Tester Time
Tester visits Colstrip; speaks on issues
Forsyth Independent Press
By KATE BERTIN
Colstrip Democrats gathered at Rye Park Sunday to wish U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester a happy 50th birthday — and to hear his vision for Montana’s future.
Tester opened his speech by sharing with the crowd a dictionary definition of “liberal” — one who is open to change. America needs honest leaders who are open to change, he said.
“It’s about sending somebody back to Washington Montana is going to be proud of,â€? he said.
Tester looks for change in many areas. This country faces an energy crisis of historic proportions, Tester said — and Americans need to become energy independent.
The U.S. needs to focus on renewable energy that includes coal-to-gas, biofuels and ethanol, solar and wind power and hydrogen, he said. The government needs to extend tax credits to countries producing alternative fuels and provide incentives for conservation.
“There are a lot of things the government can do. The only problem is, where do you start?” he asked. “It’s going to be very difficult, it’s going to be very painful. But it’s also an opportunity for Montana.” Because of its vast natural resources, Montana is one of few states that will benefit greatly from an increased focus on renewable energy, Tester said.
In addition to touting his energy plan, Tester took questions from the crowd that touched on everything from health care to the besieged American middle class. Here is what Tester had
to say on:
THE ECONOMY
Working Families
Tester said that as a farmer, he understands the struggles experienced by Montana’s working families.
“I’m a lot closer to being a poor person than I am to being a rich person,” he said. “Working class families are under attack bigtime. I don’t like it, and it’s one of the reasons I’m running for Senate.”
Tester pointed to his latest term as a state senator, when the legislature cut taxes for 13,000 of Montana’s small businesses.
He also said that he strongly supports the union movement in America. The decline of the middle class can be directly linked to the decline of unions in this country, he said.
Tester said he supports “Employees Free Choice” act, introduced in Congress in April, 2005, which forces businesses to recognize unions if formed by the majority of workers.
“One of the keys to a vibrant middle class is a vibrant union program,” he said.
Fiscal Responsibility
In five years, the Republican-controlled Congress has created an astonishingly huge national debt, Tester said, more than doubling the debt from all previous year. That kind of borrowing on the future shows “tremendous fiscal irresponsibility.”
Montana needs senators who will insist on being fiscally responsible, he said.
HEALTH CARE
Accessible health care is critical to America’s families, Tester said. Many families are “going bare,” living without health insurance because it is too expensive. The government needs to work toward affordable health care for all American citizens, he said.
EDUCATION
Tester wants to work to put more money back into making federal dollars available for education. Programs like PELL grants and workstudy are an investment in the future, he said.
“If you’ve got a well-educated society, you have a better society,” Tester said.
WAR ON TERROR
America needs to continue to fight the war on terror, Tester said — and plan to get American troops out of Iraq as soon as possible. “We’ve lost focus on the war on terror because of this war in Iraq,” he said.
