Zinke Monument Cuts, EPA Understaffed

Missoulian: Zinke wants smaller monuments, but not at home

Memorandum for the President

Missoulian: After 34 years, EPA not sure whether Butte residents are exposed to heavy metal contamination

EPA’s Distribution of Superfund Human Resources Does Not Support Current Regional Workload 
“Region 8 stated in its survey response that it had site work it could not start due to lack of FTEs at the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area NPL site in Butte, Montana. Specifically, work is currently delayed at the West Side Soils Operable Unit (OU13), which includes the mining-impacted areas in and around the city. For the site, potential health threats include direct contact with and ingestion of contaminated soil, surface water and groundwater; and inhaling contaminated soil.”

Trump Tax Cuts

Missoulian: Trump vows to cut taxes 'tremendously' for middle class

Remarks by President Trump Before Meeting with Bipartisan Members of the House Committee on Ways and Means

“Second, we will cut taxes tremendously for the middle class -- not just a little bit, but tremendously. That includes nearly doubling the standard deduction that most families take on their taxes, and increasing the child tax credit families really want, and we've talked about it for a long time.

Third, we will lower tax rates for businesses to create more jobs and higher wages for Americans. America has the highest business tax rate in anywhere in the developed world. We're the highest-taxed nation in the developed world, and I think in the undeveloped world too.”

The 25 countries with the highest tax rates in the world (USA doesn’t make the list)
The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017

International Comparisons of Corporate Income Tax Rates - Includes the Effective Corporate Tax Rate which is 18.6

Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Proposal on Health Care

Missoulian: The Latest: Protesters in wheelchairs disrupt bill hearing

Hearing to Consider the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Proposal

Campus Assault Guidelines, Russian Interference in US Election

Missoulian: Obama campus assault guidance gets scrapped under Trump

Department of Education Issues New Interim Guidance on Campus Sexual Misconduct
Q&A on Campus Sexual Misconduct
“In particular, when sexual misconduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive as to deny or limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the school’s programs or activities, a hostile environment exists and the school must respond.”

Missoulian: Trump: Russia probe a 'hoax,' media was 'greatest influence'

Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Russian Interference in the 2016 United States Election
“They [CIA, NSA, FBI] found that the Russian government pursued a multi-faceted influence campaign in the run-up to the election, including aggressive use of cyber capabilities. The Russians used cyber operations against both political parties, including hacking into servers used by the Democratic National Committee and releasing stolen data to WikiLeaks and other media outlets. Russia also collected on certain Republican party-affiliated targets, but did not release any Republican-related data.”- James R. Clapper

U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence

“Russia’s 2016 Presidential election influence effort was its boldest to date in the United States. Moscow employed a multi-faceted approach intended to undermine confidence in our democratic process. Russia’s activities included efforts to discredit Secretary Clinton and to publicly contrast her unfavorably with President Trump. This Russian effort included the weaponization of stolen cyber information, the use of Russia’s English-language state media as a strategic messaging platform, and the mobilization of social media bots and trolls to spread disinformation and amplify Russian messaging. The FBI has not made an assessment of any impact that the Russian activities might have had on the outcome of the 2016 election; instead, I am here to discuss Russia’s activities and the importance of combating them.”- Bill Priestap

Libby Asbestos, Trump and North Korea

Missoulian: Montana preparing to take over after $600M EPA asbestos cleanup near Libby

Libby Asbestos
Libby Asbestos Superfund Advisory Team to Hold First Meeting September 21
“The newly created Libby Asbestos Superfund Advisory Team will hold its first meeting Thursday, September 21 in Helena. The team was established by the 2017 Legislature under Senate Bill 315 to enhance communication among stakeholders of the Libby Asbestos Superfund Cleanup. In addition, the Advisory Team will advise Montana DEQ on administration of the Libby Asbestos Cleanup Trust Fund and operation and maintenance accounts. As cleanup nears its end in many of the Operable Units of the Libby Asbestos Site, Montana DEQ and EPA will work with the Advisory Team to establish institutional controls and define operations and maintenance activities appropriate to protect the cleanup in Libby.” 

Missoulian: The Latest: Trump talks North Korea, signs new order

 Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Increases Pressure to Cut off Funding for North Korea

Presidential Executive Order on Imposing Additional Sanctions with Respect to North Korea

“The provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies of the Government of North Korea, including its intercontinental ballistic missile launches of July 3 and July 28, 2017, and its nuclear test of September 2, 2017, each of which violated its obligations under numerous UNSCRs and contravened its commitments under the September 19, 2005, Joint Statement of the Six‑Party Talks; its commission of serious human rights abuses; and its use of funds generated through international trade to support its nuclear and missile programs and weapons proliferation, constitute a continuing threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and a disturbance of the international relations of the United States.”

Montana Bathroom Bill

Missoulian: State must rewrite ballot language for bathroom initiative

Ballot Issue #1 I-183
Subject: Require a person using a locker room or protected facility in a government building or public school to use the facility that is designated for that person's sex.

Trumpeter Swans

Missoulian: 2 trumpeter swans released along Madison River

Trumpeter Swan - Cygnus buccinator
“Trumpeter Swans are the largest waterfowl in North America. They can be up to 5 feet in length, have a wingspan up to 80 inches (almost 7 feet) and weigh over 20 pounds. Males are larger than females, but otherwise the sexes are similar in appearance. The adult Trumpeter Swan is entirely white, although the head and neck are sometimes stained an orange color due to iron-rich waters and mud where they forage for food.”