On Monday, the Montana Legislature was addressed by several members of the state’s federal delegation, potentially becoming competitors for the same U.S. Senate seat in 2024.
U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the only Democrat elected statewide in Montana, along with Senator Steve Daines, Representatives Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale, addressed different Montana issues such as the high cost of living and the allocation of the state’s $2.5 billion budget surplus. However, they all agreed that Congress is dysfunctional when compared to the Montana Legislature.
Tester commenced his speech by praising Montana’s citizen Legislature, a group of individuals who are not career politicians and convene for a mere 90 days every two years.
Tester said that he has remained dedicated to that system to such an extent that he has persisted in farming his property in Big Sandy, even after being elected to the U.S. Senate.
In a comprehensive speech that encompassed various topics such as defending a woman’s right to abortion, addressing wealth disparities, expressing concerns about China, and criticizing President Joe Biden, Tester emphasized that merely possessing the best system is insufficient if it is not effectively utilized.
Zinke voiced his disapproval towards federal spending and regulations and highlighted his experience as a Navy SEAL, which he often discussed during his tenure as the U.S. secretary of the interior. However, he also emphasized the importance of unity and working together across party lines.
He stated the need to occasionally seek common ground, emphasizing that the Constitution of the United States should be the unifying factor among us.
Rosendale’s main focus was on the activities of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Freedom Caucus. This group of conservative Republicans played a significant role in January by negotiating amendments to House rules during a prolonged speakership contest. He emphasized the importance of balancing the federal budget and predicted a forthcoming battle over the debt ceiling.
Rosendale, who appeared to receive the most applause from GOP state lawmakers, assured the joint session of the Legislature that Congress does not operate in the same manner as the Montana Legislature. He emphasized the need to alter the functioning of Congress in order to initiate meaningful changes.
Tester, Zinke, and Rosendale present intriguing differences as the 2024 U.S. Senate race approaches, which promises to be highly competitive. Tester, if he decides to run, will be seeking re-election, while political analysts have identified Zinke and Rosendale as possible contenders. Rosendale is seen as representing the more conservative wing of the party, while Zinke, despite his previous role in the Trump administration, adopts a more moderate approach.
Tester earlier this month said he wasn’t prepared to commit to a re-election bid, per NBC News. Rosendale, who narrowly lost a Senate race to Tester in 2018, hasn’t committed either, though national conservative PAC Club for Growth Action has signaled it would back him if he ran. Zinke told the Associated Press last year that he sees Tester as vulnerable, but he also hasn’t committed to a challenge.
Daines, on the other hand, won’t face re-election until 2026. During his speech on Monday, Daines addressed similar topics as his fellow colleagues but also dedicated a significant portion of his time to discuss his recent Twitter suspension. He even went to the extent of showcasing a large poster of the hunting photo that caused the suspension, positioning it behind him as he delivered his speech.
He expressed, “While the San Francisco elite label it as ‘violent and adult content,’ I personally regard it as an integral aspect of our Montana way of life.”
Democrats specifically criticized his speech.
“The #MTLeg is charged with addressing serious challenges,” tweeted House Minority Leader Kim Abbott. “It’s frustrating our junior US Senator spent his time today fanning the flames of tired culture war nonsense & complaining about twitter, instead of addressing how his constituents are stuck living in campers on [Bozeman’s] 19th Ave.”
U.S. SEN. JON TESTER, D
“In simple terms,” Tester addressed the joint session, “wealthy individuals require no assistance.”
On Monday, the red-state Democrat made a notably progressive statement, emphasizing the need for the state to tackle its affordability crisis.
He continued by emphasizing that the people who require assistance are the ones who cannot afford to find employment in Montana due to the exorbitant housing expenses. He stressed that tackling this economic failure should be a top priority for the governing body.
While acknowledging Montana’s commendable low unemployment rate, he pointed out certain challenges that the state faces. Mentioning the surplus of over $2 billion, he urged the need to capitalize on this opportunity and address the burdensome expenses that affect diligent Montanans. These expenses encompass inflation, housing, healthcare, and childcare costs.
In simple terms, it is evident that wealthy individuals do not require any assistance. The people who truly need support are those unable to afford housing in Montana due to excessively high costs. This economic failure requires immediate attention from this governing body.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester
He urged for the public and private sectors to join forces and work together in order to create workforce housing.
In general, he maintained a standard Testerian equilibrium by combining key elements of the Democratic platform with gestures towards conservatives. For instance, he linked the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon in Montana’s skies to the state’s efforts to limit abortion.
We observed an unauthorized intrusion into our airspace from China, and in case anyone believes it was merely a weather balloon, I have some amazing beachfront property in Big Sandy that I would be happy to offer for sale.
According to him, the balloon witnessed things it shouldn’t have. He mentioned that Montanans hold their privacy and freedom in high regard, stating that they are not interested in being subjected to surveillance.
He asserted that in this state, privacy and freedom are fundamental principles that elected officials ought to honor, whether it pertains to regulating healthcare choices for families or safeguarding Second Amendment rights.
He voiced his disapproval of President Joe Biden’s decision to revoke the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, suggesting that the president is not taking a firm stance on the southern border.
He stated, “In Montana, it is evident that no political triumph should ever outweigh the detrimental consequences of destabilizing our state and democracy. I will continue to strive my utmost to inject a substantial amount of common sense into the proceedings of Congress.”
