Steve Daines

In his senior year, he was one of the youngest delegates at the 1984 Republican National Convention. "I was a big fan of Ronald Reagan. He was the first president I got to vote for."[5] Daines was also the president of MSU College Republicans. In 2007, he and his wife started a web site called GiveItBack.com, which urged governor Brian Schweitzer to return the state's $1 billion surplus to the taxpayers. From 2007 to 2008, he served as Montana state chairman for Republican Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign and as a national surrogate for Huckabee.[6]

On November 13, 2010, Daines announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Tester in 2012.[13] That year, a complaint was filed with the Federal Election Commission against Daines by the Montana Democratic Party, alleging that a radio ad he had run on behalf of a pro-life organization called Common Sense Issues (CSI) was illegal campaign activity. The complaint was later dismissed as Daines had not at that time filed as a candidate for any federal office.[14]

When U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg announced his intention to challenge Tester, Daines dropped out of the Senate race and announced his candidacy for the open House seat vacated by Rehberg.[15] Daines won the 3-candidate Republican primary with 71% of the vote.[16][17] In the general election, he defeated Democratic State Senator Kim Gillan, 53%–43%. He won 48 of the state's 56 counties.[18][19]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies
  • Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
  • Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Western Caucus
• Congressional Rural Caucus
• Republican Study Committee
• NW Energy Caucus
• Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus

In July 2013, Daines attended a NRSC fundraiser in Washington and raised speculation that he would run for Max Baucus' soon to be vacant U.S. Senate seat.[20] In the second quarter of 2013, Daines disclosed raising $415,000 in campaign funds, fueling more speculation of a Senate bid.[21] On November 6, 2013, Daines announced his candidacy.[22]

In February 2014, Baucus resigned from the Senate to accept a post as U.S. ambassador to China. Governor Steve Bullock, a Democrat, appointed lieutenant governor John Walsh to the vacant Senate seat for the remainder of Baucus's term. Walsh had already declared his intention of running for the Senate in the 2014 election, and it was suggested that his appointment by Bullock might give him the advantage of incumbency, thus improving Democratic chances of holding the seat.[23][24][25]

Daines won the Republican primary on June 3, 2014, obtaining 83.4% of the vote to defeat Missoula state representative Champ Edmunds and political newcomer Susan Cundiff.[26][27] Walsh won the Democratic primary with 64% of the vote.[28]

In August 2014, Walsh withdrew from the race following the publication of a New York Times article that accused him of plagiarism in a paper written as part of his master's degree work at the U.S. Army War College. With only 50 days left before the general election, a special convention called by the Montana Democratic party named one-term Butte legislator Amanda Curtis to run in place of Walsh.[29][30][31]

Daines won the general election, securing 57.8% of the vote to Curtis's 40.1%.[32]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade
  • Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, and Natural Resources, Chairman
  • Subcommittee on Livestock, Marketing, and Agriculture Security
• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
  • United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
  • United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  • United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
  • United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management
• Committee on Indian Affairs

Daines opposes legalized abortion in all cases except to protect the life of the mother.[33]

Daines introduced his first bill, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act in February 2013. Daines' bill would have required Congress to pass a budget that would balance in 10 years or have their pay terminated.[34] Daines supported the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 which required both chambers of Congress to pass a budget by April 15, 2013, or the salaries of Members of that chamber would be put in an escrow account.[35]

Daines has opposed an Internet sales tax, which would allow states to collect taxes on online sales. He has characterized legislation to provide the authority as "a job-killing tax hike that hurts American small businesses.[36]

According to the Helena Independent Record, Daines had by 2020 "aggressively tied himself to Trump, both backing and defending the president over the last three years."[37]

In the 2018–19 United States federal government shutdown when Congress would not meet Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall, Daines voted for a bill that put $5.7 billion towards the border wall and he voted against a bill that would have funded the government without putting resources towards a wall.[38]

Daines voted to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial of Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his request of Ukraine to announce an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden.[39] Daines said Trump had not committed any crimes, that Democrats had "not done their complete homework", and that it was the most partisan impeachment trial in history.[40] Daines said that the purpose of the impeachment was to "[overturn] the election of 2016 and [try] to define the election of 2020."[40] During the impeachment trial, Daines voted to block the Senate from subpoenaing documents from the White House and compelling witnesses to testify.[37][41]

