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Tester’s Senate campaign, Montanans for Tester, launched the new 60-second spot Monday. It will run statewide across Montana.

The commercial features the Testers sitting in the home they built themselves near Big Sandy, Mont., flipping through a photo album and talking about how both of them grew up working land homesteaded by their families.

“We’re not unique,” Jon Tester says in the ad. “This is the story of Montana: Generations before us on this land. Hard work. Responsibility.”

Tester is the Senate’s only farmer. He still works the same land homesteaded by his grandparents in 1912. Jon and Sharla will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary this September.

“Out here, it isn’t hard to understand that things are bigger than us,” Sharla Tester says in the ad. “Caring as deeply about the next generation, as the people who came before cared about us. Now, that’s the Montana way.”

“Worrying a lot more about the next generation needs to be the American way again too,” Jon Tester says—noting his record of cutting the national deficit, improving schools, protecting clean air and water, and protecting Social Security and Medicare.

This is Tester’s sixth TV advertisement. Unlike his Senate opponent, all of Tester’s ads have focused on his record of holding himself accountable to Montana, his commitment to Montana veterans and his Montana roots.

Documentation online HERE.

Transcript:

SHARLA TESTER: Jon grew up on this land; worked alongside his folks.

JON TESTER: Sharla lived just down the road, working with her parents too. For generations, Montanans have lived this way.

SHARLA: We hope our grandkids will too.

JON: We’re not unique. This is the story of Montana: Generations before us on this land. Hard work. Responsibility.

SHARLA: Out here, it isn’t hard to understand that things are bigger than us.

JON: We care about what we leave our kids. Reducing the deficit. Better schools. Making sure kids can afford to go to college. Better care for our veterans. Protecting Social Security and Medicare. Protecting clean air and water. And protecting our way of life.

SHARLA: Caring as deeply about the next generation, as the people who came before cared about us. Now, that’s the Montana way.

JON: Worrying a lot more about the next generation needs to be the American way again too. I’m Jon Tester and I approve this message.

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BILLINGS, Mont. – Jon Tester’s newest TV ad features three prominent Montanans who vouch for the Montana farmer’s unprecedented ethics and accountability to the people he serves.

Click here to view the ad on Facebook

The 30-second spot, which begins airing across the Big Sky State Monday, showcases Tester’s record as the first member of Congress to post his public schedule online.

Click here to view the ad on YouTube

Tester is also the only member of Congress who has judges conduct regular ethics reviews of his office. Former Montana Supreme Court Justice William Leaphart recently gave Tester “high marks” in Tester’s latest ethics audit.

Tester’s new ad touts a new website summarizing his record on ethics, transparency, and accountability: testerethicsrecord.com.

Tester’s TV commercial features former Montana Congressman Pat Williams, former federal prosecutor Sherry Matteucci and teacher Cathy Kuntz.

“He’s a man of intelligence and integrity,” Kuntz says in the ad. “And his actions prove it every single day.”

This is Tester’s fifth TV ad. Recent ads showcased Tester’s Montana roots, and his success in fighting for Montana veterans who have defended America’s freedoms.

Documentation online HERE.

Transcript:

SHERRY MATTEUCCI [Federal Prosecutor, ret.]: “Jon Tester promised us he’d be a different kind of senator, and he is.”

CATHY KUNTZ [Teacher]: “He’s a man of intelligence and integrity. And his actions prove it every single day. He posts his schedule online, so we know who he’s meeting with.”

PAT WILLIAMS [Former Member of Congress]: “He’s cracked down on lobbyists. Refused their trips.”

MATTEUCCI: “And has retired Montana judges conduct tough ethics audits to make sure he’s following his own rules.”

WILLIAMS: “See for yourself, and you’ll know too.”

MATTEUCCI: “Jon Tester is working for Montana—”

ALL: “—Every single day.”

JON TESTER: “I’m Jon Tester and I approve this message.”

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On the conservative radio show Voices of Montana, Rehberg said he “doesn’t get” the war on women.

