Tester rallies in Pablo, Polson over weekend
Summer Goddard
Sen. Tester speaks with voters outside the the Lake County Democrat headquarters on Main Street in Polson on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Summer Goddard
CSKT Councilman Tom McDonald thanked Sen. Tester for his advocacy for Tribal people and his integrity.
Summer Goddard
SKC student senate representative Jacop Wayne poses for a photo with Sen. Tester and future generation voter.
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Nearly a month out exactly from the Nov. 5 general election, Senator Jon Tester, the incumbent Democratic candidate for one of Montana’s two senate seats, visited with voters at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo and at the Lake County Democratic headquarters in Polson. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal members and SKC students met with Tester at the Pablo rally on Oct. 6.
In conversations prior to the start of the event, attendees spoke with Tester about his recent debate with Republican challenger Tim Sheehy and thanked him for telling Sheehy to apologize for insenstive comments he’s made about Native Americans.
Event organizer Zach Wagner introduced Tester as a long-time advocate for tribal people. “Since 2006, Senator Tester has been a great voice for us – actively fighting for Indian people in D.C.,” he said. He emphasized that tribal voters will play a pivotal role in the outcome of the upcoming election and encouraged those attending to get their family, friends and neighbors to the polls.
“The federal government can’t solve all the problems in Indian country,” Tester said. “But what we can do is help you move your own solutions forward.” He noted that his tenure in the U.S. Senate, puts him in a position where, “We can actually get stuff done without begging other people to do it.”
SKC student senate representative Jacop Wayne asked the Senator several questions about issues affecting tribal communities. One of the questions was how to address restrictive voting barriers.
Tester responded that it used to be that both parties wanted you to vote, but “that’s not the case anymore.” In this respect in particular, “who you elect matters,” he said. He pointed to Montana’s same-day voter registration as a win for voter participation.
In regards to specific legislation affecting Indian communities, Tester referenced an infrastructure bill that allocates money for roads, bridges and broadband, an increase in firefighter pay that he supported and a bill that brings more manpower to Indian Health Services by allowing for forgiveness of loans for IHS providers. Even if providers who come to work for IHS leave Indian Country, Tester said they typically stay in Montana – which ends up being good for everyone.
CSKT Tribal Councilman Tom McDonald thanked the Senator for his work on behalf of native people and veterans. He also thanked him for his support of tribal appointments to public office – notably that of U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
“You absolutely live up to what you say you’re going to do,” McDonald said. “Senator Tester has done more for Indian Country than any other senator in my lifetime,” he added, addressing all in the room. “He’s always advocated for us to have a seat at the table.”
