Promised To “Lead Efforts To Balance The Federal Budget”
Just days after U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) sided with his liberal Washington party bosses in refusing to even consider a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, majorities in both houses of Montana’s legislative branch are now demanding a balanced budget amendment to force Washington to get its out-of-control spending and debt under control.
As NBC Montana reports:
Majorities in the Montana House and Senate today sent a letter to Montana’s congressional delegation, urging Sens. Max Baucus & Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg to support a federal balanced budget amendment. The letter, signed by over 80 members of the 62nd Legislature, reaffirms that Montana would be one of the first states to ratify such an amendment if it were to pass Congress.
As a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006, Tester promised Montanans he would “lead efforts to balance the federal budget” and campaigned on the importance of fiscal responsibility in Washington.
But since coming to Washington, Tester – who is the top recipient of campaign cash from lobbyists this election cycle – has abandoned his previous support for fiscal responsibility, choosing instead to rubberstamp President Barack Obama’s reckless spending agenda – including the failed $787 billion stimulus and $2 trillion health care overhaul. Meanwhile, it has now been 818 days since Tester and his fellow Senate Democrats have proposed any federal budget, much less the balanced budget Tester promised.
“Whether he’s rubberstamping the failed $787 billion stimulus, giving the deciding vote to pass ObamaCare, or voting to kill a balanced budget amendment, Jon Tester has spent the last several years ignoring Montanans’ voices,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “As the legislators in his own state capital demand that Washington balance its budget once and for all, when will Tester finally stop putting his loyalty to President Obama ahead of the demands of Montanans?”
AS A CANDIDATE IN 2006, TESTER PROMISED TO “LEAD EFFORTS TO BALANCE THE FEDERAL BUDGET”:
“Jon Tester Will Lead Efforts To Balance The Federal Budget and stop stealing from the Social Security trust fund.” (Jon Tester For U.S. Senate Website, “Real Change, Real Vision For Montana Plan,” www.testerforsenate.com, Accessed 3/29/11)
Tester: “I’m Not About To Put My Kids’ Future And Opportunity On The Line So I Can Spend Money Like A Drunken Sailor. I Am Going To Be Fiscally Responsible. And The Fact Is If You Would Support A Pay-As-You-Go In This Government, We Wouldn’t Be In A Situation Where We Have Every Man, Woman, And Child, And Every Child To Be Born With A $30,000 Debt.” (Montana Senate Debate, www.c-spanvideo.org, 10/12/06)
Video Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHE4FzuO2I
Tester: “The Fact Is You Need To Have People Back There That Have Experience In Balancing A Checkbook And Can Set Priorities. I’ve Been Able To Balance A Checkbook In The Private Sector And In The Public Sector.” (Montana Senate Debate, www.c-spanvideo.org, 10/9/06)
Video Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RziBtqkgJ8
