Tester votes against dramatic increase in campaign finance limits

Senator takes strong stand against spending bill

(U.S. Senate) – Senator Jon Tester strongly believes that stopping the flood of money into America’s elections is vital to preserving the nation’s democracy – and that’s why he voted against today’s omnibus spending bill.

Tester, a leading backer of campaign finance reform, refused to support the bill due to a number of secretive provisions inserted into the measure, including one that would allow wealthy political donors to give up to eight times more money to political parties. Under this provision, a married couple could donate more than $3 million every election cycle to national campaign committees.

“The key to improving the federal government and making it work for the American people is campaign finance reform,” Tester said. “I will not support measures that make it more difficult to elect responsible leaders willing to make tough decisions to strengthen our country. We can pass bill after bill, but if we don’t stop the flood of money into politics, special interests will win at the expense of everyday Americans.”

“In the recent election, Americans said they wanted Congress to work together in an open, transparent process,” Tester said. “These provisions are not only bad for Montana and the country, but they were added to the bill without any transparency or accountability.”

Despite Tester’s call for support, the bill did not include any funding for Secure Rural Schools (SRS), which supports 34 Montana counties located near national forests. SRS payments support public schools, public roads, forest health projects and other county projects.

The spending bill passed the Senate 56 to 40. The House passed it earlier this week.