“It’s all fabricated, this ‘war on women,’” Rehberg claimed.  “We do everything we possibly can to see that everybody has an opportunity.”

But as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for health care, Rehberg tried twice last year to zero out funding for Planned Parenthood. [HR 1, Vote 93, 2/18/11; New York Times, 2/17/11; Billings Gazette, 10/9/11]

Why?  Dennis Reberg says Planned Parenthood isn’t necessary.

“We have what’s called Medicaid,” Rehberg said today.  “It’s for our low-income women.”

But last year, Rehberg voted to cut Medicaid by $500 billion. [HR 2560, Vote 606, 7/20/11; New America Media, 7/26/11]

Then Rehberg said cuts to Planned Parenthood and attempts to restrict contraception are part of a made-up distraction to “divert the attention” away from economic issues.

“We’re doing everything we possibly can to provide the same opportunity for everyone in America,” Rehberg claimed.

Same opportunity?  Dennis Rehberg voted twice against guaranteeing equal pay for women for equal work.  [HR 2831, Vote 768, 7/31/07; S. 181, Vote 37, 1/27/09]

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana farmer Jon Tester is so proud of Montana beef, he butchers it himself and takes it with him on his 2,000-mile commute to work.

Tester’s practice caught the attention of one of the world’s largest newspapers earlier this year. And now it’s the subject of the latest TV ad by Tester’s U.S. Senate campaign.

Click here to view the ad on Facebook

The 30-second TV spot begins airing across Montana Thursday. It follows Tester as he packs a roller-cooler full of steaks and ground beef at his third-generation farm (appropriately named “T-Bone Farms”) near Big Sandy, Mont. Tester carries the beef through airport security all the way to Washington, where his wife Sharla prepares hamburgers.

Of course, the commercial itself addresses meatier issues than just beef. It highlights Tester’s record of cutting the deficit, making college more affordable, protecting Social Security, Medicare and gun rights, honoring veterans “and making the U.S. Senate look a little more like Montana.”

In a January profile, the New York Times noted that during flights to Washington, Tester “can often be found lugging an extra 40-pound roller bag, which he gingerly stuffs into the overhead bin. His precious cargo is neither briefing books nor an extra raincoat, but roasts, ribs, round steak and (his favorite) rib steak.”

The Montana Beef ad is the fourth TV commercial produced by Montanans for Tester. Earlier this month Tester’s campaign launched ads featuring Tester addressing a town hall meeting and a Montanan praising Tester’s work as an effective leader on veterans’ issues. Tester’s first commercial profiled his work on his farm.

Ad – “Montana Beef – Montana Proud”

Documentation online HERE

Transcript:

NARRATOR: “Jon Tester doesn’t pack much when he goes back to Washington, but he always brings his Montana roots. In Washington, Jon’s standing up for Montana values: reducing the deficit, making sure kids can afford to go to college, protecting Social Security and Medicare, protecting the Second Amendment, taking care of veterans. And making the U.S. Senate look a little more like Montana.”

JON TESTER: “I’m Jon Tester and I approve this message. I approve Sharla’s cooking too.”

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Planned Parenthood Town Hall – Bozeman

It was a full house for Jon’s town hall w/ @PPact in Bozeman Photo:ow.ly/i/zSFS

— Jon Tester (@jontester) April 20, 2012

On Friday, Tester joined Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards and Stacy James, the president of of Planned Parenthood Montana, for a public town hall meeting in Bozeman. They took questions and heard concerns from a standing-room only crowd. Many who attended said their rights have come under attack by Congressman Dennis Rehberg and his party bosses in Washington D.C.

@CecileRichards on Jon: “this is a man who never forgets where he came from. He is a champion for women, families, and children” — Jon Tester (@jontester) April 20, 2012

Sportsmen’s Advisory Panel – Bozeman

Also Friday, just days after being named the “Legislator of the Year” by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Tester hosted his third meeting with his Montana-based Sportsmen’s Advisory Panel. The wide-ranging group joined Tester in Bozeman to speak about ways to protect the freedoms and liberties of Montana’s hunters and anglers.

