Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement in response to the “Bipartisan White House Summit” held on February 25. The Summit was held 79 days after the House passed its version of the health care bill written by House Democrats, 63 days after the Senate passed its version of the health care bill written by Senate Democrats and 3 days after the President introduced his “compromise” proposal.

“Today’s bipartisan health care discussion, which was the first time both cameras and Republicans were invited to the table, was at least a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the legislation has already been crafted in secret, behind closed doors and without public input. This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats, it’s about listening to the American people, like the thousands of men and women I heard from last year at 36 listening sessions across Montana. They want health care reform, and they want it done right. That’s why it’s so important to start over, put partisanship aside, and get to work finding workable solutions for Montana families.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has co-sponsored H.R. 4556, a bill that would forbid the U.S. Department of Justice from spending any money to prosecute individuals involved with the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. Consistent with strong public opinion, the legislation aims to prevent the domestic trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed (KSM) in the heart of New York City. KSM was the mastermind of the attacks that killed thousands of innocent Americans.

“Trying the terrorist masterminds in our regular court system on the very soil of the country they attacked on 9/11 is an outrage,” said Rehberg. “These men are not common criminals, and the act of terrorism they perpetrated is not a common crime. It was an act of war, and it should be appropriately tried in a military tribunal at a secure location like Guantanamo Bay.”

In addition to the symbolic problems of affording terrorists the protections of the Constitutional Rights they are attempting to destroy, trying dangerous men like KSM in civilian courts subjects American citizens to substantial risks. In fact, the trial, as currently planned in New York City is estimated to cost taxpayers at least $250 million per year — for a total expected cost of more than $1 billion. According to New York Mayor Bloomberg, “It would be great if the federal government could find a site that didn’t cost a billion dollars, which using downtown [New York City] will. [The trial] is going to cost an awful lot of money and disturb an awful lot of people.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement following the President’s unveiling of a proposal to bridge the gap between the current House and Senate health care bills. The introduction of the bill comes just three days before he is scheduled to meet with Republican Leaders to hear their ideas, ostensibly to incorporate them into his proposal.

“Montanans aren’t fooled by the fresh coat of paint. This bill is still the same lemon that was soundly rejected by the vast majority of Montanans I heard from last year at 36 public listening sessions across the state. The American people want real health care reform and they deserve an open, bipartisan process that’s done in the light of day. Today’s theatrics are more of the same; a bill crafted in secret behind closed doors and without public input or scrutiny.

“There are better alternatives to lower the cost of health care and increase access, and the President will hear many of those ideas at a bipartisan summit this Thursday. Instead of introducing his proposals three days early, I encourage the President to come to the table with an open mind to find a workable solution that prioritizes the American people.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today issued the following statement following the announcement that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reverse its policy to suspend the Second Amendment in National Parks, instead deferring to state-specific laws regulating the legal possession of firearms. Rehberg is a long-time advocate for the protection of gun rights on all federal lands, including national parks and wilderness.

“While big city forest administrators have been trained to think anyone with a gun is a threat, Montanans realize that in the wild of a national park, having a firearm can mean the difference between life and death,” said Rehberg. “We don’t give up our rights to freedom of speech or freedom of the press just because we step foot into a National Park, why should the right to bear arms be any different?”

On February 22, 2010, new regulations that allow visitors to possess firearms within a National Park will take effect. These regulations end a long-term ban on firearm possession within the parks.

Under the new regulations, visitors looking to bring a firearm into a National Park will be governed by state law. Visitors to Glacier National Park will be subject to the laws of the State of Montana. While visitors to Yellowstone National Park will be governed by the laws of Idaho, Montana or Wyoming based upon their location within the Park.

Montanans visiting Parks in other states should check with local law enforcement within those communities before attempting to enter the Park while in possession of a firearm.

Here are also some links on the gun laws in Idaho, Wyo. And MT:

Idaho: http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/f/gunlaws_id.htm
Wyoming: http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/f/gunlaw_wy.htm
Montana: http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/a/gunlaws_mt.htm

Schedules Stops in Billings, Laurel, Livingston & Bozeman

BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, will be talking jobs in four Montana cities over the next two days. On Wednesday, February 17 he will be in Billings and Laurel, and on Thursday, February 18 he will visit Livingston and Bozeman. At each stop, he will be meeting with local businesses and organizations to discuss the creation of new jobs.

“It’s been more than a year since the ‘so-called’ stimulus was signed into law, and unemployment remains the most pressing barrier to economic recovery,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, who supported a true stimulus that was timely, targeted, temporary and transparent. “Montanans understand that jobs don’t come from Washington, D.C. They come from the hard work of small businesses, which is why it’s so important for elected officials to put boots on the ground and learn directly from the horse’s mouth exactly what will stimulate job growth.”

