Letters to the editor Oct. 21

Why Montanans should re-elect Tester

There are many reasons from a partisan standpoint of why one may or may not vote for Sen. Jon Tester, but for me there is one nonpartisan reason above them all. His office is the only office that has been responsive to me when I have reached out. I was heard and represented.

I’ve contacted Tester’s office about two issues, one related to inheritance taxes after my dad died in 2010, and the other related to healthcare since I have MS. Both times, Tester’s team reached out to me personally by phone call to put me in touch with the most relevant expert on his team to discuss that issue. They then followed up with me after key voting took place in the Senate. I reached out to my other congressional representatives, and no one replied — or worse, I got a form letter reply from former Rep. Denny Rehberg’s office that was unrelated to my question and only broadly on the topic of taxation. Former Sen. Max Baucus’s office didn’t reply. Tester’s office phoned and followed up.

I don’t agree with every policy decision of Tester — but I wouldn’t for any politician. What I care about is that he actually listens to his constituents. In today’s political world that is worth gold.

— Sarah Rugheimer, Columbia Falls

Tester’s housing plan

I have seen and heard several adds by Sen. Jon Tester saying that he is working to lower housing costs in Montana. But I have not seen or heard any plans as to how this will be done. 

This is another Tester promise, ephemeral unsubstantiated smoke. Housing costs are determined by cost of materials, cost of labor, land and interest rates. All of these are increased by inflation, which Tester voted for by increasing government spending and debt. That is the cause of inflation. So, he actually made housing costs go up. How can someone who created the problem fix the problem?  

I presume his plan is to spend your tax dollars paying first time home buyers thousands of dollars to buy a home. This does not decrease housing costs; it transfers your tax dollars to other people to buy their votes.

— William Fry, Kalispell

Vote to save our country

Calling all conservatives to register and vote early avoiding possible Election Day problems inhibiting voting.

Some elections were determined by just a few hundred votes, so your vote definitely counts. We are morally obligated to vote as not voting can promote evil. Even if we despise our party system, distrust politicians, have better values than the candidates, we are morally obligated to vote for whoever best advances the good. 

No one is perfect, but we must persevere, however slowly, overcoming evil by advancing the good for the love of our neighbor who is everyone.

Vote Republican if you fear the open border and other bad policies of the Harris-Biden administration and collective voting block of the Democrats overrunning our towns and cities by flooding our country with illegal aliens, and their potential leftist votes, many who are violent gang members, terrorists, drug traffickers, sex traffickers of women and children destroying numerous lives, not to mention taking jobs from legal citizens and overwhelming our school and hospital systems. The first obligation of government is for safety and security for its legal citizens by enforcing the existing laws.

If Vice President Kamala Harris was serious about secure borders now after keeping the borders wide open for over three years pursuant of President Joe Biden’s policies, then she would simply enforce existing laws immediately, although much too late, as the acting vice president. Actions speak louder than words.

Vote Donald Trump and Republican for the good and to salvage and save our country from disastrous Democrat policies. 

— Diana Taylor, Seeley Lake

Tester has seniority

Thinking of voting for Tim Sheehy? Think again. 

Don’t forget, the Senate is organized by seniority. Senior senators like Sen. Jon Tester have far more power to help Montanans than a beginner would have. Tester has been rated as one of the most effective senators in the nation for a number of years. One who doesn’t just take stands, or make statements, but actually passes legislation, usually in a bipartisan way.  Running your own business is far different from finding enough common ground to pass legislation in Washington.   

Sheehy hasn’t even served on a local school board. 

Keep Jon Tester working for Montana. 

— Jeanne Olson, Kalispell

Treasure life

May Montana be known as a state that treasures the life of a baby. May Montana be a womb and not a tomb for the unborn. Vote no on CI- 128.

— Betty Harris, Bigfork

Deception

CI-128 deceptively provides for abortion through the ninth month for any reason. Here’s how.

Part (2) of Constitutional Initiative 128 states after the unborn child would likely survive outside the womb, “in no circumstance shall the government deny or burden access to an abortion that ... is medically indicated to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.”  

The mother’s health includes mental health that can be broadly defined, including stress. The majority of mothers are under stress when they are considering destroying their unborn child. The stress can include financial difficulties, interrupting a career, or coercion from the child’s father.  

CI-128 would protect abortion providers from a botched abortion.  Part (3) “The government shall not penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against a person based on the person’s actual, potential, perceived, or alleged pregnancy outcomes.”  

What recourse would there be for a botched abortion resulting in the death of the mother?

It would be a rare Montanan who would support the killing of unborn babies through the ninth month.  

Vote no on CI-128.

— Margaret Juneman, Thompson Falls

Tester has our backs

That damn Tester, some say, but as a fourth-generation Montana ranching businessman, the small business backbone supports families, jobs and growth. Montana feeds the world, we can power it too. Sen. Jon Tester stands up for small-town businesses and ensures we have the tools and resources to thrive.

Tester also knows firsthand the challenges of running a small business – he’s a farmer from Big Sandy, that’s tough. Read his biography “Grounded.” I did. He’s different from Washington D.C. He’s Montana made. He’s fought to cut red tape and improve access to affordable loans for small business owners. He secured relief for local businesses during the pandemic through the Paycheck Protection Program, which kept thousands of Montana businesses afloat.

Tester supports expanding access to rural broadband, a vital service for small businesses in today’s economy. I attended the Lame Deer communications center groundbreaking this summer, with Northern Cheyenne neighbors. Even as fiber was being installed at my Powder River ranch and businesses. By closing the digital divide, he’s ensuring that small businesses in rural areas can compete in a global market, and provide more opportunities for local workers.

If you care about the future of small-town businesses in Montana, and not a Montana overrun by corporate carpetbaggers gutting the state we love, then Tester deserves your vote this November. He’s always had our backs, and he’ll continue to fight for the people who make our small towns thrive.

— Steve Held, Broadus