Hello Friends!
It may be a little
early, but it feels like spring has arrived- at least in parts of the Big
Sky. It might take a few more weeks for warmer weather to make an
appearance everywhere, but it’s always worth the wait. Whether you are
getting out your snow shovel once again, or searching for your fishing
pole, one thing is certain; it’s never been a better time to live in Montana.
We’ve accomplished a
lot in the last few weeks. I’d say 2008 is shaping up to be a fantastic
year for all Montanans. Our economy has stayed strong, even in these
uncertain times, and more and more businesses with good paying jobs are
popping up all over the place.
I’m working everyday to
do what’s right for Montana, and I’d love to hear from you. So please,
drop me a line whether it’s an idea, a gripe, or just to say hello.
- Cutting Taxes For Middle Class
Montanans
- Cutting Taxes For Homeowners
- Strengthening Our Economy, from
Wall Street to Main Street
- Protecting Montana’s Outdoor
Heritage
- Keeping Tribal Communities Healthy
- My Travels Around Montana
Cutting
Taxes For Middle Class Montanans
My
top priority is to create good-paying jobs and boost Montana’s
economy. That’s why I fought so hard to make sure my middle class
tax cut package passed the Senate last month. My tax cut package
will give hard-working families a real
boost. The Senate overwhelmingly recognized that these tax cuts are
the shot in the arm that many Montanan and American families need, and my
package passed by a vote of 99 to 1.
The
tax cuts were included in the Senate’s fiscal year 2009 Budget
Resolution, which is the spending blueprint Congress uses for the next
five years. My measure would extend some of the tax cuts that passed
Congress in 2001. As a lead author of the 2001 tax cut, I want to ensure
middle-income Montanans aren’t hit with a tax increase if the provisions
are allowed to expire in 2010.
My
Tax Cut Measure Would Provide:
- permanent marriage penalty tax relief
- permanent extension of the increased refundable
child tax credit, with added eligibility for lower-income families
- permanent extension of the increased adoption tax
credit
- permanent extension of the tax credit for child
care expenses
- permanent extension of the 10 percent income tax
bracket
- permanent extension of 2009 estate tax law,
including rate and exemption level
- relief from property taxes
The
House is working on its version of the budget so once the two pieces of
legislation are completed, they will go to a joint House-Senate Committee
to work out differences between the two bills, before it is sent to the
President’s desk. Rest assured, I’ll fight like the dickens to make sure
they do what’s right for middle class tax payers in Montana and
everywhere else.
Cutting
Taxes For Homeowners
Many
Americans are struggling right now to keep their homes. The housing
crisis is not as acute in Montana as in other parts of the country, but
I’m still doing everything I can as Chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee to help people keep paying their mortgages.
The
Senate is currently working on a housing bill that is aimed to help
homeowners, homebuyers and homebuilders. In the housing legislation, I’ve
added a measure that would cut taxes for all property owners. The measure
includes a $500 deduction for people who file individually and a $1000
deduction for couples that file jointly.
These
tax cuts will help make sure that the money gets in the hands of
hard-working Montanans and Americans who will spend it. I’m working
to do what’s right for Montana property owners, to create good-paying
jobs and to boost our state’s economy. We need to get and keep the
housing market stable and this measure will help make that possible.
Strengthening
Our Economy, from Wall Street to Main Street
I
know folks are worried about the economy; they are worried about their
investments and their personal financial future. These days, events
on Wall Street- like the sale of Bear Stearns- are very relevant to the
folks on Main Street Montana.
As
the government keeps Wall Street afloat, those folks on Main Street can’t
be forgotten. That’s why as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I’m
looking into the sale of Bear Stearns to JP Morgan. We have a
responsibility to get all the facts behind the government decision to
lend $30 billion in taxpayer dollars to fund the Bear Stearns deal, and I
want to make sure we monitor the changing terms of the sale. I’m doing
what’s right for the American people, looking out for their taxpayer
dollars.
Congress
has to respond when the economic news gets worse. My colleagues and I are
working to make sure our economy stays strong in these uncertain
times. I’m committed to bringing good jobs to Montana; and keeping
Big Sky country the best state to live, work and raise a family.
Fixing the Estate
Tax
I
support repealing the estate tax because of the threat that it poses to
Montana’s ranchers, farmers, and small businesses. However, there are
Republicans and Democrats that feel strongly about keeping the estate tax
in place. This leaves us short of the votes needed to repeal the
estate tax. In the absence of votes to repeal the estate tax, we
have to come up with a viable solution that will pass Congress, and give
real relief to Montanans.
That’s
why, as Chairman of the Committee on Finance, I’ve begun holding hearings
on the estate tax. We need to find solutions; right now, that will
lighten the tax burdens on small businesses. I know that accomplishing an
estate tax overhaul this year won’t be easy. But that doesn’t mean
we won’t get it done. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and work with
Senators to get a reform proposal that will benefit Montana.
Protecting
Montana’s Outdoor Heritage
I made
it really clear to BP and to Canadian officials last year that
development that would affect Flathead Lake was non-negotiable. Period.
And they listened.
British
Petroleum is scrapping its plans for a massive coal-bed methane project
on the North Fork Flathead River, which runs into Flathead Lake.
It’s a big step in the right direction. This project could have had
devastating impacts to Montana’s water quality, fish and wildlife and
jobs from tourism. We have a long way to go before the Flathead and
all of Montana’s interests are truly safe from these threats, but this is
great news.
Right
now BP is still moving forward with a coal-bed methane development in the
Elk River Valley, which drains into Montana’s Lake Koocanusa. In addition
Cline Mining Corporation is still looking into efforts to develop a coal
mine in the region.
