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Daines Votes Against Federal Spending Measure

By Beacon Staff

HELENA – Montana’s congressman cast one of 67 votes against a $1.1 trillion spending bill in the U.S. House.

The measure passed the House 359-67 Wednesday and now goes to the Senate.

Republican Rep. Steve Daines said in a statement the bill represents a step backward in addressing the nation’s debt crisis.

Daines says the measure also reduces some funding for rural communities and fails to fully resolve cuts to retirement pay for many Montana veterans.

Daines is running for U.S. Senate in 2014.

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Walsh also is running for the Senate seat. He says the spending bill helps troops, children, Indian tribes, agriculture, Social Security and women.

Walsh criticized Daines for not being part of the solution as Republicans and Democrats worked together to find common ground.