Tester’s Public Schedules Omit Lobbyist Fundraisers & Meetings Despite Pledge To Disclose Them
Jon Tester is currently melting down on Twitter over Matt Rosendale’s public schedule. It’s an odd line of attack for Tester considering he broke his own ethics pledge promising to post his daily schedule online and to disclose all of his meetings with lobbyists. Tester failed to disclose at least 22 fundraisers outside of Montana, including some that he attended with lobbyists.
Before Tester tries giving the convenient excuse that he isn’t allowed to list campaign events on his official calendar, keep in mind that the Senate Ethics Committee permits schedulers to “maintain an integrated schedule that reflects the Senator’s campaign as well as official activities.” And even if he couldn’t, his campaign website doesn’t have any sort of public schedule.
BACKGROUND:
Jon Tester’s Schedule Omissions
Tester’s Ethics Pledge
During his 2006 campaign, Tester promised he would post his daily schedule online and disclose all of his meetings with lobbyists:
According to the Senate Ethics Committee, Senate schedulers are allowed to “maintain an integrated schedule that reflects the Senator’s campaign as well as official activities.” “The Senate scheduler may coordinate independently established schedules with the campaign scheduler. The Senate scheduler may also maintain an integrated schedule that reflects the Senator’s campaign as well as official activities. However, the Senate scheduler should not arrange any of the Senator’s campaign activities using Senate resources. A Senate scheduler wishing to schedule the Senator’s campaign activities should do so outside of congressional space, and on his or her own time.” (“Campaign Activity,” U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, Accessed 10/23/18)
Tester promised to “post [his] daily schedule online of who he meets with, and where and with whom he travels.” “Will post daily schedule online of who he meets with, and where and with whom he travels. Vows not to accept meals or travel from lobbyists. Former staff members who go to work as lobbyists will not be allowed to deal with his office. ‘There’ll be no revolving door.’” (Gwen Florio, “Meet Jon Tester,” Great Falls Tribune, 10/15/06, p. 1 and p. 8)
“If elected to the U.S. Senate, Democrat Jon Tester vowed Thursday to refuse any gifts, meals or trips from lobbyists and to publicly post, every day, all meetings he or his staff has with lobbyists.” (“Tester Says He’d Set Ethics Standard,” Billings Gazette, 1/20/06)
In his ethics pledge, Tester promised to “ban secret meetings with lobbyists” and “disclose all meetings with lobbyists at the end of each day.” “In front of a federally-funded project beleaguered by ethical questions, Big Sandy farmer and U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester on Tuesday signed his Ethics Pledge, promising to live and work by higher standards than those of Montana Sen. Conrad Burns. … Tester’s Ethics Pledge, which is available in detail online, promises the following once Tester is elected to office: … Tester will ban secret meetings with lobbyists. He will disclose all meetings with lobbyists at the end of each day.” (“Tester Signs Ethics Pledge,” Montanans for Tester, 10/24/06)
Tester promised to post “a list of every lobbyist he meets with” during his 2006 campaign. “Senator Burns and his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff is a telling example of what’s wrong with Washington. More importantly, Jon Tester won’t just pass a law; he’ll set an example — by asking a Montana judge to conduct an ethics audit of his office every year, by posting a list of every lobbyist he meets with and by shutting his door to former members and staffers who try to cash in on their connections.” (“Jon Tester on the Issues,” Montanans for Tester, Archived 11/1/06)
TESTER: “I put forth… a set of ethics principles that I will carry out when I’m elected to the United States Senate. … I will be posting who I meet with so people back home can find out via the internet or any other method I can.” TESTER: “I put forth a set of judicial principles – or a set a of ethics principles that I will carry out when I’m elected to the United States Senate. The judicial audit by a Montana judge every day, I will not be accepting meals, travel or rooms. I will be posting who I meet with so people back home can find out via the internet or any other method I can. And I will stop the revolving door; if folks want to go and work for me, that’s fine, but they will know going in if they go to work for a lobbying firm they’re not going to have access coming back. And the same thing; if they come from a lobbying firm it does not give that lobbying firm access.” (Montana Senate Debate, Helena, MT, 10/12/06, Video, 22:41-23:13)
Since joining the Senate, Tester has highlighted that he posts his daily schedule online:
Tester’s 2012 campaign website: “On Jon’s first day in office, he began the unprecedented practice of posting his daily public schedule on his Senate website for all to see.” (The Tester Ethics Record, Montanans for Tester, Archived 6/3/12)
TESTER: “As far as myself is concerned, I think that the level of responsibility and accountability that I’ve brought to Washington, D.C. are – and transparency – are unmeasured. I was the first person to put my schedule online…” TESTER: “As far as myself is concerned, I think that the level of responsibility and accountability that I’ve brought to Washington, D.C. are – and transparency – are unmeasured. I was the first person to put my schedule online, first person to do an audit, first person to carry bills that really make Washington, D.C.’s government look a lot like Montana’s.” (Montana Senate Debate, Billings, MT, 10/8/12, Video, 3:32-3:53)
