Daines Moves to Let Insurers Off The Hook As They Refuse to Cover Small Businesses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 24, 2020
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press@montanademocrats.org
Daines Moves to Let Insurers Off The Hook As They Refuse to Cover Small Businesses
Helena, MT –As small businesses in Montana and across the country have been forced to shut their doors, major insurers are refusing to pay up, arguing that business interruption coverage does not apply to the COVID-19 pandemic. While other Republicans in Congress have proposed forcing insurers to cover small businesses affected by the pandemic, Senator Daines is busy working on legislation that would have taxpayers pick up the tab.
Daines has been busy fighting hard for corporate America throughout his coronavirus response, voting for an amendment that would have capped unemployment benefits for out-of-work Montanans, while at the same time supporting a $500 billion corporate slush fund without adequate oversight. Daines and Senate Republicans also slipped a massive tax giveaway for millionaires into the must-pass legislation, but failed to speak out for rural hospitals across the country and in Montana that have struggled to stay afloat. And most recently, Daines again took credit for relief measures he opposed, touting his role in securing additional funding for hospitals and COVID-19 tests, despite having pushed for a package that addressed neither.
“Daines’ latest move looking out for his insurance industry donors will come as no surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention,” said MDP Executive Director Sandi Luckey. “Time and again, Daines has looked out for large corporations and the wealthy during this pandemic, not Montana working families. Pushing for taxpayers to let the insurance industry off the hook is only his latest betrayal.”
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