Tester tops Senate transparency rankings

Senator hailed by government watchdog for backing bills to increase accountability, rein in government spying

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester made his name in Montana and the U.S. Senate with his dedication to government transparency and accountability, and the results are showing.

Tester this month was named the most transparent U.S. Senator by the government watchdog service GovTrack.us. The widely read online watchdog based its ranking on Tester’s support for all eight of the bills it uses to measure lawmakers’ dedication to government transparency.

“From my first day in the Senate when I posted my schedule online, to my recent efforts to rein in the NSA, I’ve made increasing government transparency and accountability top priorities,” Tester said. “Government works best when we hold it accountable, and I will keep fighting to make sure government is open and honest with Montanans and all Americans.”

GovTrack highlighted Tester’s support for bills that increase the amount of information that the government and political campaigns publish online and his support for legislation that forces the government to disclose court rulings justifying certain government surveillance programs.

Tester, the first Senator to post his daily schedule online, is a member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and leads the panel’s subcommittee on government oversight. He is currently fighting to pass his bill to increase transparency on U.S. Senate campaigns.

GovTrack ranked Tester first based on his introduction or support for the following bills: the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act, the Public Online Information Act, the DATA Act, the Ending Secret Law Act, the Cameras in the Courtroom Act, the FISA Court Reform Act, and the Read the Bills Act.

GovTrack’s report on Senator Tester can be found online HERE. The watchdog also ranked Tester in the top 10 percent of Senators in its Leadership Score and top 20 percent for writing bipartisan bills.