Tester criticizes campaign finance laws in farewell address

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a farewell speech to the Senate on Monday warned against campaigns becoming so bitter that lawmakers can no longer work together, blasting campaign spending laws a month after losing the most expensive race in Montana history.

The Montana Democrat is in the final weeks of his 18-year Senate career, having lost the general election to Republican Tim Sheehy, a political newcomer. Exiting members of Congress are given a chance to offer parting words. In the House, U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, chose not to. Rosendale didn’t seek reelection after two terms. 

“Please listen to this. I have just been through the meat grinder. We need to do some campaign finance reform. Because of the campaign finance system in this country today, we have more division than ever. We are more paralyzed as a body to do policy than we ever have been before,” Tester said, faulting Supreme Court decisions equating unrestrained campaign spending with free speech.