Tester Supporter Does Ethics Audit, Finds Nothing

Senator Jon Tester recently put up a campaign ad and a campaign website devoted to his supposed transparency on ethics.  The ad noted Tester asked “retired Montana judges” to conduct “tough ethics audits.”  What the ad didn’t tell you is that one of those judges is a supporter of Tester’s and contributed $3,350 to his campaign in 2006.  And while Tester pats himself on the back for not accepting any gifts or services from lobbyists, he left out how much he likes their campaign contributions. 

Tester is the #1 recipient of lobbyist donations, with nearly $350,000, that’s almost $100,000 more than he’s raised from Billings—Montana’s largest city.  Tester says he has opposed pay raises, but as recently as February he voted against a measure to extend the current federal pay freeze.  Jon Tester tries to sound like an ethics crusader, but the facts tell a different story. 

Ret. Judge Gordon R. Bennett Of Helena, Montana Contributed $3,350 To Tester’s 2006 Campaign. (Federal Election Commission, www.fec.gov, Accessed 5/8/12)

Tester Has Taken $348,031 From Lobbyist In The 2012 Cycle. (The Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/18/12)

• Tester Is The #1 Recipient Of Lobbyist Money In The 2012 Cycle. (The Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/18/12)

• When Asked About His Lobbyist Contributions, Tester Said He Had High Standards And The Fact That People Knew About The Money Proved There Was Transparency. BLOCK: “You know, Senator Tester, that your opponent’s campaign says that you’re hypocritical for talking about restricting campaign finance. They call you the number-one recipient of lobbyist campaign cash out of any Washington politician this election cycle. How do you respond to that?”  TESTER: “Well, first of all, I’ve put up incredible standards in my office for lobbyists — went far, far, far above the Senate standards, number one. Number two, the fact that you know that people give money to my campaign shows that there’s transparency there. But the fact is, you know about it.” (NPR’s “All Things Considered,” 1/30/12)

(The Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/18/12)

According To The 2010 Census, With 104,170 People, Billings Is Montana’s Largest City.  (KRTV Website, www.krtv.com, Accessed 6/18/12)

Tester’s Salary Has Increased From $165,200 To $174,000 Since He’s Been In The Senate. (Legistorm, www.legistorm.com, Accessed 11/28/11)

• Between 2007 And 2011 Inflation Rose 9.2 Percent. (US Inflation Calculator Website, www.usinflationcalculator.com, Accessed 11/28/11)

NOTE: Members Of Congress Automatically Receive A Salary Increase Unless It Is Voted Down.

In 2010, The Senate Passed H.R. 5146 By Unanimous Consent, Which Prevented Members Of Congress From Receiving A Pay Increase In FY 2011.  (Participatory Politics Foundation, www.opencongress.org, Accessed 12/7/11)

In 2009, Tester Voted In Favor Of The Bill That Included A Pay Freeze For Members Of Congress In FY 2010. “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the bill that would provide $410 billion in discretionary spending in fiscal 2009 for federal departments and agencies covered by nine unfinished fiscal 2009 spending bills. Those bills are: Agriculture; Commerce-Justice-Science; Energy-Water; Financial Services; Interior-Environment; Labor-HHS-Education; Legislative Branch; State-Foreign Operations; and Transportation-HUD. It would also provide $100 million for the U.S. Secret Service and block the automatic cost-of-living adjustment for members of Congress in 2010.” (H.R. 1105, CQ Vote #96: Motion agreed to 62-35: R 8-32; D 52-3; I 2-0, 3/10/09, Tester Voted Yea)

• Tester Voted Against A Measure To Table An Amendment That Would Repeal The Automatic Pay Raise For Members Of Congress. “Reid, D-Nev., motion to table (kill) the Vitter, R-La., amendment no. 621 that would repeal the provision of current law that provides for automatic cost of living adjustments for members of Congress.” (H.R. 1105, CQ Vote #95: Motion agreed to 52-45: R 5-35; D 45-10; I 2-0, 3/10/09, Tester Voted Nay)

Tester Voted Against A Bill That Would Extend The Federal Employee Pay Freeze Through 2013.  “Roberts, R-Kan., amendment no. 1826 that would extend energy tax credit programs, excluding the production credit and the stimulus grant program that expired in 2011. It also would approve the Keystone XL pipeline and expand oil and gas drilling in new areas, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Provisions would be partially offset by extending the federal employee pay freeze through 2013.” (S. 1813, CQ Vote #38: Rejected 41-57 : D 3-48; R 38-7; I 0-2, 2/13/12, Tester Voted Nay)

Tester Voted Against A Motion To Proceed On A Bill That Would Extend The Payroll Freeze Through 2012.  “McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would extend current payroll tax rates for individuals through 2012. It would be offset by requiring increased Medicare payments from higher-income earners. It also would extend the current pay freeze for federal workers for three years and reduce the federal civilian work force through attrition. Note: By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for adoption of the McConnell motion to proceed to 60 votes. A ‘nay’ was a vote in support of the president’s position.” (S. 1931, CQ Vote #225: Motion Rejected 22-76 : D 0-49; R 22-25; I 0-2, 12/8/11, Tester Voted Nay)

Tester Voted Against A Motion To Proceed On A Bill That Would Extend The Payroll Freeze Through 2012.  “McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would extend current payroll tax rates for individuals through 2012. It would be offset by requiring increased Medicare payments from higher-income earners. It also would extend the current pay freeze for federal workers for three years and reduce the federal civilian work force through attrition.  Note: By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to raise the majority requirement for adoption of the McConnell motion to proceed to 60 votes. A “nay” was a vote in support of the president’s position.”  (S. 1931, CQ Vote #220: Motion rejected 20-78 : D 0-50; R 20-26; I 0-2, 12/1/11, Tester Voted Nay)

NOTE: The House Passed A Bill Extending The Pay Raise, The Senate Has Yet To Vote On It.

In February 2012, The House Passed A Bill To Extend The Congressional Pay Raise Through December 2013, It Has Not Been Voted On In The Senate.  “Ross, R-Fla., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would extend an existing pay freeze on federal employees for an additional year, through Dec. 31, 2013, and apply the same pay freeze to members of Congress.”  (H.R. 3835, CQ Vote #19: Motion agreed to 309-117 : R 237-2; D 72-115, 2/1/12)

• The Bill Was Referred To The Senate Homeland Security And Government Affairs Committee.  “Feb. 2^nd: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.” (Open Congress Website, www.opencongress.org, Accessed 5/3/12)