| Still Thinks Failed $787 Billion Stimulus A “Big Victory For Middle-Class Folks In Montana”
WASHINGTON — As they rammed their $787 billion “stimulus” bill into law, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and President Barack Obama claimed it would create millions of new jobs, and the Obama Administration projected it would keep unemployment below 8 percent. But instead, the United States has lost 2.4 million jobs since Obama became President – and the country is now in its 31st consecutive month of above-8-perecent unemployment. As The Hill reports: The U.S. economy added a net total of zero jobs for the month of August, prompting new fears about a double dip recession. Meanwhile, Tester still refuses to say where he stands as President Obama prepares to call for yet another round of costly stimulus spending, borrowed on the backs of Montana families and businesses. “With the economy still stuck in a ditch and failing to create jobs, Montanans are no doubt wondering why Jon Tester still believes it was a good idea for President Obama to borrow $787 billion from China in order to lose 2.4 million jobs,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. |
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) |
