Tester addresses economic recovery at SKC job fair
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PABLO – Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., compared his own life working as a farmer in rural Montana to American economic recovery last week.
Tester spoke to his audience at the annual Salish Kootenai College Career Fair as he explained the challenges Congress faces in regard to spending cuts.
Tester took a farming approach, describing economic recovery as the “grease,” of America’s infrastructure.
“You can’t just plant seeds and expect everything to turn out,” Tester stated, “the soil must be prepared, and the crops cared for.”
“You need good equipment, and you have to keep it greased,” he said, “We can cut some spending, but we can’t cut the “grease” that keeps everything running.” Agreeing that some spending should be cut, yet it is crucial we don’t cut too much spending.
“You can’t just go in axing and cutting things, you need to be careful,” he added. “We’re coming out of the worst financial crisis since the depression. If we screw this recovery up, it will make things worse.”
The Senator also urged audience members to take advantage of employment opportunities.
“You need to take advantage of the opportunities like the ones at this job fair,” he said, “Though it may not be the career choice you are looking for, it is a step in the right direction.”
“You guys are the future of our nation. (Congress) needs to know what we can do better, what can we do right,” Tester said.
Rebuilding the economy involves smart investments, Tester added. Some of those smart investments include public safety projects, which help create jobs. Tester mentioned improving schools and roads as two of the public safety projects Montana needs to invest in.
He also added that Montana has a wealth of energy resources, which need to be utilized.
Tester then fielded questions from the audience.
An SKC student asked Tester if it was true that Pell grants were being cut. He answered that the U.S. House of Representatives had voted to cut some Pell grant funding, but that the Senate would also have to approve the cuts before they passed. Tester stated that he is against cutting the grants.
Pell grants help fund low income students pay for college.
According to Tester, cutting them would be a big mistake.
Another audience member asked about the status of Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. The act will likely be brought back soon, probably attached as an amendment on another bill since it is Montana specific, and Congress would never notice the bill if it stood alone.
“We will continue to look for opportunities to get it approved,” Tester said.
Leading up to his speech at SKC, Tester spent 30 minutes with Lance Cpl. Tomy Parker, an RHS alum who lost both of his legs and four fingers in an improvised explosive device explosion back in December.
The meeting between Tester and Parker was the second since Parker’s accident. The two spoke about his recovery process so far, and Tester’s recent trip to Afghanistan in January.
While discussing Parker’s recent benefit and outpouring of community support, Tester commented that “Small town Montana is a great place to be from,” Tester said.
“Yeah I have buddies from bigger towns that didn’t have many show up when they got home,” Parker noted.
After speaking with Parker, Tester turned to address the media. Tester said, “These folks sacrificed dearly, our country needs to stand behind them.”