Rehberg’s tour will include:

Wednesday, February 17

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Montana Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award ceremony at Wyo-Ben, Inc. (Billings)
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Tour of the Northern Hotel Project (Billings)
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Visit Beartooth Harley (Billings)
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Tour Cenex Refinery (Laurel)

Thursday, February 18

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Tour of Printing for Less (Livingston)
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Visit Mystery Ranch (Bozeman)
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Visit the Bozeman Job Service and Workforce Center (Bozeman)

For press inquiries, please contact Tom Schultz:
tom.schultz@mail.house.gov, (406) 543-9550

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced that his Washington, D.C.-based Scheduler Madeleine Coleman was chosen as Montana’s 2010 Cherry Blossom Princess. Coleman has worked for Rehberg since May of last year. Her Princess duties will occur in Washington, D.C. during the week of April 4.

“I can’t think of anyone better suited to represent Montana as our Cherry Blossom Princess,” said Rehberg. “As my scheduler, she’s tackled a pretty big job with the grace and poise that will help her do a fantastic job representing our state.”

Each Spring, Cherry Blossom Princesses from every state and territory come to the nation’s capital to commemorate the 1912 gift of Japanese cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington. The two-week festival involves an array of activities and cultural events, including the crowning of a Cherry Blossom Queen, who is chosen by chance from the assembled princesses.

Madeleine, from Belgrade, Montana, is daughter of Martin and Jennifer Coleman. She attended Manhattan Christian High School in Churchill, Montana. After graduating from Denison University with a degree in Economics, she joined Rehberg’s staff in May of 2009. She is active in her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, and served on the Denison University Community Rights and Standards Board.

“I love Montana, and I’m so excited to bring a little bit of ‘The Last Best Place’ to D.C.,” Madeleine says.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today joined all House Republicans and 34 House Democrats in opposing a statutory increase in the federal debt limit. Despite bipartisan opposition, a majority in the House voted to increase the debt limit to $14,294,000,000,000.

“This is the record fifth time the Congress has increased the credit limit on our national credit card since 2008. This reckless action is a down payment by Congress which is trying to spend our way to prosperity. But their policies have only made things worse, costing jobs and delaying recovery. Rhetoric won’t cut the deficit. It’s long past time for true spending reform in Washington. Let’s start by auditing the Fed and balancing the budget.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement regarding the President’s budget proposal for 2011.

“Despite promises of fiscal restraint, this blockbuster budget spends too much, borrows too much and taxes too much. It’s full of the same failed policies that gave us record spending, record debt and double-digit unemployment over the past year. It’s time to get this country on track for a true economic recovery. Instead, this budget plan offers more irresponsible and unsustainable government spending.”

The President’s budget contains $3.8 trillion in spending for Fiscal Year 2011. It pushes the deficit to $1.6 trillion this year and ensures that it will never drop below $700 billion over the next decade. It also raises taxes by $2 trillion through 2020.

WASHINGTON, DC – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today posted a list of verbal and written comments he heard from Montanans during the 22 public meetings he held regarding Sen. Jon Tester’s Wilderness bill. The comments are posted in the “Transparency Center” portion of Rehberg’s congressional website. Last week, Rehberg promised to take this action in a letter to Senator Tester and asked the Senator to join him in doing so in order to maximize transparency in the legislative process.

“I heard from hundreds of Montanans, each with their own ideas and opinions,” said Rehberg, “While ideas will vary in merit, each deserves to at least be heard and considered in a public forum. That’s what I’m trying to do – put them all in the bucket and see which ones end up floating.”

Rehberg has laid out a number of these comments as examples of what he’d like to see changed in the underlying legislation. One proposal, addressing an overriding concern heard in 22 listening sessions, is the notion of a wilderness ‘phase-in’ that would time the creation of new wilderness to the active management of other lands. This solution would alleviate the concern that as soon as the bill becomes law, the wilderness designations are immediate, while there is no assurance that stewardship components would not be infinitely delayed by litigation.

Rehberg, who relayed multiple suggestions in real-time to the public and the press during the course of his listening tour, has gathered a wide array of additional ideas for changes to the legislation including boundary line concerns from farmers and ranchers, preservation of recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, and maintaining the ability to accurately inventory natural resources like molybdenum.

“There’s no silver bullet here,” warned Rehberg. “There are a lot of very good ideas that should each be considered on their own merit. While I appreciate the buy-in from the partnerships that helped draft the bill, this legislation affects all Montanans who deserve the right to be heard. In addition to some other fixes, an incremental phase-in would help ensure logging isn’t bogged down by lawsuits after new wilderness areas are designated.”

Comments can be found online at http://rehberg.house.gov