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Dear Big Sky 55+ Members:

 

Big Sky 55+ is pleased and proud to endorse our effective, hardworking U.S. Senator Jon Tester for re-election. I hope you will honor Jon with your vote. This race is extremely close. Beyond your vote, please use your super powers to let your family, friends and neighbors know, regardless of party, why they should vote for Jon Tester. 

 

The following points might be helpful in your conversations about why this race is of the utmost importance to Montanans like us.

 

Social Security is Key!  

 

Jon Tester works tirelessly to preserve Montanans’ Social Security benefits. Jon supports legislation to improve Social Security so it can keep paying full benefits and increase monthly benefits. Requiring individuals who make more than $400,000 a year to pay their fair share will secure Social Security for all future generations. Jon’s opponent, Tim Sheehy, has stated publicly that he wants to privatize Social Security and Medicare. Sheehy’s campaign ads are full of lies about the status of Social Security and he is not interested in the commonsense solutions that will protect and improve Social Security. (See Big Sky 55+ Board Chair Terry Minow’s response to Tim Sheehy’s ads at bigskyfiftyfive.org/social-security.) 

 

Medicare and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs!

 

Jon Tester was the deciding vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which forced Big Pharma to negotiate with Medicare for fair prices on some of the most expensive and most needed medicines. Jon was the ONLY Senator or Congressman from Montana to vote for the IRA. Thanks to the IRA, insulin is capped at $35 a month. Yearly prescription costs for Medicare recipients will soon be capped at $2000.

 

Fair Taxes!

 

Jon Tester opposed the massive tax cuts in 2017 that went mainly to billionaires and big corporations. Unfair tax cuts allow billionaires to avoid paying their fair share of public investments like education, infrastructure, Medicare and Social Security. Jon will vote to end the 2017 tax cuts for the ultra wealthy so funding is available for the public investments that help Montana working families, agriculture, and small businesses thrive.

 

Veterans!

 

Montana has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the nation per capita. Jon Tester’s record of support of Veterans health care and access to services is second to none in the U.S. Congress. Jon is at the forefront of championing Veterans Administration reforms to meet the needs of a large generation of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans now back home, working and raising families, and coping with the long-term and high personal costs of their service. 

 

Family Farms and Ranches!

 

The only working farmer in the U.S. Senate, Jon Tester understands the real challenges and needs of Montana’s rural communities. Jon supports country-of-origin labeling of meat. He has worked tirelessly to insure and protect vital water infrastructure for the Montana Hi-line. 

 

Integrity and Authenticity!

 

Senator Jon Tester is exactly what he appears to be. He is a dirt farmer and former teacher and school board member who represented Central Montana in the Montana Legislature. He quickly rose to the top as one of the best. As Montana Senate President in 2005, he carried legislation to lower prescription drug costs for low income seniors. As our U.S. Senator, Jon has made the needs of Montanans his priority.

 

The stakes in Montana’s U.S. Senate race are stark!

 

Sen. Tester has been and will continue to be a strong advocate for:

• Women’s freedom to make our own health care and reproductive decisions, free of governmental interference.

• Public lands, clean air and water, and clean energy.

• Montana’s rural hospitals and clinics, and rural nursing homes and senior services.

• Respect for Native American culture and sovereignty, and Native American health care and educational opportunities.

• Funding for public education and child care to ensure the strength of America’s workforce. 

• Daily long distance passenger rail serving a large percentage of Montana’s population.

Please join me in voting for Jon Tester! Spread the good word to help him cross the finish line so he can continue to fight for Montanans like us. Thank you!

 

Respectfully,

Terry Minow, Chair

 

P.S. If you would like to write a letter to the editor for your local paper, we are happy to help. Call or email Faith Scow at fscow@bigsky55.org, 406-465-7423.