Jon Tester Fails Honesty Test on Congressional Pay (a.k.a. he took the money, several times)
Senator Tester can never seem to get his story straight. In another smoke and mirrors piece of legislation, Tester introduced a bill to stop congressional pay if the government shuts down due to the inability of Senate Democrats to produce a working budget. This is a concept that nearly everyone in Congress, including Denny Rehberg, agrees with. Tester is not forging new territory – he’s again just grand-standing. Instead of making a big deal out of a minor bill that does nothing to address America’s staggering debt, Senator Tester should focus on finding real, meaningful spending reductions. Currently the federal government pays more per week for interest on our national debt than would be saved if lawmakers didn’t receive a pay-check and all Congressional Office budgets were cut by 10%.
Meanwhile, Denny Rehberg is proposing real legislation that will force members of Congress to address America’s debt. Denny is introducing legislation to ban congressional pay raises until the federal budget is balanced. Recall that just last week Senator Tester voted against a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The state of Montana has a constitutional requirement to balance its budget but apparently Jon Tester believes that state Senators should be held to a different standard than U.S. Senators.
On another note, Senator Tester and his democratic allies have launched an attack on Congressman Rehberg regarding Congressional pay raises. The ironic thing is what Senator Tester doesn’t tell you – which is that Jon Tester has received, and whole-heartedly accepted several pay raises since he’s been in the Senate.
Want more Tester hypocrisy on pay raises?
As a state Senator, Jon Tester also voted himself, and gladly accepted, pay raises. Click here, HB 13, to see one of Jon Tester’s votes to raise his own pay in the Montana Senate.
See Jon Tester’s Record for Receiving Congressional Pay Raises:
1. 2008 Conference Consolidated Appropriations Bill:
2. 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Bill:
3. 2009 Consolidated Appropriations Bill:
Passed by voice vote 3/10/2009
Pay Raises Since Sen. Tester Came to Washington:
When he arrived, 2006: $165,200
Jan 1, 2008: $169,300
Jan 1, 2009: $174,000