Daines on Biden Mandate – OSHA Fines and Rigged Redistricting

Montana Senator Steve Daines was on the KGVO Montana Morning News show on Wednesday to discuss several key issues facing Montanans.

When asked about President Biden’s proposed nationwide vaccination mandate for all businesses employing more than 100 people, Daines said the fight is brewing.

“I saw chilling images just last night,” said Senator Daines. “I think it was in Seattle, where you're watching firefighters walking up the steps at City Hall to turn in their boots. I mean, Peter, it's outrageous. I'm thankful we've got a governor in Montana that’s going to be standing strong as I will in Washington. I know Congressman Rosendale will be as well to fight against this unlawful mandate, because is not science based.”

In addition, Daines said he is outraged over the use of OSHA to strong arm businesses into compliance with potential fines of up to $14,000 per violation.

“This is going to be devastating for so many of our businesses,” he said. Can you imagine OSHA coming in and fining businesses $14,000? It doesn't make sense. Look at the science, and think about Montanans that have contracted COVID and resolved and developed natural immunity, but that doesn't count. It's got me fired up and I know it's got a lot of Montana's fired up. We've got some small business owners in Montana that are very, very worried about what this could mean to their businesses.”

Daines is also concerned about what he sees as a biased Montana Redistricting Commission that is drawing the new Congressional map.

“I'm very concerned because this Redistricting Commission is controlled by the Democrats,” he said. “It's supposed to be nonpartisan but it's not, because our Supreme Court in Montana is controlled by the trial lawyers and we've got to change because we've got a Supreme Court that is to the left of where most Montanans are. So, I'm worried about political gerrymandering is going to happen with this redistricting.”

Daines still has deep misgivings about the appointment of Missoula’s Tracy Stone-Manning as the new head of the Bureau of Land Management.

“We fought that strongly,” he said. “Every single Republican was opposed to her nomination because I think she's lost the public’s trust in the ability to bring an organization like that together. She was not forthright in telling us what actually happened during her days in Missoula when she was actively involved with an eco- terrorism organization, and tree-spiking crimes. I think that damages her credibility and damages the public trust.”

Daines said he also held his 60^th tele-town hall meeting on Tuesday night where he spoke with dozens of Montanans on a variety of subjects.