Daines praised President Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying in May 2020, "I think he’s done a good job, I do. The president prepared for the worst, and thankfully we’re starting to see declines in infection rates and now it’s time to start safely opening up the economy."[42]

In June 2020, amid protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death, Daines defended President Trump's decision to disperse peaceful protestors with a chemical irritant so that he could stage a photo op in front of St. John's Church. Daines said he was "grateful for the president's leadership."[43][44][45]

Daines has proposed abolishing the United States Department of Education and in 2019 co-authored the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act, to allow state and local governments to withdraw from federal education requirements.[46]

Daines rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. In 2019, he said, "to suggest that [climate change] human-caused is not a sound scientific conclusion."[47]

Daines criticized President Barack Obama for the Obama administration's positions on natural resource development, calling the President's June 2013 climate change proposal a "job killer" and a "war on American energy."[48][49] Daines co-sponsored the Northern Route Approval Act which would allow for congressional approval of the Keystone pipeline.[50] Daines expressed strong support of Montana's coal industry[51] and oil production in eastern Montana and the Bakken formation.[52]

On June 5, 2013, Daines introduced the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013 which would withdraw 430,000 acres of federal lands in Montana from programs to develop geothermal and mineral resources.[53][54] The law would forbid mountaintop removal mining and other natural resource development.[54] The affected lands lie adjacent to Glacier National Park and already have some protections.[53] Daines emphasized his desire "to rise above partisan politics, preserve the pristine landscape, and 'protect this critical watershed'," when he announced that he would be introducing the bill.[54] According to Daines, both conservationists and energy companies support the bill.[54] The bill, also supported by Tester and Walsh, passed in the House; but Senate Republicans prevented it from being voted on, killing it in the Senate.[55][56]

Daines has also called for the need for litigation reforms to allow more logging in Montana's forests.[57][58] In April 2016, Daines signed on to the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, legislation to address the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools program by renewing the federal government's commitment to manage forest resources.[59]

In July 2019, Daines co-founded the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus, a group of Republican members of Congress meant to focus on environmental issues with specific priorities including reducing water and ocean plastic pollution, and heightening access to public lands and waters in the United States for outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing.[60]

In January 2019, Daines was one of eleven Republican senators to vote to advance legislation intended to block President Trump's intent to lift sanctions against three Russian companies.[61]

In June 2019, Daines was one of eight senators to sign a letter to Premier of British Columbia John Horgan expressing concern over "the lack of oversight of Canadian mining projects near multiple transboundary rivers that originate in B.C. and flow into" U.S. states Alaska, Idaho, Washington, and Montana. The senators requested British Columbia replicate American efforts to protect watersheds.[62]

In August 2017, Daines co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment,[63] for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.[64]

Daines opposes most forms of gun control and opposes any restrictions on gun purchases.[65][66] In 2013, he called Senate legislation to expand background checks "the wrong approach"[67][68] In 2019 Daines also announced his opposition to red-flag laws, which allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from someone believed to present a danger to themselves or others.[69][70]

In 2017, he voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).[71][72]

Daines also opposes allowing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients – undocumented minors brought into the United States as minors – to apply for temporary protection to stay in the United States.[73]

Daines supported President Trump's 2017 executive order to impose a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.[74]

Daines opposes net neutrality and praised its 2017 repeal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).[75] In May 2018, Daines voted against legislation that would have overturned the FCC's ruling and restore net neutrality.[76]

In May 2020, Daines co-sponsored an amendment with Ron Wyden (D–Oregon) that would have required federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to obtain federal court warrants when collecting web search engine data from American citizens, nationals, or residents under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).[77][78]

In May 2018, Daines announced his support for the so-called nuclear option "to speed up consideration of President Trump's judicial nominees." Daines has argued that changing the Senate's rules to a simple majority vote would "ensure a quicker pace on Trump's court picks."[79]

Daines opposes marriage equality and said he was "disappointed" in the Supreme Court's decision establishing a constitutional right to marry.[80] Daines also opposes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation.[81]

In 2015, Daines criticized the Montana Veterans Affairs for flying a rainbow flag at their headquarters during gay pride month.[82]