ICYMI: Daines Pushes For Oil and Gas Bailout
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 30, 2020
CONTACT
press@montanademocrats.org
ICYMI: Daines Pushes For Oil and Gas Bailout
Helena, MT – As tens of thousands of Montanans are out of work due to the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Daines has been pushing for a bailout for the oil and gas special interests while calling expanded unemployment benefits for out of work Montanans “generous.” The bailout has faced pushback from both parties, with even the Trump administration rebuffing overtures from the oil industry.
“Senator Daines, as always, is looking out for his special interest backers over working Montana families,” said MDP Executive Director Sandi Luckey. “Even some Republicans think this bailout is out of line — Daines needs to rethink his priorities.”
Montana Post: Steve Daines Pushes for Oil and Gas Bailout, Won’t Fight for States Needing More Aid
By: Don Pogreba
Highlights:
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Steve Daines is calling for suspended royalty payments from oil and gas companies, even though the bailout he is supporting would do “nothing but cheat the American taxpayer.” At the same time, the senator has refused to condemn Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s suggestion that states and cities should go bankrupt rather than receive more assistance.”
“On March 30, Daines and eleven other Republican Senators sent a letter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt (himself a former oil and gas company lobbyist) asking him to “reduce, delay, or suspend” federal royalty payments for oil, gas, and coal. Those royalties, of course, flow back to the states to pay for schools and vital infrastructure like roads, as the Huffington Post notes on March 24.”
“Worse yet, is that the royalty freeze Daines called for could deprive Montana of revenue at a time when the state is likely to face severe fiscal problems related to COVID-19. In 2018, Montana received over $26 million in mineral royalties, money that will matter far more to Montana taxpayers than the oil and gas producers Daines want to enrich.”
“And while Senator Daines is using his clout in the Senate to fight for oil and gas companies and to enrich himself as a real estate developer, he’s been silent about Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s suggestion that states should declare bankruptcy rather than receive more aid from the federal government.”
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