Guest opinion: Banking on bipartisanship
Billings-Gazette, Montana
February 17, 2018
The Senate Banking Committee recently accomplished something rare: passing a bill developed by Republicans and Democrats on a bipartisan basis. Designed to tailor financial services regulations to ease the burden of red tape on locally based community banks like Three Rivers Bank of Montana, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) passed with support from senators from both parties and can now head to the Senate floor for a vote.
This legislation —spearheaded by a bipartisan coalition led in part by our own Sen. Jon Tester — represents the best opportunity for Congress to support local communities by advancing meaningful reforms for the community banking sector. Following seven years of congressional hearings, every provision in the multi-pronged bill has already passed a House or Senate committee by a bipartisan vote as standalone legislation.