Tester defended the transparency of the process in which he voted for ObamaCare by saying that he posted his schedule online and that it showed he held public hearings on the bill. REHBERG: “Now, I want to ask, more importantly, how you passed it. You didn’t have one single open, public town hall meeting other than the meeting you had here with President Obama. It was passed in the dead of the night in the Senate without adequate debate, and enough people did not read the bill. And my question is, do you think that’s how Montanans believe in transparency and how they would’ve wanted you to pass a bill as important as ObamaCare?” TESTER: “First of all, Congressman, since my schedule’s online you can probably find this out by looking back, but we had – I had public meetings with probably around ten thousand Montanans on the healthcare bill.” (Montana Senate Debate, Bozeman, MT, 10/20/12, Video, 29:28-30:02)
Omitted Fundraisers
Jon Tester has failed to include at least 22 fundraisers outside of Montana from his official schedule, including some that he attended with lobbyists:
- In February 2018, Tester omitted from his schedule a California fundraiser he attended to benefit his campaign and that of other Senate Democrats:
On Feb. 22, 2018, Tester attended a fundraiser to benefit his campaign and the campaigns of other Democratic Senators, which was hosted by Bob Iger, Cindy and Alan Horne, and Sen. Chuck Schumer in Brentwood, CA. (@cbellantoni, Twitter, 2/22/18)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Thursday, February 22, 2018, 2/22/18)
- In February 2018, Tester omitted a fundraiser for the DSCC at DC lobbying firm Holland & Knight from his schedule that was hosted by the lobbying firm Holland & Knight:
On Feb. 12, 2018, Tester attended a DSCC fundraiser hosted by Holland & Knight. “At Holland & Knight’s fundraiser for the DSCC on Monday night, according to a PI tipster: Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.); Elizabeth Bartheld of the American Forest & Paper Association; and Rich Gold, Paul Bock, Gerry Sikorski, Beth Viola, Leslie Pollner, Norma Krayem and Miranda Franco of Holland & Knight. Spotted at both fundraisers: Janet Boyd of the Dow Chemical Company, Brett Palmer of the Small Business Investor Alliance, Raga Elim of Ashland; Ali Wolpert of the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation and Josh Riley of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.” (Marianne Levine and Theodoric Meyer, “Geduldig formalizes partnership with Democratic lobbyists,” Politico, 2/14/18)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Monday, February 12, 2018, 2/12/18)
- In January 2018, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraising lunch that he attended at the Philadelphia, PA office of the law and lobbying firm Cozen O’Connor:
On Jan. 31, 2018, Tester attended a fundraising lunch at the Philadelphia office of law and lobbying firm Cozen O’Connor. (America Rising, Tracking Footage of Sen. Jon Tester at the Office of Cozen O’Connor, 1/31/18, Video, Tracking Report)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Wednesday, January 31, 2018, 1/31/18)
- In November 2017, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended for Doug Jones, which was hosted by the lobbying firm Forbes-Tate:
“Forbes Tate Partners, for instance, held a fundraiser for Jones five days after The Washington Post reported that four women had said that Moore pursued relationships with them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, with Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) headlining the event.” (Theodoric Meyer, “K Street reacts to Jones’ victory,” Politico, 12/13/17)
NOTE: The Washington Post story about Moore was published on Nov. 9, 2017.
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 11/14/17)
In April 2016, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended for the DSCC and Tammy Duckworth in Chicago, IL:
On Apr. 29, 2016, Tester attended a fundraiser in Chicago, IL for Illinois Victory 2016, which was a joint fundraising committee for Tammy Duckworth and the DSCC. (Lynn Sweet, “Elizabeth Warren in Chicago stumps, fund-raises for Duckworth,” Chicago Sun Times, 4/29/16)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Friday, April 29, 2016, Archived 5/5/16)
- In March 2015, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended in Phoenix, AZ:
On Mar. 27, 2015, Tester attended a fundraiser in Phoenix, AZ. “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s retirement was nearly as surprising to the head honcho of the Democrats’ U.S. Senate campaign arm as the rest of the world. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, told a group at a Phoenix fundraiser Friday that Reid had tried to give him a heads up that morning, according to one attendee. But because of a late night at the Capitol and a technological snafu, Tester learned of it just moments before the news broke, sitting on a plane headed for Arizona.” (“Snowbird no fan of Sen. Don Shooter’s driving,” The Arizona Republic, 3/28/15)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Friday, March 27, 2015, Archived 4/1/15)
- In October 2014, Tester attended a fundraiser with Sen. Al Franken for the Minnesota’s 7th District Democratic Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota:
On Oct. 19, 2014, Tester attended a fundraiser in Minnesota with Sen. Al Franken to benefit the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District. “U.S. Sens. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., will appear on Sunday at the Shooting Star Casino Event Center in conjunction with the fall fundraiser for Congressional District 7. The fundraiser begins at noon and will feature keynote speaker Sam Kaplan, former U.S ambassador to Morocco.” (“Franken to visit White Earth on Sunday,” Red Lake Nation News, 10/14/14)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Sunday, October 19, 2014, Archived 10/24/14)
