Montana lawmakers respond to State of the Union address

Montana's U.S. lawmakers gave quick responses today to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Two said they would work to make sure government action will include what is right for their home state, and the other saying he will watch to see of the president got the message from November's election.

Montana's senior senator, Democrat Max Baucus, said in a statement that the key will be turning words into action.

"We heard a lot of talk tonight about creating jobs and making sure our country stays strong and competitive," Baucus said. "That's good, but doing what's right for Montana takes a heck of a lot more than talk. This is about taking action and working together.

"I'm going to keep working to make sure the president and my colleagues in Congress keep this focus on jobs and turn the rhetoric into reality for the folks back home who are counting on us," he added.

Republican Denny Rehberg, Montana's sole U.S. representative, said in a statement that he would work to make certain that changes called for by the Republican landslide in last year's elections take place.

"After the last two disastrous years of big government hindering economic recovery and destroying jobs, Montanans join folks from around the country in hoping for a change in Washington, D.C.," Rehberg said. "This isn't a question of partisanship or bipartisanship — it's a simple question of policy. This November, the American public sent a message. Words are cheap; only actions will determine if the president and the Senate got that message."

For our part, the House will no longer be rubber stamping more government intrusions or bailouts funded by deficit spending," Rehberg added. "We'll keep our focus on reducing the deficit and getting government out of the way so small businesses can create jobs."

Montana's junior Democratic U.S. senator, Jon Tester, also focused on making certain Montana is represented in the changes Obama called for.

"We have a lot of challenges in this country, but with those challenges come opportunities — opportunities to work together to create Montana jobs, boost competitiveness and get America's manufacturing base back," he said. "As we move forward with the critical debate over where to cut spending, I'll make sure Montana and our rural communities don't get saddled with more than our share of the sacrifice."

A representative of a group pushing for increased use of alternative energy — 25x'25 Alliance, the grassroots organization pushing to make sure at least 25 percent of the nation's energy is produced through renewable resources — applauded one part of Obama's speech.

Read Smith, co-chair of the national steering committee of 25x'25, which held its national meeting in Havre in July 2008, commended Obama on his setting a goal of producing 80 percent of the nation's energy from clean energy sources by 2035.

"The 25x'25 Alliance believes that America's farms, ranches and forestlands can provide the renewable energy that can help meet the president's ambitious target," Smith said in a statement.

He called on Congress to come together in a bipartisan consensus to support Obama's goal.

Montana's U.S. lawmakers gave quick responses today to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Two said they would work to make sure government action will include what is right for their home state, and the other saying he will watch to see of the president got the message from November's election.

Montana's senior senator, Democrat Max Baucus, said in a statement that the key will be turning words into action.

"We heard a lot of talk tonight about creating jobs and making sure our country stays strong and competitive," Baucus said. "That's good, but doing what's right for Montana takes a heck of a lot more than talk. This is about taking action and working together.

"I'm going to keep working to make sure the president and my colleagues in Congress keep this focus on jobs and turn the rhetoric into reality for the folks back home who are counting on us," he added.

Republican Denny Rehberg, Montana's sole U.S. representative, said in a statement that he would work to make certain that changes called for by the Republican landslide in last year's elections take place.

"After the last two disastrous years of big government hindering economic recovery and destroying jobs, Montanans join folks from around the country in hoping for a change in Washington, D.C.," Rehberg said. "This isn't a question of partisanship or bipartisanship — it's a simple question of policy. This November, the American public sent a message. Words are cheap; only actions will determine if the president and the Senate got that message."

For our part, the House will no longer be rubber stamping more government intrusions or bailouts funded by deficit spending," Rehberg added. "We'll keep our focus on reducing the deficit and getting government out of the way so small businesses can create jobs."

Montana's junior Democratic U.S. senator, Jon Tester, also focused on making certain Montana is represented in the changes Obama called for.

"We have a lot of challenges in this country, but with those challenges come opportunities — opportunities to work together to create Montana jobs, boost competitiveness and get America's manufacturing base back," he said. "As we move forward with the critical debate over where to cut spending, I'll make sure Montana and our rural communities don't get saddled with more than our share of the sacrifice."

A representative of a group pushing for increased use of alternative energy — 25x'25 Alliance, the grassroots organization pushing to make sure at least 25 percent of the nation's energy is produced through renewable resources — applauded one part of Obama's speech.

Read Smith, co-chair of the national steering committee of 25x'25, which held its national meeting in Havre in July 2008, commended Obama on his setting a goal of producing 80 percent of the nation's energy from clean energy sources by 2035.

"The 25x'25 Alliance believes that America's farms, ranches and forestlands can provide the renewable energy that can help meet the president's ambitious target," Smith said in a statement.

He called on Congress to come together in a bipartisan consensus to support Obama's goal.