Veterans’ Hearing – Billings

Jon heard moving testimony from veterans in Billings when he hosted a Senate field hearing Saturday about the need to improve health care services from the VA and expand access to rural Montanans. A full room of veterans listened as one witness made the case for improved access by telling the story of a five day journey from Plentywood to Miles City to Billings to Helena to get a basic x-ray of his wrist.

See a gallery of the hearing from the Billings Gazette here.

Truman Dinner – Billings

Tester closed out his weekend by firing up 400 supporters at the Yellowstone County Democrats’ annual Truman Dinner in Billings. See photos on Facebook. After he was greeted with a standing ovation, Tester compared his record of responsible decisions and holding himself accountable to Montana to that of Congressman Dennis Rehberg–who sued the City of Billings Fire Department after a wildfire burned through Rehberg’s Billings subdivision.

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Flathead Democrats declared it's "Tester Time"

Jon spent Saturday in the Flathead a few weeks ahead of the annual rush of outdoors men & women who take advantage of one of our nation’s outdoor treasures.

Jon spoke about job creation and the economic potential of the Flathead with successful Montana businesses while making his way up Highway 93. He stopped for visits at Core Motion, an engine and power generator manufacturer in Ronan, and Zinc Air, an energy technology company in Columbia Falls.

Firefighters from Kalispell & Whitefish stand with Jon

In Whitefish Jon met with senior citizens after touring the Whitefish Theatre Company. They held a discussion about the need to provide affordable health care and protect Medicare benefits.

Jon speaks with senior citizens in Whitefish

To close out the day, Jon was the keynote speaker at the Flathead County Spring dinner in Whitefish. Jon fired up the crowd by declaring “Montana needs a Montana farmer with Montana values in the U.S. Senate.”

After a swing into Plentywood for a listening session Jon met with Montanans in Glasgow.

Jon meets with Nashua Mayor Patricia Hallett

Near Wolf Point, Jon had an opportunity to check up on the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water System, a project that will delivering clean drinking water to more than 50,000 Montanans.

Jon tours the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water facility

Jon wrapped the day with a visit with students at the school in Poplar, and a meeting with the Fort Peck Tribal Council.

Jon answers a question about how he lost the fingers on his left hand (answer: a meat grinder)

A young man in Poplar shows off his engine to a fellow car enthusiast

At the Tester farm outside of Big Sandy, Montana, planting season is underway and the tractor featured in Jon’s recent TV ad is in full gear.

Jon and Sharla have been hard at work. They’re both behind the wheel of a tractor as they race to get seeds in the ground before Big Sandy gets rain.

Jon and Sharla gather the last of the winter peas from the air drill for planting

On Tuesday and Wednesday they planted Austrian winter peas, used to fertilize his wheat, and barley.

Jon and Sharla prepping the air drill instagr.am/p/I9zOuRtq-p/

— Jon Tester (@jontester) April 3, 2012

At the peak of planting, Jon spends hours on the tractor. But you never stop being a Senator. Jon plants his fields while making work calls from his cell phone.

Jon makes a work call while driving his tractor and planting winter pea seeds.

While driving the tractor, Jon surprised several Montanans on Facebook and Twitter by responding to their questions about his work on the farm with video responses.

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The Keystone XL Pipeline is important to Eastern Montana where 100,000 barrels of oil per-day from the Bakken oil fields will enter the pipeline at an on-ramp in Baker.

That means construction jobs, maintenance jobs and significant revenues to local communities.

Earlier this month Jon visited Richland County and Miles City to discuss the importance of this project and oil and gas development in Eastern Montana.

Jon has voted to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline three times including a vote to require the steel for the pipeline to also be “Made in America.”

Jon is also pushing TransCanada to begin training Montana workers to construct the pipeline.

A pipeline that stretches from the Montana Hi-Line to the Gulf Coast should be built with American workers and the oil it carries should be refined and sold in America.

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