More Bad News For Tester As ObamaCare Approval Hits An All-Time Low

As liberal Democrat Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) struggles to defend his decision to cast the deciding vote in favor of the Democrats’ massive health care overhaul, this month’s Kaiser Family Foundation health tracking poll shows that both Tester and President Obama have even greater reason to fear Montana voters at the polls next year: their 2,700 page, $2.5 trillion health care law is less popular than ever.

The poll’s summary and toplines show a bleak picture for Tester, Obama, and their fellow Washington Democrats:

• Overall favorability of the law stands at 34%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of very favorable support stands at 12%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of respondents who think they personally will be better off due to the law stands at a mere 18%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of respondents who think the country as a whole will be better off due to the law stands at 28%,  an all-time low;
• Approval of the law among Democrats dropped by 13% in the last month to only 52%, an all-time low.

“As approval for the Democrats’ massive health care law hits an all-time low, Montanans will remember that Jon Tester cast the deciding vote to ram it into law,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond today.  “When will Tester finally acknowledge the reality that he and Obama’s health care takeover is so unpopular because of its onerous mandates, harmful results to Montana’s patients and doctors, and tremendous cost to Montana taxpayers?” 

Tester insists that ObamaCare is good for Montana.  But notably, the U.S. Senate Finance and U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committees released a joint report earlier this year, estimating that ObamaCare’s Medicaid spending mandates alone will cost states at least $118 billion through the first decade of full implementation (through 2013).  Specifically, the report reveals that Tester’s new mandates will cost Montana $175.2 million over five years.