Viewpoint: Tester is Montana’s true advocate
David James
If Facebook and social media is your source of information, you may have concluded that all Democrats, including US Senator Jon Tester, are corrupt and therefore evil. Facebook and most social media sites are a far cry from reliable sources of information. Maybe it’s time to reassess those assumptions.
For the record, Jon Tester has been a faithful advocate for the interests of average Montanans. For example, he worked tirelessly with five Republicans and four other Democrats to negotiate the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which provided this help to Montana. Unfortunately, he was the ONLY member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for this bill.
Senator Tester was vital in securing nearly $16 billion investment for Montana’s public schools, roads and municipal services. Lincoln County will receive more than $4 million to assist our public schools, firefighters, law enforcement officers, towns, and roads. This funding for our rural schools will come from the U.S. Forest Service, delivered to counties for this purpose.
Other counties in northwest Montana that will benefit from Tester’s efforts include Flathead (over $1 million), Mineral County (nearly $1 million) and Sanders County (over $1.5 million), just to name a few. When Montana counties are desperate for the funds to provide for their residences, this achievement is vital.
Senator Tester helped secure nearly $3 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges. $1 billion will go to completing all allowed rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation. Tester helped negotiate $65 billion to deploy broadband to rural areas across the country (including Montana) that lack affordable internet access. He also helped appropriate over $3 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, which especially critical to Montana.
Many Montanans have been deceived into believing Jon Tester is a corrupt politician, especially if one believes the ads paid for by big agricultural corporate interests. The Senate Republicans, promoted by Montana’s US Senator Steve Daines, have targeted him by paying for misleading campaign ads. Unfortunately, many folks make their decisions about candidates.
Montanans sometimes forget he is a third-generation dirt farmer. A man who still farms the same land just outside Big Sandy that his grandparents homesteaded over 100 years ago. I have known Jon since he was a member of the Montana State Senate years ago, and I can attest to his honesty and integrity.
His desire to help the people of Montana he loves becomes obvious when you talk with him. He has always been gracious, plain-spoken and helpful by greeting and educating dozens of my students I took to Washington DC. Senator Tester is a born and bred Montanan who always keeps our best interest. Tester is a state asset and has earned our support.