Missoulian Op-Ed: Daines gets dinged for dishonesty
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Monday, April 6, 2020CONTACT
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Missoulian Op-Ed: Daines gets dinged for dishonesty
Helena, MT – Senator Steve Daines continues to take heat for misleading Montanans about his record on unemployment benefits by taking credit for a provision he voted against. Daines backed an amendment “that would have capped unemployment benefits and denied some people the extra $600” but was caught “bragging” about the unemployment benefit boost.
“Steve Daines continues to refuse to own up to his attempt to limit unemployment benefits for Montanans losing their jobs in the wake of this pandemic,” said MDP Executive Director Sandi Luckey. “Working families deserve a senator who will fight for them in times of hardship, not vote to undermine crucial relief. It’s a shame that Daines’ enthusiasm for massive corporate bailouts isn’t matched by a desire to do right by Montanans.”
Missoulian Op-Ed: Daines gets dinged for dishonesty
By: George Ochenski
Highlights:
“There must be something in Washington, D.C.’s water that makes politicians think they can do one thing and get away with telling their constituents something else.”
“A Huffpost article titled ‘Republicans are bragging about an unemployment boost they voted against’ opens with quotes from Daines telling a Montana TV station about the $2.2 trillion bailout bill, saying: ‘This package that we passed will provide $600 a week on top of the Montana benefit if you’re unemployed. That’s very significant. It more than doubles what the state of Montana pays. That’s taking care of those Montanans who’ve lost their jobs.’
“While it’s good news for Montanans who suddenly find themselves unemployed as the economy shuts down under the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s nothing but dishonest that Daines didn’t tell his constituents or the press that he actually voted against providing that additional $600 for unemployed Montanans.”
“Even worse, toss in the fact that many of those suddenly unemployed didn’t just lose their income, they also lost their employer-provided health insurance as businesses struggle to avoid bankruptcy due to government-mandated shutdowns. Since Daines, like all members of Congress, receives excellent insurance and benefits paid for by taxpayers, he may not fully understand the average monthly cost for insurance on the market. If he did, he would certainly understand that extra $600 would disappear quickly into the insurance industry’s bottomless pockets.
“Montanans have long held truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth as the best way for government to communicate with the citizenry. It’s time Senator Daines remembered that since Montanans won’t forget his dishonesty come November.”
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