Well, surprise, surprise. I did get a response to my email to Steve Daines. As I suspected, he did not really address my concern and just talked around the issue of his initial plan to contest the results of the Electoral College.
This letter is basically a few pats on the hand saying, there, there, we will be looking into it.
Of the few times I have written one of our congressional delegation, I have never gotten a reply that directly addresses the issue of my concern.
Here it is:
January 13, 2021
Mr. Robert Martelle
Dear Mr. Martelle,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the certification of the results of the Electoral College. I value your point of view, and appreciate the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, while Congress was meeting to fulfill our constitutional duty of certifying the results of the Electoral College on January 6, 2021, a criminal mob breached security, assaulted law enforcement officers, and illegally occupied the Capitol in an attempt to thwart certifying the election. Sadly, several people, including two heroic U.S. Capitol Police officers, lost their lives. While I am an ardent supporter of the First Amendment and the right to peacefully protest, the destruction and violence we saw was an assault on our democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law, and it must not be tolerated.
I understand how high tensions can be following a close election. Many people understandably have concerns about the integrity of our elections. This is nothing new, but all too often following an election these concerns are just swept under the rug and doubt continues to build. Congress can and must act to address these issues and rebuild confidence in our elections for all sides.
Thanks to the bravery of law enforcement in clearing and securing the Capitol, we were able to return to our chambers where I joined my colleagues in certifying the results of the Electoral College. We will have a peaceful and orderly transition of power, just as we have for the last two centuries.
Again, thanks for contacting me. It is my number one priority in the Senate to represent the values and interests of the people of Montana, and your input is very helpful as I do. I invite you to visit my website, www.daines.senate.gov, for updates about activities in Washington that affect our lives in Montana or to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you again in the future
Sincerely,
Steve Daines
United States Senator
SD/