Montana Legislature

Welcome Back Tester

By Dan Testa, 1-15-07

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester was just here addressing his political alma mater, the Montana Legislature.

Asked what his biggest surprise in Washington has been so far, he replied, "How deliberative everything is."

Montana's government, Tester said, hears a thousand or more bills in every 90-day session. But in Congress, it's not unusual to spend two weeks or more debating a single bill. It's that slow pace he wasn't expecting, he said.

Tester's speech to the legislature's joint session was largely a rehash of many of his campaign assertions. He described "America's ongoing healthcare crisis" as one of the greatest challenges facing Washington lawmakers. He also mentioned the necessity of ethics reform, energy independence and pledged solidarity with Sen. Max Baucus in opposing sending more troops to Iraq. He emphasized "political, diplomatic as well as military options" be integral to U.S. foreign policy.

Tester also urged current state lawmakers to provide voluntary full-day kindergarten, a central education issue this session. House Speaker Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, and House Education Chairman Rick Jore, C-Ronan, have said they oppose full-day kindergarten.

The last time I saw Jon Tester in person was election night at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls. On the final night of that long campaign, he looked haggard, with deep creases around his eyes. This afternoon in Helena he looked calm, rested and genuinely happy to be back in Montana.

"Home will always be on the farm, in Big Sandy," he told lawmakers.

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