Tester ad claims untrue
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
Call me old-fashioned, but for my whole life I’ve considered honesty to be a supremely important quality. For that reason, I am writing to counter recent Jon Tester campaign ads that are dishonest.
Tester’s ads have falsely accused Denny Rehberg of “(voting) himself a pay raise five times” and also of using “tax-payer-funded SUVs.” Neither of these accusations is true.
About the first untruth: in 1989, a new law went into effect to govern Congressional pay increases. It stipulates that Congressional salaries are raised automatically based on a private-sector measurement known as the “Employment Cost Index.” Members of Congress are not allowed to vote themselves pay increases. The Tester ad allegation is not only false; it is impossible. By contrast, Rep. Rehberg has a history of reasonableness regarding Congressional pay. He introduced in the 112th Congress HR 994, “to require Congress to lead by example and freeze its own pay for a fiscal year unless the federal government did not run a deficit in the previous fiscal year.” Further, Denny voted to extend the pay limitation for members of Congress and federal employees (HR 3835, roll call 19, Feb. 1; Rehberg voted “yea.”) See www.thomas.loc.gov, a Library of Congress site, if you’re interested in true facts.
About the second untruth: the Congressional district Denny represents is second only in size to Alaska’s first district. Denny is allowed a “Congressional vehicle” when doing “Congressional work” in Montana. This is not his personal vehicle. Denny is the only member of our Montana delegation who visits all 56 Montana counties during his term. At present, Denny drives a hybrid, not an SUV, because of an edict of Nancy Pelosi’s back when she was Speaker of the House.
Probably everyone reading this letter is familiar with the classic folk tale about the little boy who cried wolf. The saddest thing about dishonesty is that when you do say something true, no one believes you because of the untruths you’ve already told. My heart goes out to Jon Tester and whoever helps with his advertising.
Carol Cummings
Polson
