both testified in favor of the plan before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Land. However, Rey once again raised government concerns that they can't just give away public property. (Read more...)

Denny Rehberg: New law expedites COOL, keeps FSA offices open
Billings Gazette - Input from Montanans was a critical part of the Farm Bill's success. That's why every step of the way I stayed in close contact with ag producers both in Washington, D.C., and across the state. In the end, I think we came up with something that works for Montana. (Read more...)

3 Examples of Legislative Dissonance
Big Sky Cairn- Legislation is a tricky business where a few words in a thousand page bill can make the difference between doing good and doing harm. (Read more...)

Another Representative for Montana Unlikely
Montana Main Street Blog - Montana was estimated to have the 19th fastest growing population. I've seen new statistics today showing were more like 24th in the country between 2000 and 2006. (Read more...)

This week the House of Representatives will consider the Amtrak Reauthorization bill.

The last survey asked you about the Democrat proposal to increase the average taxpayers bill by $2,600. 81 percent of those who responded believed that Montanans already pay enough, or too much in taxes. 5 percent thought we didn't pay enough and 14 percent marked "other." I will continue to fight efforts to raise your taxes. I have cosponsored legislation to prevent this record-size tax increase from taking effect at a time when you need your own money in your own pocket. Here's some of what you had to say:

• I am behind on the taxes of the last two years -- help, I'm drowning out here!!
• Please NO MORE Taxes!!!
• Instead of increasing taxes Congress needs to cut spending especially pork and ridiculous studies that have little meaning.
• We can hardly get by on our pension and S.S. with the high cost of gasoline, groceries etc. My wife is battling cancer and the aftermath of it all and our medical bills take up the majority of what money we have left now. Thank you for trying to stop this ridiculous tax increase.
• Good on you Denny for sponsoring the Tax Increase Prevention Act. We can not allow the Bush Tax cuts to expire. I hope you colleagues on both sides of the isle come to realize that fact soon.
• I would support a tax increase for those who could afford it but i would not support a tax increase for lower or lower middle class. I think that there are more Montanans that fall into the lower and lower middle class then there are montanans that are upper middle class and upper class, but the majority of the private money is found in the upper and upper middle class.
• I have yet to see any data by the Democrats that shows that the Bush Administration's tax relief has not increased tax revenues.  All data I have seen shows (a) the top 10% of the wealthiest tax payers have increased their share of taxes paid, and the lowest 10% of the tax payers have decreased their share of the tax revenue.  If that is not the case, the Democrats should present data to support the logic of its proposed tax increase.
• I vote for the flat sales tax that Huckabee proposed.  It's fair and simple.
• We pay way too much federal taxes as well as Montana taxes.  Programs should be cut.  Spending should be cut.  And taxes should be cut.
• My wife and I support your effort to keep taxes lower. We already give the state and federal governments too much of our hard earned income. The government needs to learn how to cut spending or our economy is in for a major disaster.
• I am a single white woman working for $10 an hour. Every penny counts to me and with an increase it will mean less in my paycheck to pay towards bills
• I strongly believe everyone, regardless of income should support the government, if not money then the equivalent in services.

The TVs for Vets campaign will replace existing television sets at Ft. Harrison medical center and the outlying VA clinics with 77 new TVs.  The new televisions are ADA compliant, energy efficient, and will be ready for the transition to digital signal. For more information on how you can assist this effort contact Daniel Koehl at 406-459-9611.

See The Entries & Winners

Congressional Art Contest Winners. Congratulations to Zoe Yeager from Conrad, MT, our Grand Prize winner and all other winners in the 2008 Congressional Art Contest. You can read more about the winners here.