Tester wants to help repair economy

Sen. Jon Tester said Wednesday he will work to repair America’s economy by pushing for funding of vital programs and infrastructure, while continuing to advocate for projects in Montana.

In an interview with the Kaimin, Tester discussed the current economic downturn, as well as the ongoing presidential race.

Although some have called it the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Tester said he isn’t sure how to classify the current economic situation.

“My crystal ball’s pretty cloudy,” he said. “I think we just need to work to minimize it as much as possible. Some folks think the worst is over, and some folks think the worst is yet to come.”

Tester voted against the $700 billion bank bailout plan passed by Congress last Thursday. He said he would prefer a plan that looked to invest in infrastructure, education and health care.

“I think all three of those areas are critically important to our economic liability in the future,” he said.

Tester said such projects could begin in as little as three months, with the support of Congress, and many of those projects would improve what is already in place.

He said he doesn’t know what current economic conditions will mean for college students because if credit markets freeze up, it could make getting loans more difficult. He said it was necessary to minimize those effects, possibly consulting those in the credit business who have creative ideas.

“That absolutely is a concern of mine because affordability and access for somebody to go to school is a big deal to me,” he said.

He said he also supports supplying Pell Grants, which provide money for college to underprivileged students.

Montana’s junior senator also discussed the upcoming presidential election, gun rights, the possibility of Gov. Brian Schweitzer accepting a cabinet position in the next administration and his proposal to bring commercial rail service to southwestern Montana.

• Tester said that if Barack Obama is elected president, Obama will take to the White House many of the same values he has, such as empowering the middle class. Tester said it would be refreshing to work with a president with whom he was on the same page.

“I think Barack has some good ideas, and I think he will implement change much more readily than Sen. McCain will,” Tester said. “And I think that’s what the country needs.”

Tester said the current presidential election is especially important for people under the age of 30 who have become involved during this election season.

“They’re truly just on fire right now,” he said.

--The two senators differ on at least one issue: gun rights. Tester is a strong proponent of the Second Amendment and Obama has called for stricter gun control. However, Tester said he has spoken to the Illinois senator about the issue and is convinced that as president Obama would not threaten gun rights, especially after his visits to Montana and other areas of the country over the course of the campaign season.

“I feel very secure in my Second Amendment rights with Barack Obama in the White House,” he said. “I honestly do. And if I didn’t, I’d say it.”

Tester added, “I’ve got a lot of guns, and he ain’t going to take one of them away from me.”

--In regards to a fellow Montana Democrat — Schweitzer, who rose to greater national prominence in August after a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in August — Tester said he doesn’t think the governor would accept a position on the next president’s cabinet if offered.

“I think there’s a lot of work to be done here, and I think he’s got incredibly more flexibility as governor of the state than he does in a cabinet position,” he said. “And Brian, he needs flexibility. I think it’s something he likes.”

--A measure added by Tester to an Amtrak-funding bill that passed Congress earlier this month requires the rail line to look into the possibility of restoring a route that would cross the state from Glendive to Missoula. The route was discontinued in 1979. He said one problem with the project would be its cost given the current economic climate, but hopes to eventually implement a train system similar to those that are popular in Europe.

“I think if we ever got to that point, it can be a mode of transportation that people would use as their first choice, instead of their last choice,” he said.

After two years in office, Tester — who unseated incumbent Republican Conrad Burns in 2006 — said he’s enjoyed working in Washington, although he admitted it’s been frustrating at times.
“We’ve got some good stuff done,” he said, “and we’re gonna get some more good stuff done over the next four years.”

allison.maier@umontana.edu