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Lee State Bureau: Rehberg opposes funds for 9-11 rescuers

The Montana Democratic Party Friday criticized Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg for voting against a bill this week that would have provided billions of dollars to New York City rescue workers and residents suffering from exposure to toxic smoke and debris from the 2001 terrorist attack.

The bill won the votes of a majority of the House on Thursday, but it failed by 255 to 159 to obtain the two-thirds margin needed under a special rule used to bring it to the floor. Most Republicans opposed it.

“It’s hard to believe Denny would actually turn his back on 10,000 emergency workers who braved dangerous conditions while responding to the worst attack in the nation’s history,” said Democratic Party spokesman Martin Kidston. “Given that Denny is suing firefighters in Billings, I guess his latest vote shouldn’t come as a big surprise to Montanans.”

Rehberg Turns His Back on Sickened 9/11 Firefighters

Denny Rehberg voted Thursday against a bill to aid firefighters sickened during the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Less than a month after filing a lawsuit against firefighters in Billings, Rehberg voted to deny aid to emergency workers sickened by World Trade Center dust after 9/11.

“It’s hard to believe Denny would actually turn his back on 10,000 emergency workers who braved dangerous conditions while responding to the worst attack in the nation’s history,” said Martin Kidston, communications director for the Montana Democratic Party. “Given that Denny is suing firefighters in Billings, I guess his latest vote shouldn’t come as a big surprise to Montanans.”

Known as the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010,” the bill would have provided free health care and compensation payments to 9/11 rescue and recovery workers who fell ill after working in the ruins of the World Trade Center.

What Kind of Republican has Denny Rehberg Become?

Over the past two weeks, Denny Rehberg has continued his oarless drift to the radical right, aligning himself with anti-government zealots and conspiracy cranks who have infiltrated the Grand Old Party.

Rehberg hasn’t announced his allegiance to the new Tea Party Caucus in Washington, D.C., and he hasn’t publicized his belief in the new Republican Tea Party Contract on America.

Reading the small print, it’s easy to see why Montana’s secret Congressman would rather Montanans didn’t know that he joined both causes, and that he’s building an affiliation with the GOP’s most radical influences.

Rehberg: The Secret Congressman in the Secret Party

Republican Denny Rehberg and his secret agenda made national news this week when his secret party blocked a public effort by Democrats to pass the DISCLOSE Act.

Rehberg, who voted against the measure in the House, hasn’t bothered explaining to Montanans why he voted to allow corporations and organizations to remain secret while influencing American elections.

The DISCLOSE Act would have required corporations and organizations to disclose their role in political ads. It would also have required them to disclose the names of donors whose contributions helped pay for those ads.

“Without this legislation, folks in Montana are bound to see more deceptive political ads funded by shadowy organizations who won’t even identify themselves,” Sen. Jon Tester said in official statement this week after Republicans blocked the measure. “Unfortunately, not enough folks in Washington were willing to stand up to those groups today."

Rehberg is one of those Washington folks who continues to bow down to large corporations. He failed to police Wall Street by voting against financial reform, and now, with his vote against the DISCLOSE Act, Rehberg again failed to represent Montanans, selling their electoral voice to corporate operators and Washington insiders.

Rehberg Continues 'Smoke and Mirrors' Tour of Montana

Denny Rehberg has scheduled another round of “listening sessions” across Montana this summer in hopes of diverting attention from his lawsuit against firefighters in Billings.

Rehberg, who blames the “mainstream” Montana media for “filtering” his message, said Monday there is “no substitute for the unfiltered opinions” he gets when standing in front of an audience.

“These half-empty listening sessions are little more than smoke and mirrors, a way for Rehberg to try and win back the confidence of conservative Montanans while deflecting public outrage over his frivolous lawsuit,” said Martin Kidston, communications director for the Montana Democratic Party.

“If Rehberg were truly listening to all Montanans, he would drop his lawsuit against Billings firefighters and stop seeking a personal bailout at the expense of the state’s taxpayers.”

In nearly 10 years in office, Rehberg has sponsored only four bills that have actually become law. Three of those bills included name changes to Montana landmarks. He hasn’t crafted a single piece of legislation of national significance in a decade, despite his Montana listening tours.

Rehberg’s listening session in Red Lodge drew roughly 35 people over the weekend. His listening session in Billings, where he’s currently suing firefighters, drew even less.

“The truth of it is, Montanans have given up on sharing their concerns with Rehberg, because it’s like talking to a brick wall in that nothing ever comes of it,” Kidston said. “Rehberg would rather spend his time suing the people of Montana than working with Max and Jon to accomplish meaningful change.”

On July 2, Rehberg filed suit in District Court alleging that Billings firefighters failed to protect his sprawling subdivision from a brushfire. Rehberg filed the lawsuit two years after the summer blaze, just as the statute of limitations was set to expire.

Celebration of Montana Democratic Women, featuring Nancy Keenan

 

 

Click here to buy your tickets now

Click here to download a flier with directions to the event

 
First Lady Nancy Schweitzer, Sharla Tester, Attorney General Steve Bullock,
MDP Vice Chairwoman Nancy Anderson, Mary Stranahan, Elizabeth & Jay Preston, Martha Newell & Mike Kadas, Jane DeBruycker, Lee Gordon, Melissa Shannon, Monica & Dave Paoli, Julie & Jim Foley, Rep. Diane Sands, Sen. Dave Wanzenried, Melissa Case, Jessica Grennan, Kelley Hubbard, Robin Shropshire, Tressa Smith, Dayna Swanson, Rep. Michele Reinhart, Barbara Wagner, Jessica Rhodes, Zabyn Towner, Cory Johns, Eve Franklin, Doug Neil, Dore Schwinden, Jan Lombardi, Rep. Betsy Hands, Sen. Kim Gillan, Jacquie Helt, Rep. Dick Barrett, Ellie Hill, Anna Gustina, Dorothy Bradley, Dorothy Eck, Judith Preston, Rep. Robyn Driscoll, Deb Halliday, Rep. Jill Cohenour, Rep. Julie French, Aidan Myhre, Rep. Wanda Grinde, Sen. Carol Juneau, Mel Brock, Sen. Christine Kaufmann, Sen. Trudi Schmidt, Rep. Franke Wilmer, Karen Petel, Helen Christensen, Chantel McCormick, Rep. Mary Caferro, Pamela Bucy, Roger Wagner, Linda Carlson, Sam Rankin (list in formation)
 
 
Invite you to celebrate the past, present and future
contributions by Democratic women in Montana
 

with Special Guests:

 
Nancy Keenan
President, NARAL Pro-Choice America
Linda McCulloch
MT Secretary of State
Denise Juneau
MT Superintendent of Public Instruction
Monica Lindeen
MT Auditor
Jim Elliott
MDP Chairman
Carol Williams
MT Senate Minority Leader
 
Thursday, August 5
5:30—8:00pm
 
 
At the home of Sen. Cliff and Trish Larsen
8925 LaValle Creek Road
Missoula
 

$50 Suggested Contribution

 
Proceeds to benefit legislative campaign work across the state.
 
To RSVP or to become an event sponsor, please contact Christiana by emailing
Christiana@montanademocrats.org or calling (406) 442-9520.
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