Montana's U.S. lawmakers gave quick responses today to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Two said they would work to make sure government action will include what is right for their home state, and the other saying he will watch to see of the president got the message from November's election.

Montana's senior senator, Democrat Max Baucus, said in a statement that the key will be turning words into action.

"We heard a lot of talk tonight about creating jobs and making sure our country stays strong and competitive," Baucus said. "That's good, but doing what's right for Montana takes a heck of a lot more than talk. This is about taking action and working together.

"I'm going to keep working to make sure the president and my colleagues in Congress keep this focus on jobs and turn the rhetoric into reality for the folks back home who are counting on us," he added.

Republican Denny Rehberg, Montana's sole U.S. representative, said in a statement that he would work to make certain that changes called for by the Republican landslide in last year's elections take place.

"After the last two disastrous years of big government hindering economic recovery and destroying jobs, Montanans join folks from around the country in hoping for a change in Washington, D.C.," Rehberg said. "This isn't a question of partisanship or bipartisanship — it's a simple question of policy. This November, the American public sent a message. Words are cheap; only actions will determine if the president and the Senate got that message."

For our part, the House will no longer be rubber stamping more government intrusions or bailouts funded by deficit spending," Rehberg added. "We'll keep our focus on reducing the deficit and getting government out of the way so small businesses can create jobs."

Montana's junior Democratic U.S. senator, Jon Tester, also focused on making certain Montana is represented in the changes Obama called for.

"We have a lot of challenges in this country, but with those challenges come opportunities — opportunities to work together to create Montana jobs, boost competitiveness and get America's manufacturing base back," he said. "As we move forward with the critical debate over where to cut spending, I'll make sure Montana and our rural communities don't get saddled with more than our share of the sacrifice."

A representative of a group pushing for increased use of alternative energy — 25x'25 Alliance, the grassroots organization pushing to make sure at least 25 percent of the nation's energy is produced through renewable resources — applauded one part of Obama's speech.

Read Smith, co-chair of the national steering committee of 25x'25, which held its national meeting in Havre in July 2008, commended Obama on his setting a goal of producing 80 percent of the nation's energy from clean energy sources by 2035.

"The 25x'25 Alliance believes that America's farms, ranches and forestlands can provide the renewable energy that can help meet the president's ambitious target," Smith said in a statement.

He called on Congress to come together in a bipartisan consensus to support Obama's goal.

Montana's U.S. lawmakers gave quick responses today to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Two said they would work to make sure government action will include what is right for their home state, and the other saying he will watch to see of the president got the message from November's election.

Montana's senior senator, Democrat Max Baucus, said in a statement that the key will be turning words into action.

More than talk is needed

"We heard a lot of talk tonight about creating jobs and making sure our country stays strong and competitive," Baucus said. "That's good, but doing what's right for Montana takes a heck of a lot more than talk. This is about taking action and working together.

"I'm going to keep working to make sure the president and my colleagues in Congress keep this focus on jobs and turn the rhetoric into reality for the folks back home who are counting on us," he added.

Republican Denny Rehberg, Montana's sole U.S. representative, said in a statement that he would work to make certain that changes called for by the Republican landslide in last year's elections take place.

Rehberg says Montanans want change

"After the last two disastrous years of big government hindering economic recovery and destroying jobs, Montanans join folks from around the country in hoping for a change in Washington, D.C.," Rehberg said. "This isn't a question of partisanship or bipartisanship — it's a simple question of policy. This November, the American public sent a message. Words are cheap; only actions will determine if the president and the Senate got that message."

For our part, the House will no longer be rubber stamping more government intrusions or bailouts funded by deficit spending," Rehberg added. "We'll keep our focus on reducing the deficit and getting government out of the way so small businesses can create jobs."

Tester voews Montana will be represented

Montana's junior Democratic U.S. senator, Jon Tester, also focused on making certain Montana is represented in the changes Obama called for.

"We have a lot of challenges in this country, but with those challenges come opportunities — opportunities to work together to create Montana jobs, boost competitiveness and get America's manufacturing base back," he said. "As we move forward with the critical debate over where to cut spending, I'll make sure Montana and our rural communities don't get saddled with more than our share of the sacrifice."

A representative of a group pushing for increased use of alternative energy — 25x'25 Alliance, the grassroots organization pushing to make sure at least 25 percent of the nation's energy is produced through renewable resources — applauded one part of Obama's speech.

25x25 likes what it hears

Read Smith, co-chair of the national steering committee of 25x'25, which held its national meeting in Havre in July 2008, commended Obama on his setting a goal of producing 80 percent of the nation's energy from clean energy sources by 2035.

"The 25x'25 Alliance believes that America's farms, ranches and forestlands can provide the renewable energy that can help meet the president's ambitious target," Smith said in a statement.

He called on Congress to come together in a bipartisan consensus to support Obama's goal.