Sen. Tester defends health care overhaul

Speaking to Flathead County Democrats at their spring dinner Saturday, Montana Sen. Jon Tester defended support for the Senate health care bill as a responsible and necessary pursuit in Washington.

Democrats are partly defined by valuing things such as education, as well as “jobs and economic opportunity,” Tester told an audience of about 130. “And of course, we value quality, affordable health care.”

Congressional Democrats “are this close to making history,” Tester said, referring to today’s momentous vote in the House for the Senate bill. If the bill passes and is signed into law, Tester said insurance companies will be held accountable and the Medicare system, currently headed for bankruptcy within years, will be financially solvent for decades to come.

While Republicans maintain that the bill will expand federal spending and debt and predict it will cause job losses and other dire economic consequences, Tester castigated the Republican congressional minority as being “the party of ‘no’” for its opposition.

“But there are those in Congress who think that doing nothing is the best option for health care reform,” he said. “Thank God the Democrats are not the party of ‘no’. We work at getting things done.”

He also praised the federal economic recovery act passed last year, crediting it for steering the economy toward recovery and creating jobs. He again criticized Republicans who staunchly opposed that bill.

“It doesn’t stop them from going to ribbon-cutting ceremonies to take credit for bills they opposed,” he said.

Tester said he is proud of the Forest Jobs and Recovery bill that he is sponsoring, saying it is the product of input from Montanans of diverse interests and backgrounds who at one time were at odds with each other.

Tester made no mention of the rally that attracted about 250 people to the sidewalks just outside the Red Lion earlier in the day. Rally-goers were largely opposed to the Senate health care legislation and some opposed Tester’s forest jobs bill.

Flathead Democratic Party Chairman Scott Wheeler said protesters did not cause any problems at the party’s private dinner.

Earlier in the day, Tester attended the funeral for Nicholas Cook, the soldier from Hungry Horse who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month. Tester called for a moment of silence for Cook at the dinner.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com