Page 5 - Flathead Beacon // 1.21.15

FLATHEADBEACON.COM
NEWS
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke speaks to a group at the VFW Post 2252 in Kalispell last year. BEACON FILE PHOTO
Zinke Goes to Washington
JANUARY 21, 2015 | 5
W•O•R•D•S of the Week
AN INDEX OF RECENT NEWSMAKERS
MEDICAID EXPANSION
Democratic Gov. Steve Bull- ock formally introduced his latest plan to accept federal money to expand Medicaid coverage throughout the state, announcing the mea- sure at the Capitol on Jan. 19. Republicans rejected the proposed expansion in 2013 saying they feared the state eventually would have to pony up the costs.
FLU
A widespread influenza outbreak in Flathead County has prompted hospitals in Whitefish and Kalispell to restrict visitation in an ef- fort to keep patients, visitors and staff safe. Both North Valley Hospital and Kalispell Regional Medical Center are taking preventative measures after over 190 cases of flu were reported, including 19 hospitalizations.
WATER COMPACT
After a decade of negotiations and contentious debate, a proposed water rights compact for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is before the state Legislature after the Montana Reserved Water Rights Commission voted unanimously last week to move the compact on to lawmakers for approval.
Montana’s lone U.S. House Representative hits ground running
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
In his first two weeks on Capitol Hill, freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zin- ke of Whitefish accused President Barack Obama of fueling terrorism through slop- py foreign policy, co-sponsored a bill to approve construction of the contentious Keystone XL pipeline and lost a sports bet to House Speaker John Boehner.
Zinke, the country’s first former Navy SEAL Congressman, said he’s acclimating
to the 114th Congress, and with the largest Republican House majority in more than 80 years he’s confident in the GOP’s ability to influence major legislation overhaul- ing immigration, energy development and health care while working across party lines on a host of issues that enjoy biparti- san support.
“It’s been an interesting couple of weeks, but I’m rolling up my sleeves and getting to work,” Zinke said last week.
After he was sworn into Congress Jan. 6, Zinke wasted little time before criti- cizing President Obama’s foreign policy, which he said fueled the recent terrorist attack on the Paris offices of the French sa- tirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo,” a mass shooting that left 12 people dead.
He also voted to dismantle the presi- dent’s executive actions that would ex- tend protections to undocumented im- migrants, calling it an unconstitutional overreach.
“A lot has happened at the front end of the session, especially immigration,” Zinke said. “My duty as a SEAL and as a Congressman is to defend the Constitu- tion from illegal acts like what the presi- dent has put forth with his executive over- reach. The president overstepped his au- thority.”
The Republican-controlled House re- cently cast votes targeting White House
See Zinke PAGE 22
Southside Consignment is celebrating 25 years in business with 12 months of giveaways of our Favorite Things!
JANUARY’S PACKAGE INCLUDES:
(2) Big Mtn. Lift tickets- Lunch @ Hellroaring- Fireball w/ (2) Flasks and an “I’d Rather Be Skiing” sign.
Stop in and sign up for the drawing.
A new giveaway every month in 2015!!
2699 HWY 93 S. • KALISPELL • 756-8526