We're fighting
the coal mine just as much as we're fighting coal-bed methane. We’ve won
an important battle, but we haven’t won the war yet.
Managing
the Upper Yellowstone
The
Yellowstone River is a vital part of Montana’s economy and
heritage. Thousands of Montanans rely on the river to irrigate
their fields and provide clean drinking water. The river also provides
world class fishing and sustains good paying jobs and
a multimillion dollar tourism industry. It is a source of great
pride and economic strength for all Montana, and we need to do everything
we can to protect it so we can make sure future generations get a chance
to experience it and fish along its banks.
The
Special Area management Plan (SAMP) for the Upper Yellowstone River was
authorized in 1999. Nine years later the people of Montana are
still awaiting its completion. The Corps’ foot dragging and excuses
must end. Earlier this week I wrote a letter to the Army Corps of
Engineers telling them it’s time to do what’s right for the Paradise
Valley and complete the Special Area Management Plan for the upper
Yellowstone River. I’ve insisted that the Army Corps of Engineers draw up
a management plan in the next 30 days. The management plan must
include any necessary shifts in financial and human resources that may be
necessary to complete the final environmental assessment and Special Area
Management Plan by the end of fiscal year 2008.
Cleaning
Up Libby
Last
month W.R. Grace announced a $250 million settlement to pay for the
devastation the company’s vermiculite mine has caused in Libby.
More money for Libby is always a good step. But, as always, the devil is
in the details. W.R. Grace knowingly poisoned the people of Libby and
devastated an entire town. $250 million is a drop in the bucket compared to
the destruction and pain our neighbors in Libby have been through. EPA
has spent approximately $120 million on Libby already and they still
can’t tell us how clean is clean. I’ve been fighting for folks in Libby
for a long time and I want to make sure they get the health care they
need and their town is cleaned up once and for all.
It
shouldn’t take a vermiculite leak at an Elementary school to refocus the
EPA’s attention on the ongoing health emergency going on in Libby. But
that’s exactly what happened. Students at Asa Wood Elementary
School discovered, and were exposed to, this highly dangerous asbestos
leak during recess. This is an outrage.
The
EPA should have declared Libby a public health emergency years ago.
Earlier this week I asked Steve Johnson, the head of the EPA, in no
uncertain terms to fix this mistake and declare Libby a Public Health
Emergency, now. Once it’s official, they will have clear authority to
clean the vermiculite out of the walls of Asa Wood Elementary and every
other school, home and business in Libby.
Unfortunately,
it’s only a matter of time before something like this happens again,
unless a public health emergency is declared and every building in Libby
gets the cleaning it deserves. This problem is not going to go away
on its own.
While
the exposure of school children to vermiculite is particularly egregious,
no resident of Libby, young or old, should be exposed to this poison. I
won’t rest until the entire town in cleaned up.
Keeping
Tribal Communities Healthy
When
Congress convened for the first time in 2008, the very first order of
business for the U.S. Senate was the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
And last week, the Senate passed IHCIA with flying colors.
This
bill, which I helped write, would provide a major increase to vital
Indian Health programs. This Act would mean Medicaid and CHIP
improvements, help keep treatment and drug costs lower and make sure
Indian health providers are reimbursed fairly. It would also require
annual reports from the Department of Health and Human Services on Indian
enrollment in federal programs and related matters, so we can make sure
we are doing enough. All this adds up to a better, more comprehensive
health care system for the Indian community.
As
chairman of the Senate Finance Committee I have jurisdiction over
Medicare, Medicaid and Indian health care programs. That means
Indian Country has a powerful ally when it comes to health care. I
am not going to let partisan politics keep the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act from helping our tribal communities get the resources
they need to fight disease and keep folks healthy.
My
Travels Around Montana
I’ve
spent a lot of time with a lot of Montanan’s lately, and I can tell you
things are going really well.
Getting
Every Montanan The Tax Rebate They Deserve
April
15th is coming up quickly, and this year’s refund is going to
have an extra impact for many Americans.
The economic stimulus package will put extra dollars in American’s
pockets and give our economy the shot in the arm that it needs. I worked
hard to make sure seniors and disabled veterans were included in the
package, but in order to take advantage of the rebate they need to file
taxes, even if they usually don’t.
Last
month I spent a week traveling around Montana, helping seniors and
veterans file the tax returns. I had a blast, talking with folks,
encourage them to file and connecting with the community.
Solving
Rural Health Care Problems
was
in Glendive and Miles City and Hamilton talking with folks about the
future of rural health care. The bottom line for me is simple; all
Montanans deserve access to quality, affordable health care, no matter
where they live. Just because you hang your hat 50 miles from the
nearest hospital doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the best treatments,
doctors and medicine available. My town hall meetings are part of
my plan implement a comprehensive, efficient rural health care system for
all Montanans and indeed all rural Americans.
Bringing
Stimulus Home
I
was also lucky enough to spend a great day working at Big Bear Sports in
Great Falls. I spent the day between the checkout counter and the
stock room, chatting with customers and fellow employees, it was great
fun and very insightful. Folks have a lot on their plates these
days, that’s why I fought so hard for the economic stimulus
package. I want to encourage all Montanans to spend their rebate
checks in local stores, to make sure our economy keeps humming along.
Honoring
the Bravest Among Us
I was
fortunate enough to speak at the Red Cross Annual Heroes’ Banquet in
Billings, which honors the regular folks among us who acted
extraordinarily in a time of need. These people have answered
humanities highest call and helped their neighbors without question or
hesitation. To be part of their celebration was an amazing honor.
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