Daines: Senate's Failure to Pass Sportsmen Bill is Politics At Its Worst

Press Release

Representative Steve Daines today called the Senate's failure to pass S. 2363, the Bipartisan Sportsmen Act, an example of "election year politics at its worst" and called on Majority Leader Harry Reid to allow the bill to move forward in an open and transparent way.

The bill, which has 45 bipartisan cosponsors, moved forward Monday on an 82-12 vote. Yesterday, Reid filed to close debate on the bill without allowing amendments from either party -- in turn, preventing an open amendment and debate process, which has been criticized by both Democrats and Republican Senators.

"The Sportsmen's bill is bipartisan, commonsense legislation that needs to move forward--not fall victim to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's political games and his failed standard operating procedure in the Senate. Reid's refusal to allow amendments from both sides of the aisle is nothing more than election year politics at its worst, and Montanans should be outraged," Daines stated. "Time and time again, Harry Reid has shut down bipartisan debate and obstructed progress on important, job-creating legislation like approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and more than 200 other bills that were passed by the House but have been stonewalled in the Senate. Harry Reid needs to listen to members of his own party and allow the Sportsmen's bill to progress."

This morning, lead sponsor Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) expressed her dismay over this bipartisan bill falling "victim to political posturing" and frustration that Reid refused to allow amendments. "I believe the Senate should have considered sportsmen-related amendments, including those dealing with gun issues important to sportsmen and women, and I am disappointed that politics prevent us from reaching an agreement this week," Hagan said in a statement released following today's failed vote.

According to POLITICO, an open amendment process could have resulted in Senate Democrats being forced "to take potentially tough votes." Following a "spat over amendments," Reid opted to "use a procedural maneuver to block changes to the bill."

Daines has been a strong supporter of policies that encourage outdoor recreation and increase access to public lands for Montana sportsmen. Earlier this year, Daines introduced H.R. 3962, the Making Public Lands Public Access Act, which utilizes Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) monies to increase Montanans' opportunities to enjoy hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation through greater access to public lands. Daines has also called on the House Appropriations Committee to prioritize increasing and improving recreation access to existing public lands through support for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and LWCF.

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