Jon Tester topics and responses

Stimulus Spending to Beat Great Recession

PRO:

• 10/09/2006: Montana suffered from Burns` cuts in discretionary funding
• 07/30/2009: Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending
• 02/10/2009: Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package
• 10/15/2012: $787B in stimulus spending was step in the right direction
• 09/24/2006: Minimum wage increase is long overdue

  CON:

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million

Acknowledging and Addressing Climate Change

PRO:

• 04/06/2011: Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases
• 05/15/2007: Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning
• 05/15/2008: Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China
• 01/16/2007: Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

  CON:

• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax
• 04/01/2009: Voted YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade

Getting Money Out of Politics

PRO:

• 05/11/2010: Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks
• 01/19/2006: End the "pay-to-play" culture of Washington
• 02/25/2013: Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements
• 08/03/2006: End policymaking for those with the biggest campaign checks
• 01/06/2009: Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises
• 10/09/2006: K-Street cronies control Congressional spending decisions
• 06/16/2012: Citizens United puts democracy at risk
• 02/25/2009: Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad
• 10/22/2012: Citizens United is scary for democracy
• 01/19/2006: Ban lobbyist gifts, and more, starting with my own campaign
• 06/17/2012: Citizens United ruling puts democracy at risk
• 10/14/2012: Oppose Citizens United: limit corporate political spending

Saving Elephants, Whales, Dolphins and Lions

PRO:

• 05/08/2013: Voted YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems

  CON:

• 01/13/2012: Ranked by HSLF, indicating an anti-animal welfare voting record

Renewable Energy

PRO:

• 03/07/2006: Long-term tax credits for wind power development
• 01/17/2007: Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025
• 06/21/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies
• 03/07/2006: 4-point plan for getting over America`s oil addiction
• 06/17/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation
• 10/09/2006: Kyoto Accord needs worldwide communication & US leadership

Making it Harder to Get a Gun

CON:

• 04/17/2013: Voted NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets
• 10/01/2006: Strongly believes in our Second Amendment rights
• 04/12/2011: Sponsored veterans registering unlicensed guns from abroad
• 03/27/2007: Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC
• 09/06/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership
• 01/06/2009: National cross-state standard for concealed carry
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains

GMOs and Food Labeling

PRO:

• 04/24/2013: Require labeling genetically engineered food

Cutting the US Military Budget

PRO:

• 07/11/2007: Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months
• 08/18/2014: Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials

  CON:

• 10/09/2006: Build forces to fight terror cells; not take away our rights

Legalizing Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

CON:

• 10/01/2006: Tough penalties for manufacturing & selling drugs

Abortion Rights

PRO:

• 03/14/2008: Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP
• 04/11/2007: Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 10/18/2007: Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
• 01/06/2009: Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception
• 11/13/2013: Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
• 03/05/2009: Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies
• 02/05/2007: Ensure access to and funding for contraception
• 10/01/2006: Supports Stem Cell Research
• 05/02/2006: Pledges to focus on preventing abortions, not on attacking

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage

PRO:

• 03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays
• 09/03/2006: Opposes gay marriage; but not worth amending Constitution

Repealing ObamaCare

CON:

• 06/11/2009: Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug
• 11/01/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 04/07/2008: Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn
• 02/03/2006: Negotiate for lower prescription drug prices
• 02/03/2006: Extend enrollment period for new Medicare
• 01/29/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 05/25/2011: Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium
• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 02/14/2008: Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare
• 03/04/2009: Expand the National Health Service Corps
• 04/18/2007: Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
• 04/11/2013: Merge Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit
• 10/14/2012: Protect people with pre-existing medical conditions

Addressing and Fighting Income Inequality

PRO:

• 03/23/2007: Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset
• 02/13/2008: Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M
• 02/08/2006: Bush`s tax cuts are irresponsible
• 09/24/2006: Focus tax cuts on the middle class, not the rich
• 03/21/2007: Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million

  CON:

• 10/22/2012: Extend Bush exemption for inheritance tax up to $10M