Montana Senators on Tax Bill

Montana’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester has said he couldn’t support President Donald Trump’s tax bill, because of the debt it passes on to future generations, saying in an email [quote] “The Senate bill as currently drafted saddles our kids and grand kids with more crushing debt by adding nearly $1.5 trillion to the deficit…And it raises taxes on Montana families, forces cuts to Medicare, and benefits wealthy out-of-staters at the expense of hard-working Montanans.” [end quote]

There are other Montana-specific concerns with the tax bill, such as Montana losing its share of federal oil, gas and coal royalty payments. The federal government currently splits those revenues with states where the leases are located. Montana’s Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is still reportedly uncommitted to his party’s tax bill, saying Republicans aren’t doing enough for “main street” businesses.