Jon Tester for U.S. Senate

Intelligent Discontent published a series of responses to foreign policy questions from Jon Tester earlier this week. All Democrats vying for the party’s nomination in the June 6 Primary Election were invited to respond. Jon Tester and Paul Richards returned responses to the following questions:

Do you categorically oppose the use of torture by the American military and intelligence officers?


Has the United States done enough to help alleviate African poverty?


Do you support a specific timetable for withdrawal from Iraq? What specific steps do you believe the United States should take to ensure victory in Iraq?

Do you support the Central American Free Trade Agreement? Why?

Don and his crew at Intelligent Discontent put together an interesting and diverse panel of issues for discussion. It’s nice to see candidates discuss foreign policy issues in an open forum. The importance of these issues is magnified in a race for the U.S. Senate, where our relationship with the world is debated and often codified in treaties and international law.

Now more than ever, we need a U.S. Senator who understands and will fight for Montanans in foreign affairs. Join the campaign and sign up to volunteer today!

KXLF in Butte reported on Jon’s visit to the Butte Burros earlier this week.

Tester emphasized fiscal responsibility, health care, and ethics during his visit. From the story:

Tester says, “the Jack Abramoff scandal is one issue, the bigger issue is ethics and the fact that we need to have elected officials that are ethical and honest and reputable and are really are willing to represent Montana values.”

You can catch the video on the KXLF website as well.

The Billings Gazette spotlighted the problems with Medicare Part D this morning on its editorial pages. Recall earlier this week, Jon Tester pressed for an extension of the May 15 deadline to give seniors more time to choose a new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Senator Baucus also sided with seniors concerned about their health care and pushed to extend the deadline.

Conrad Burns voted against the extension.

The Gazette applauds Senator Baucus for rising above the partisanship and doing what’s right for Montana senior citizens. From the editorial:

Baucus has been working on Medicare Part D since the measure was written as part of an even larger Medicare bill in 2003. As the ranking Democrat on the Senate committee that oversees Medicare, he is in a key position to hold the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services accountable and to help craft needed revisions to the law. But Montana’s entire delegation, including Rep. Denny Rehberg, needs to be on board with making Medicare Part D work better for enrollees and for taxpayers.

The first step is giving seniors some breathing room. Extend the sign-up deadline at least six months.

Montana needs two senators who will advocate for senior citizens regardless of the politics.

In the Montana Senate, Jon has a proven record of producing results for Montanans.

Join the campaign, and help us send a leader who delivers results to Washington D.C.

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[Jon released the following Press Release earlier today.]

Tester: Burns Should Vote to Extend Medicare Drug Benefit Sign-Up

Senate Candidate Would Offer Montana Reforms in U.S. Senate

February 3, 2006

“Unfortunately, last night, Conrad Burns pulled the rug out from under Montana seniors by voting against extending enrollment in the new federal drug benefit.

“Surveys show that a majority of seniors don’t understand the new federal drug benefit. With less than 10 percent of Montana seniors signed on to the new plan, it’s clear that people simply need more time to enroll in the new federal program.

“I urge Senator Burns to reconsider his actions and to support extending the enrollment period.

“Penalizing thoughtful seniors for carefully considering their health care options isn’t fair and shows Conrad Burns is out of touch with Montana.

“Last year in the Montana Legislature, I sponsored and passed a bipartisan bill to provide real prescription drug relief, cover low-income seniors, and negotiate lower drug prices for Montana senior citizens. Here at home, we’re working hard to promote that program so everyone can afford the drugs they need to stay healthy.

“Conrad Burns’ vote against extending the federal enrollment deadline does a disservice to the work we’re doing here in Montana, and forces seniors to make snap decisions about their health or face penalties and higher premium costs.

“I’m serious about making health care more affordable and cutting the federal deficit. In the U.S. Senate, I’ll work to bring the benefit package we delivered to Montanans to the whole country. It’s simple - negotiating for lower prescription drug prices saves tax dollars and helps seniors.”