Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines has voiced his opposition to the latest spending package in Washington, criticizing it for its excessive earmarks and failure to address border security issues. In a statement, Daines expressed his disappointment with the bill, stating, "For the second time in a month, Washington is failing Montanans and the American people by passing yet another out-of-control spending bill that does nothing to restore much-needed sanity to our budget process."

Daines highlighted his concerns about the wasteful spending habits in Congress, particularly pointing out the inclusion of earmarks for pet projects. He emphasized the need for accountability among lawmakers, stating, "It is long past time that members of Congress feel the pain of their own fiscal mismanagement." Daines further reiterated his commitment to responsible budgeting, stating that he will not support the misuse of taxpayer funds and advocating for consequences if Congress fails to pass its budget on time.

The bill also faced criticism for its handling of border-related issues, with Republican Border-Related Amendments being rejected by every Senate Democrat. Some of these rejected amendments included measures like the Laken Riley Act, which aimed to require ICE to arrest illegal immigrants who commit certain offenses, and the Sanctuary cities provision, which sought to withhold funds from jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with DHS requests.

Other amendments that were not approved included measures to detain Special Interest Aliens until their claims are adjudicated or they are deported, as well as the CLEAR Act, which aimed to empower state and local law enforcement in dealing with illegal aliens. The bill also faced opposition for its provision to prohibit taxpayer funds from being used to transport illegal aliens by air for resettlement.

In his statement, Senator Daines emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility and accountability in government spending, particularly in addressing pressing issues like border security.