Senate Candidate Tester Says Politicians in Washington Not Dealing with Montana Concerns as Bush Delivers State of the Union
Montanans, Americans Need Affordable Health Care and Energy, End to Culture of Corruption in Washington
U.S. Senate Candidate Jon Tester today said politicians in Washington are not dealing with Montana concerns and we need to do better as President Bush delivers the State of the Union address Tuesday night.
“Montanans want someone who will address their concerns and fight and win for them on the issues that matter – affordable health care, good-paying jobs, lower energy costs and ending the culture of corruption in Washington,� Tester said. “President Bush and the Republicans in Washington have been looking out for their political interests, not our families’ interests. We can do better.�
Tester focused specifically on the Medicare prescription drug benefit, noting many seniors today are confused by the new program and need more time to make decisions.
“It’s time we fix our health care system so parents don’t have to go to bed worried about their children’s health and their parents’ not being able to get the prescription drugs they need,� Tester said. “We can do better than past Medicare ‘reforms’ that prevent our seniors from getting their medicine, and health care programs that force Americans to pay more to get less.�
As president of the Montana Senate, Tester carried a bill that created a program to help more Montana seniors afford prescription drugs they need to stay healthy.
Tester also urged the president to develop a comprehensive energy policy that cuts America’s reliance on foreign oil and encourages use of alternative energy to boost jobs and economies in rural states like Montana.
Tester was chief sponsor of several successful energy bills in the 2005 Legislature that promoted alternative and wind energy and helped provide jobs in Montana. Tester also is a strong advocate of alternative energy such as ethanol and biodiesel.
“We can do better than the energy policy written by Big Oil, who drive up our prices, increase our dependence on foreign oil, and block investment in alternative technologies,� Tester said.
And Tester urged President Bush to help end the culture of corruption and cronyism that pervades Washington and has cast a dark cloud over Senator Conrad Burns.
“Senator Burns went to Washington as an outsider,� Tester said. “Now his association with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff shows he’s become a Washington insider who has lost touch with Montana. We need a senator who will focus on the kitchen-table issues of health care, jobs, education, cutting energy costs, protecting Social Security and maintaining a strong national defense. I’ll stand up for Montana’s interests, not special interests.�
Posted on Tuesday, January 31st, 2006 at 12:00 pm.
