U.S. Senate - Steve Daines

STEVE DAINES (R)

• Incumbent Senator
• Congressman for Montana's lone House seat
• Businessman

Why did you decide to get involved in politics? 

I’m a fifth-generation Montanan. I grew up in Bozeman, attended kindergarten through high school at Bozeman Public Schools, and graduated from Montana State University with a degree in chemical engineering.

I spent 28 years in the private sector solving problems, delivering results, and creating jobs. I helped to grow a tech start-up, RightNow Technologies, into Bozeman’s largest commercial employer – and we created over 500 high-paying Montana jobs. That’s why I got involved in politics because I know what it takes to create good-paying Montana jobs and grow small businesses, and I want to help create more jobs and opportunities for all Montanans across our state. Now more than ever, that’s the leadership we need.

Why should MSU students vote for you?

As a fifth-generation Montanan, proud Bobcat, and a chemical engineer, I was trained to tackle the hard issues and that’s why I’m proud to be named one of the most bipartisan and effective members of the Senate.

I brought Republicans and Democrats together to secure permanent reauthorization and full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund—a program that will protect and provide critical funding for our public lands for the next generation, championed a bipartisan bill to lower the costs of prescription drugs for Montana seniors, passed a bill to end the NSA’s illegal collection of our phone records, and I’m currently working on a bipartisan timber production reform plan that will prevent devastating wildfires and create hundreds of good-paying Montana jobs. I’m proud to work across the aisle to deliver these results for Montanans.

What is your proudest accomplishment as Senator?

My proudest accomplishment is getting signed into law the historic Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). This landmark conservation legislation provides full, mandatory funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is a critical tool for preserving and providing critical funding for our public lands right here in Montana. This bill also addressed the massive maintenance infrastructure backlog in our national parks – including right here at home at both Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. This landmark bill will protect our public lands for generations to come, and it was an absolute honor to get it done for Montana.

If the Senate were to vote on dismantling the Affordable Care Act today, how would you vote and why? 

The Affordable Care Act has been a disaster for Montanans. Over 20,000 Montanans lost their coverage, premiums more than doubled, and Montanans lost their ability to choose the plan that best fits their needs.

We must stand strong against Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, and Steve Bullock’s plans for a complete government takeover of our health care system. It would raise premiums and taxes, and limit choice and access to doctors.

Healthcare is as important of an issue as it gets. This is personal for me – I lost my sister to a preexisting condition. We must work together on bipartisan solutions that always protect those with preexisting conditions and actually lowers the cost of healthcare and prescription drug prices for Montanans.

What would your top priority as senator be concerning higher education?

It’s critical that our state provides Montana students with the skills they need to enter the work force and find high-paying jobs. For many young Montanans, that path is through four year universities. However, that is not the right path for all Montanans. That’s why I’ve worked hard to expand training opportunities for Montanans outside of the four-year university path, including by making apprenticeships and training programs more affordable and accessible for all. We must make sure our students receive the education that best fits their needs, and that’s what I’ll always fight for.

Montana State University received roughly $10.4 million under the CARES Act. As a member of congress would you advocate for more relief funding for America’s universities during the coronavirus pandemic?

Our universities play a critical role in ensuring Montana students have the tools they need to succeed in the workplace. I was glad to support relief for our universities with the passage of the CARES Act, and I look forward to remaining in contact with Montana’s universities to ensure they have the support they need.

With the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg should the Senate vote to confirm a replacement before the presidential election or wait?

The Constitution is very clear when it comes to filling vacancies on the Supreme Court: The President nominates a justice, and the Senate confirms or denies that justice. As a United States Senator, it is my role to confirm or deny a Supreme Court nominee – and it’s one of the most important votes a Senator takes.

I look forward to confirming a principled, well-qualified judge who defends the Constitution and protects our way of life from those that want to take away our Second Amendment rights and destroy our high-paying jobs.

Does the federal government have a responsibility to help combat climate change and how? 

There’s no denying the climate is changing – it always has and always will. Through innovation – not regulation – the United States can continue to take meaningful steps to address our ever-changing climate. And, we already have – for example, the United States leads the world in reducing energy related carbon emissions.

Unfortunately, far too often we see the far left in Washington jump to radical proposals that would destroy Montana jobs and our way of life. The Green New Deal would wipe out our economy and devastate our local communities. A radical liberal judge supported by Bullock has blocked construction of the Keystone XL, stopping the creation of hundreds of good-paying Montana jobs. And Bullock’s support for a job-killing carbon tax threatens 35,000 Montana energy jobs. I will strongly fight back against any attempt to harm our economy and our Montana jobs.

With the polarizing political climate that we currently are experiencing how do you plan to work across the aisle to get bills passed? 

I’ve long said that Montanans don’t see an “R” or a “D” by your name – they see an “MT”. Montanans are not political, we want someone in Washington representing us, no matter what political party they’re in.

That’s why I’ve been so proud to be named one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the Senate. Reaching across the aisle to do what’s right for Montana is something I have always done, and it’s something I’ll continue doing.

Montanans need someone who always fights for them – no ifs, ands, or buts about it. My record on reaching across the aisle for the good of this state is strong – and Montanans know I will always do what’s right for the people of our great state.

In regards to the Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police movements, how would you help to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the minority community?

Americans are right to be outraged by the death of George Floyd – it was a tragedy that should never have happened.

However, the way to address this injustice is not through violence and looting or by villainizing our police officers.

The men and women of law enforcement are heroes. They put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities, and I join Montanans who are grateful for their service. These radical calls to defund the police are unacceptable – and unfortunately, they’re taking place right here in Montana too.

Unlike my liberal opponent Steve Bullock, I am proud to always stand with our men and women in law enforcement. Our communities need them, and I will never shy away from showing my appreciation for their service.

The US Postal Service has been in the local news lately with Post Office drop boxes being removed in Montana communities. Would you as senator work to fund the postal service or move to privatize mail delivery?

The USPS should not be a political issue. For example, our seniors and veterans, as well as folks who live in the most rural parts of our state, depend on the USPS for life-saving medicine. The USPS must be protected and preserved because it serves as a lifeline to Montanans.

I’ve been fighting hard to protect the post office, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. In July, I introduced a bill to provide an additional $25 billion in funding for the USPS. I’ll continue fighting to ensure the USPS remains protected for all those Montanans that depend on it.