BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Montana (all times local):
3:25 p.m.
Vice President Mike Pence is pushing a combination of tough law enforcement and treatment for addicts to combat Montana’s methamphetamine crisis.
Pence also planned to raise campaign cash for a fellow Republican, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, during Wednesday’s trip to Billings. But first, the vice president heard harrowing tales of violence and child abuse linked to meth as he spoke with treatment providers, law enforcement and recovering addicts.
They stressed that meth is a far bigger problem in Montana than the opioids prevalent elsewhere in the nation.
Pence pledged the administration’s support in confronting the issue.
He was to attend a private fundraiser for Daines at the offices of Lonewolf Energy. The oil company’s founder, Talbert “Trent” Sizemore, has long been a financial supporter of Daines.
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7:30 a.m.
Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Montana and Wyoming beginning Wednesday to talk about efforts to combat illegal drugs and tour Yellowstone National Park.
The vice president’s two-day trip also includes a private fundraiser at a business in Billings for Montana Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who is up for re-election next year.
Pence is to meet with law enforcement officials and drug treatment providers Wednesday at RiverStone Health Clinic in Billings before delivering remarks about the administration’s efforts against drugs.
On Thursday, he plans to visit Yellowstone National Park with Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. The visit is aimed at building support for the administration’s proposal to rebuild national park system infrastructure using money generated through government oil and gas lease sales.
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