Jon Tester for U.S. Senate

Archive for May, 2006

Out Here

Saturday, May 20th, 2006

Narrator: Imagine a Senator who listens to us, and is one of us.

Third-generation farmer and President of the Montana State Senate Jon Tester.

Jon: I helped Brian Schweitzer change politics in Helena, and I’ll bring the same kind of change to Washington.

Create jobs, end Conrad Burns’ kind of corruption, and finally get every family health care.

I don’t look like the other Senators, but isn’t it time the Senate looked a little bit more like Montana?

Narrator: Paid for by Montanans for Tester, testerforsenate.com.

Jon: I’m Jon Tester, candidate for U.S. Senate and I approved this message.

[Click Here to Listen]

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Tester Announces Plan for Affordable Health Care for All Montanans, Americans

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

Making the Senate Look a Little More Like Montana

Jon Tester today released his health care plan and principles to make sure that all Montanans and Americans have access to quality, affordable health care no matter where they live and work.

“Health care is one of the top kitchen-table concerns I hear as I travel the state talking to Montana families, workers and businesses,” said Tester, who as Senate President helped pass major legislation in 2005 to get more health care to Montanans. “As I did in the state Senate, I will fight big insurance and big pharmaceutical companies to make sure that all American and Montana families have access to quality health care, no matter where they live and work.”

“The reason Montana has a fully funded Childrens Health Insurance Program and a comprehensive state prescription drug program for seniors is because I led Democrats fighting on the Senate floor to have those programs funded,” Tester said. “I want to make sure that Montanans know I will fight and win for them on the U.S. Senate floor too.”

[Click Here to Read Jon Tester’s Health Care Plan]

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Jon Tester’s Health Care Plan for All Montanans and Americans

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

Making the Senate Look a Little More Like Montana

These four principles guide my health care policy:

I support affordable health care for all Montanans and Americans

We must ensure families have choice in doctors and plans

We must control costs of health care

We must use more preventive care to improve health and control costs

In the 2005 Montana Legislature, here’s what we did:

Passed a comprehensive prescription drug program that provides more prescription drug coverage to Montana seniors — Big Sky Rx. We took on the big pharmaceutical companies and created a good program that benefits Montanans. I worked closely with AARP to pass this legislation and enact one of the most comprehensive state prescription drug programs in the country.

We fully funded the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

We provided tax credits and pooling to small business to provide health insurance to their employees. We worked with State Auditor John Morrison, Governor Brian Schweitzer and Democrats and Republicans in the 2005 Montana Legislature to pass this measure to help small business across the state.

In 2005 we increased provider rates to improve health care accessibility.

I will take that leadership to the federal level. Here is what I plan to do in the U.S. Senate:

We must fix the Medicare Prescription Drug Program

–Simplify the Medicare Prescription Drug Program so seniors can make wise choices

–We should allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices to cut drug costs

–Provide more federal resources so counselors can help seniors with the complicated program

I intend to expand the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program to all children under 18. This federal-state program works.

I will staunchly protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the Indian Health Service from federal cuts.

As we did in Montana, we must provide tax credits to businesses that provide health care to workers.

We must invest in preventive care to improve health and control costs.

We must ensure state regulation of insurance because some, like Senator Conrad Burns, want to allow cuts in health care benefits to families and workers through federal control of health insurance.

We must invest in public health infrastructure because it is a first line of defense in health and our national security. The federal, state and local governments must work together to ensure a strong public health infrastructure.

Like Montana, we must ensure gender equity in insurance. That is why I asked the Montana Attorney General to rule on whether contraceptives for women must be covered under Montana health insurance plans. The Attorney General agreed. I will advocate for gender equity in insurance at the federal level as well.

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Public Service Commissioners Jergeson and Raney Endorse Tester for U.S. Senate

Wednesday, May 17th, 2006

Jergeson and Raney join Former U.S. Senator John Melcher and Former Montana State Auditor Mark O’Keefe in supporting Tester.

Montana Public Service Commissioners Greg Jergeson and Bob Raney today endorsed Jon Tester for U.S. Senate, saying the Democrat is a leader on energy issues and will craft policy so America can gain energy independence.

“We can count on Jon Tester to do what’s right for Montanans and Americans to help us get affordable, reliable energy and cut our addiction to foreign oil,” PSC Chairman Jergeson said. “Montanans and Americans need a strong voice in Washington who will look out for their energy interests, not the interests of world energy corporations and special-interest lobbyists. Jon Tester is that voice.”

(more…)

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Supporters

Wednesday, May 17th, 2006

Jon is proud to have the vocal support of many elected officials across Montana, including former U.S. Senator John Melcher, former State Auditor Mark O’Keefe, Public Service Commissioners Greg Jergeson and Bob Raney, and 46 state legislators–over half of the Democratic delegation to the Montana Legislature.

???Jon Tester is Montana from the ground up,??? said a letter from Melcher read at a Democratic Party dinner in Great Falls Saturday night and released Tuesday. ???I like him, I support him. I??m voting Tester. I ask you to support him too.???

…

Summing up his endorsements, Tester said, ???These are folks I??ve worked with at the Capitol in Helena and listened to voters with in every corner of the state. Their help demonstrates our broad support and that we??re gaining momentum.???

Check out the Helena Independent Record for the full story on our endorsements.

You can also visit the campaign website to see the list.

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