New ad: Firefighter takes Rehberg to task for meritless lawsuit

Congressman sued Billings Fire Dept. after wildfire on his undeveloped subdivision

‘Rehberg sure doesn’t take responsibility for anything’

BILLINGS, Mont. – Lobbyist-turned-Congressman Dennis Rehberg “sure doesn’t take responsibility for anything,” a Billings firefighter reminds Montanans in the latest TV spot from Montanans for Tester.

The 30-second ad, now airing across Montana, takes Rehberg to task over his irresponsible, meritless 2010 lawsuit against the City of Billings and its Fire Department.

Rehberg is a multimillionaire who turned his family’s former ranch into a high-end subdivision near BIllings. In 2008, a Fourth of July wildfire burned on an undeveloped part of Rehberg’s property, but firefighters prevented the fire from damaging any homes.

Two years later, Rehberg sued the Billings Fire Department for money, saying firefighters “carelessly abandoned” the scene when, after Reherg’s fire was out, they left to fight other nearby wildfires.

Rehberg’s controversial lawsuit cost Billings taxpayers $21,000.

“The lawsuit was dropped because it had no merit, but not before costing us tens of thousands in legal fees, which should have been spent on libraries and police instead,” firefighter Tim Bergstrom says in the new TV spot. “Congressman Rehberg needs to start taking responsibility for his own behavior because Montanans are paying the price.”

TRANSCRIPT:

JON TESTER: I’m Jon Tester and I approved this message.

TIM BERGSTROM/RETIRED BILLINGS FIREFIGHTER: Congressman Dennis Rehberg sure doesn’t take responsibility for anything. When a fire broke out on his land, Rehberg sued the City of Billings for damages—even though the land was undeveloped. The lawsuit was dropped because it had no merit, but not before costing us tens of thousands in legal fees, which should have been spent on libraries and police instead. Congressman Rehberg needs to start taking responsibility for his own behavior because Montanans are paying the price.

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