Second Stimulus Anniversary Reminds Voters That Democrat Has Failed To Create Jobs While Driving National Debt Past $14 Trillion

Two years after President Barack Obama signed the Democrats’ $787 billion stimulus debacle into law, voters are reminded that liberal U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) has failed to create the jobs he promised.

The Obama White House projected that their massive stimulus spending would cap national unemployment at 8 percent, and Tester promised Montanans that the bill would “[create] millions of new jobs,” calling it a “jobs bill” and a “a big victory for middle-class folks in Montana.”

But since the Democrats rammed their stimulus debacle into law on a party-line vote, Montana’s unemployment rate has risen from 5.7 percent to 7.2 percent. And despite the fact that his $787 billion stimulus has helped drive our national debt over $14 trillion, Tester still refuses to admit its failure, claiming before the Montana Legislature that “The only thing failed about it — was a vote against it.”

“In the two years since Jon Tester rubberstamped President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus and promised it would create jobs, Montana’s unemployment rate has risen even higher,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “Senator Tester still refuses to admit that his massive stimulus spending failed to create jobs while driving our national debt past $14 trillion, but Montanans will surely see through his rhetoric and hold him accountable for his reckless spending and debt when he faces them at the polls next year.”

Meanwhile, the NRSC launched a new web video today entitled “Happy Anniversary, Stimulus,” to remind voters nationwide of the failure of the Democrats’ $787 billion stimulus debacle.

CLICK HERE To View The NRSC’s New Web Video

Background Information:

Tester Said The Stimulus Would Create “Millions Of New Jobs” And Cut Taxes “By Hundreds Of Billions Of Dollars.” “Both of Montana’s U.S. Senators today voted in favor of a plan to rebuild America’s struggling economy by creating millions of new jobs, investing in long-term infrastructure, and cutting taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester voted to pass the Jobs Bill, formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.” (Senator Jon Tester, “Baucus, Tester Vote For Final Jobs Bill, At Least $626 Million For Montana,” Press Release, 2/13/09)

Tester Called The Stimulus A “Jobs Bill,” And Said It Was A “Big Victory For Middle-Class Folks In Montana.” “‘This Jobs Bill is a big victory for middle-class folks in Montana who are paying a tough price after years of failed economic policies,’ Tester said. ‘This Jobs Bill will rebuild our economy from the ground up by putting folks to work and investing in people. We won’t get out of this mess overnight, but passing the Jobs Bill is an important first step, and it will pay us back for generations to come.’” (Senator Jon Tester, “Baucus, Tester Vote For Final Jobs Bill, At Least $626 Million For Montana,” Press Release, 2/13/09)

“‘The Word “Stimulus” Is A Washington, D.C., Word That Doesn’t Mean Much In My Book,’ Tester Said. ‘That’s Why—From Day One—I Have Called This The Jobs Bill. Because That’s Exactly What It Is. You’re Either For Jobs. Or You’re Against Jobs . . . .’” (Senator Jon Tester, “Tester To Congress: ‘You’re Either For Jobs Or Against Jobs,’” Press Release, 2/11/09)

Tester Said He Looked At The Stimulus As A “Jobs Bill,” And Said “We Needed Something To Really Put People Back To Work. I Think This Bill Does That.” MADDOW: “First of all, I know you were a big supporter of the stimulus bill. So, congratulations to you on that legislation passing the Senate today. I have to ask you if you expect to see big changes in the conference committee before the president signs it?” TESTER: “Well, I really don’t. And I really look at it as a jobs bill, Rachel. I think that, you know, when you have the unemployment rates like we’ve had over the last three months, we needed something to really put people back to work. I think this bill does that.” (MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” 2/10/09)

Montana’s Unemployment Rate Has Risen Since The Stimulus Passed

When The Stimulus Passed In February 2009, The Unemployment Rate In Montana Was 5.7%. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/3/11)

· In December 2010, The Unemployment Rate In Montana Was 7.2%. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/11/11)