Daines Hosts Town Hall in Glasgow

Senator Steve Daines hosted a town hall at the Glasgow VFW Post 3107 l Feb. 15 to meet with and take questions from constituents. The stop was one of many on a total tour of the Big Sky State that included a stop in all 56 counties.

In front of a very friendly crowd that applauded much of what Daines discussed, he opened his speech with a recap of his recent trip to the Rio Grande Valley along the Mexico border where he met with border patrol agents and did a ride along during an evening patrol. Daines claimed that the trip involved the detention of two males attempting to cross the border illegally.

"As a matter of fact they tackled a guy in the field," stated Daines after commenting on the border situation saying, "They are capturing, literally, hundreds of illegal immigrants every day." Daines claimed that border patrol had been intercepting drugs, including methamphetamine which he noted for its unique predominance as a drug problem in Montana.

Daines said of border patrol agents, "They'll tell ya' if you give them technology, boots on the ground and a physical barrier; now that's the politically correct term that's being used, I call it a wall, but call it a physical barrier, call it whatever you want; it's a way for law enforcement, for border patrol [that's] important to help stop the flood of drugs and illegal immigrants coming into this country." Daines further claimed that border patrol agents say that if given the right tools they could stop illegal immigration by 90 to 95 percent.

Daines said he had supported Congress' deal to avert another shutdown even though it only included a fraction of the money the President requested for the wall and even less money then a deal that was struck in December before the government shutdown for 35 days.

"I'm glad we're not going through another shutdown," commented Daines about the deal. He added later, "Nobody wins with that." Daines did say that he felt what the President received in the deal was "a good down payment" on the border wall adding at the time that he felt the President was going to declare a national emergency to fund the wall. Daines did not say whether he supported that declaration but did say, "I support what President Trump is doing on the border."

Daines transitioned into briefly touching on the drug epidemic in Montana. He discussed a recent tour of the Rimrock Health Center and a personal experience regarding the intervention of a friend. Daines highlighted what he referred to as the "Willow House" at Rimrock where mothers and their children can be treated for addiction. The Senator said, "You ask them, they'll [staff] tell you the number one issue they're dealing with is meth."

Daines tied the drug problem back to the border issue by pointing out that meth today had changed from home-cooked meth to meth that is being transported in bulk across the border with Mexico.

About the change from home-cooked to mass-produced meth Daines stated, "That's shifted now to Mexican cartels. These Mexican cartels are producing the meth. This meth is far more potent, it is decreasing in price and increasing in distribution and I think it is one of the under-told stories that is going on in Montana."

Daines finished his remarks before taking questions by expressing his views about the courts, specifically the 19th Circuit Court based in California. Daines referred to the court as an "activist court." He also railed against other court decisions made in Montana such as the Keystone XL injunction and the Yellowstone River Diversion project near Sidney, which had been stalled in court proceedings until recently.

Daines pointed out the importance of appointing judges and how it is one of the few decisions made by Congress that cannot be undone by future Senators. Daines stated that his most significant action over the last few years was confirming over 30 new circuit court judges and two Supreme Court judges. He stated, "When I cast a vote for a judge it's a lifetime appointment."

Daines concluded by taking questions from the crowd. Many of the questions reinforced comments that were already made regarding border security and illegal immigration. He joked about seizing the assets of the recently convicted drug cartel leader Joaquin Guzman to pay for the wall.

One gentleman in participation told a personal account of how Senator Daines' office helped his Canadian wife with acquiring her permanent residency after they were married in Canada and he returned to the United States. He stated that they had been attempting to get the residnecy for years and each time they were rejected or delayed for months on end. After reaching out to each Senator and Congressman in Montana, the man said that Daines' office was the only one to respond and after their involvement the residency was approved.

Daines appreciated the comments and stated, "That's what we are here to do. We're all about customer service."

The gentleman offered his account of the legal immigration process then stated, "I just thought I would add one more thing. It took us two years and around $4,000 to get her permanent residency. So, I mean I say that in a sense of, for anyone else from a third-world country to try to come to the United States, it's a big jump."

Daines responded to the sentiment saying, "There is a legal way to come to the United States, and we need to reward those people. That's the problem, why do you get the run around when your trying to follow a legal process and do it the right way," asked Daines rhetorically before adding, "So, that ought to be accelerated for people who want to do it the right way."

Daines also discussed land management and his support for the recent federal lands bill that passed the Senate restricting mining in Yellowstone. That bill had bipartisan support and was supported by all three of Montana's elected officials in Washington, D.C.