U.S. SEN. STEVE DAINES, R
Daines initiated his speech by commending Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, his previous employer at Bozeman’s RightNow Technologies.
He stated that Gov. Gianforte’s strong leadership in the past two years has resulted in an improved environment for raising children and growing businesses, leading to a great Montana comeback.
However, his focus swiftly shifted to the national level as he argued that Democrats in D.C. were excessively taxing and spending, ultimately leading the country towards inflation.
He stated that fossil fuel projects and forest management efforts are being delayed by both radical environmental groups and federal appeals courts.
He continued by saying, “Joe Biden and the Senate Democrats are completely delusional when it comes to their green agenda.”
According to him, individuals are not solely relocating to Montana due to the TV series “Yellowstone,” but rather they are escaping the governance of blue state governors and seeking freedom.
The highlight of his speech came when he unveiled a massive poster showcasing Daines, his wife Cindy, and a hunted antelope. The poster was of such grand proportions that it completely blocked the view of House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, who was seated behind Daines, from the rest of the House chamber.
Earlier this month, Daines faced a suspension from Twitter when he altered his profile picture to an image of an antelope. Twitter deemed the picture in violation of its regulations regarding explicit violence and mature content.
After being placed in Twitter jail, Senator Daines revealed that Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO and owner of Twitter, contacted him just 13 hours later. Musk assured the senator that he would make alterations to Twitter’s moderation policies.
Taking advantage of the suspension, Daines seized the chance to criticize “coastal elites” who he believed were disconnected from the values cherished by Montana.
Daines not only criticized the hunting pastime in Montana, but also expressed concerns about “gender ideology.” In an effort to safeguard children from sexualization, the state Legislature has introduced several bills during this session that restrict transgender health care and expression.
Daines expressed, “Allow boys to be boys, and let girls be girls.”
U.S. REP. RYAN ZINKE, R
Zinke spent much of his most recent congressional bid in Montana’s newly formed western U.S. House district railing against the “deep state.” It was the deep state, he argued, that dogged his tenure as interior secretary, a two-year period pockmarked by several ethics scandals.
However, on Monday, he adopted a conciliatory approach, a characteristic that distinguished him as a moderately inclined state legislator at the beginning of his political journey.
He expressed, “During my time as a SEAL, the political affiliations of individuals held no importance to me, be it Democrat or Republican. Even today, political leanings hold little significance. What truly matters is one’s love for the country, their intentions to improve the lives of their fellow citizens, and their determination to safeguard Montana’s cherished way of life. These are the things that truly matter and should concern us all.”
He criticized the Biden administration’s Waters of the United States rulemaking and Congress for the excessive mandatory spending in the federal budget, which includes Medicare and Social Security, among other ongoing statutory programs. Additionally, he reiterated his stance on increasing domestic energy production as a means of national security, drawing from his experience in the Interior Department.
However, in the end, he advocated for accomplishing “great things” collectively.
He remarked, “At a national scale, we encounter challenges on foreign soil: Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Domestically, our concerns encompass energy, inflation, homelessness, and the border.”
He mentioned that we face cultural challenges, but the only issue he pointed out was the absence of “respect,” disregarding aspects such as gender ideology.
Additionally, he discussed the possibility of uniting the eastern and western parts of Montana, potentially indicating his intention to run for statewide office.
“In Montana now we have two districts,” he said. “I don’t mind east and west when it comes to the Shriner’s game, because I played for the west and we won. But issues in Montana are more than just east and west. Issues in Montana are both east and west.”
U.S. REP. MATT ROSENDALE, R
Rosendale’s speech primarily emphasized the importance of accountability within Congress and the federal government. He highlighted the Freedom Caucus’ involvement in negotiations for the speakership as a significant instance of individuals striving to alter the existing state of affairs.
He mentioned, “There has been a lot of discussion surrounding various issues, policies, and current events. However, what I would really like to focus on is the broken state of Washington and the efforts I have made to address and mend this system.”
Once in office, he recognized a group of legislators who had campaigned on the objective of reforming Congress and made efforts to fulfill that commitment.
He explained, “Our objective was not to drastically alter Congress or lead it astray from its historical foundation, but rather to develop a series of amendments that would reinstate Congress to its original form.”
According to him, the speaker of the House used to possess all the power in Congress. However, with the successful advancements of the Freedom Caucus, the rules were changed, and regular order was reinstated, he explained.
Much like the Montana Legislature, federal legislation must now fit under a single subject, he said. As in Montana, he said, legislation will now be scheduled within 72 hours before a vote. (It’s worth noting that the Montana Legislature has disregarded these rules when convenient in the past).
“And there is a lot of concern about Congress’s ability to function, but let me tell you something – if you want to talk about unity, let me share with you the unity that emerged in the following week. We made a collective decision to defund 87,000 IRS agents. We also passed the Born Alive Act to safeguard unborn infants in their mother’s womb, which is a significant accomplishment. And as you may have heard before, we also voted to denounce socialism.”
He mentioned that conservatives will initiate a discussion in the following months regarding the federal budget balance. They will aim to retract COVID-19 relief funds, search for unnecessary expenditures within government agencies, and redirect that money back to the treasury.
While discussing the budget, he beckoned the press.
He stated that throughout this procedure, there will be no alterations made to the benefits provided to our seniors. He emphasized that both social security benefits and Medicare benefits will remain untouched, and he urged everyone to document this commitment.
