Tester rallies grassroots support from Montana women

‘Montana values are at stake in this election’

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana Farmer Jon Tester rallied grassroots support from women across Montana during a lively speech in Billings Monday.

Tester noted that Lobbyist Dennis Rehberg often says Montana’s U.S. Senate race is a “contrast of philosophies.”

“It’s not every day I say this: he’s right,” Tester told dozens of members of Planned Parenthood. “I’m proud of my 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood. That’s because I believe in very simple principles.”

Those principles include the freedom of women to make their own health care decisions, which Tester calls “non-negotiable.”

“Every woman who needs access to contraception should have it,” Tester said. “And no woman should be denied life-saving health care—like cancer screenings.”

Rehberg consistently votes to protect taxpayers for millionaires. But as chairman of a committee responsible for health care funding, Rehberg has repeatedly tried to eliminate funding for Title X, an initiative that provides life-saving cancer screenings and family planning services to tens of thousands of Montana women every year.

Tester highlighted his consistent support for equal pay for women for equal work, support for cancer screening initiatives and his support for the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan Violence Against Women Act —all of which Rehberg opposes.

“Congressman Rehberg insists on weakening the Senate’s Violence Against Women Act before he can support it,” Tester said.

Tester added that the values of Montana women are at stake in the upcoming election.

“I’ve always said this campaign is a ‘boots on the ground’ campaign,” Tester added. “But that’s not accurate. It’s a ‘heels-pumps-and-sneakers-on-the-ground’ campaign.”

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