- In September 2014, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended for the DSCC in Washington, D.C.:
On Sept. 9, 2014, the DSCC held its annual fall reception fundraiser at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. (“Annual Fall Reception for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee,” Scribd, Accessed 8/1/18)
Tester was filmed attending the fundraiser. (America Rising, Tracking Footage of Sen. Jon Tester Arriving at a DSCC Fundraiser, 9/9/14, Video)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Tuesday, September 9, 2014, Archived 9/12/14)
- In June 2014, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended in Salt Lake City, UT:
Multiple Twitter users mentioned attending a fundraiser with Tester on June 13, 2014 or were pictured with him at the event:
(@craigtrujillo, Twitter, 6/13/14)
(@ballerinaX, Twitter, 6/16/14)
(@RepKarenKwan, Twitter, 6/16/14)
(@craigtrujillo, Twitter, 6/14/14)
(@RepAngelaRomero, Twitter, 6/13/14)
The venue where Tester was pictured at the fundraiser is the Rico Brand Warehouse in Salt Lake City, UT:
(Rico Brand Warehouse, Facebook, 4/2/16)
Rico Brand Warehouse is located at 545 W 700 S Salt Lake City, UT. (Rico Brand Warehouse, Facebook, Accessed 8/2/18)
On July 8, 2014, Tester’s campaign paid Rico Mexican, located at 545 W 700 S Salt Lake City, UT, $1,306.28 for catering and meals. (Montanans for Tester, 2014 October Quarterly Report, Filed 10/15/14, p. 158)
NOTE: The above payment was a memo item for a $1,489.65 MasterCard payment made on July 8, 2014. (Montanans for Tester, 2014 October Quarterly Report, Filed 10/15/14, p. 156)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Friday, June 13, 2014, Archived 6/20/14)
- In April 2014, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended for the South Dakota Democratic Party in Sioux Falls, SD:
On Apr. 26, 2014, Tester was the keynote speaker at the South Dakota Democratic Party’s McGovern Day fundraiser in Sioux Falls, SD. “The South Dakota Democratic Party expects tickets to sell out for McGovern Day, its largest annual fundraiser. Executive director Zach Crago expects to fill all 720 seats in the Sioux Falls hall on Saturday. The event honors retiring U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson. Johnson has also served in the state Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. The agenda includes a workshop on ‘likeable leadership’ for Democratic candidates and a luncheon with candidates for governor. A VIP reception and a dinner wrap up the day. The keynote speaker is U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat from Montana who is also a rancher and farmer.” (“SD Democrats expect largest fundraiser to sell out,” The Associated Press, 4/26/14)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for Saturday, April 26, 2014, Archived 5/2/14)
- In June 2012, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended for the Heartland Victory Fund hosted by Dianne Feinstein and Richard Blum in San Francisco, CA:
On June 1, 2012, Tester attended a fundraiser for the Heartland Victory Fund at the home of Dianne Feinstein and Richard Blum at their home in San Francisco, CA. (“Reception and Dinner for Heartland Victory Fund,” politicalpartime.org, 6/1/12)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for June 1, 2012, Archived 6/1/12)
- In January 2012, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended for the DSCC in Washington, D.C that was hosted by multiple lobbyists:
On Jan. 25, 2012, Tester attended a DSCC fundraiser in Washington, D.C. that was hosted by Amy Tejral, Jamie Houton, Lucy Calautti, Josh Alkin, Tracy Spicer, and Michael Smith. (“Reception for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee,” politicalpartytime.org, 1/25/12)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Amy Tejral has been a lobbyist since at least 2007. (Amy Tejral – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Lucy Calautti has been a lobbyist since at least 2000. (Lucy Calautti – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Tracy Spicer has been a lobbyist since at least 2001. (Tracy Spicer – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Josh Alkin has been a lobbyist since at least 2002. (Josh Alkin – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Michael Smith has been a lobbyist since at least 1998. (Michael D. Smith – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for January 25, 2012, Archived 2/1/12)
- In November 2011, Tester omitted from his schedule a DSCC fundraising event that he attended in Washington, D.C.:
On Nov. 1, 2011, Tester attended a DSCC Senate Roundtable Breakfast Briefing at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (“DSCC Senate Roundtable Breakfast Briefing for Patrick Leahy, Jon Tester,” politicalpartytime.org, 11/1/11)
This Roundtable Breakfast was part of a DSCC membership package that requires a minimum annual donation of $5,000. (“DSCC Senate Roundtable Breakfast Briefing for Patrick Leahy, Jon Tester,” politicalpartytime.org, 11/1/11)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for November 1, 2011, Archived 11/1/11)
- In June 2011, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended in Washington, D.C. to benefit his campaign:
On June 29, 2011, Tester attended a breakfast fundraiser for his Senate campaign at the Mott House in Washington, D.C. (“Breakfast for Jon Tester,” politicalpartytime.org, 6/29/11)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for June 29, 2011, Archived 6/29/11)
- In August 2010, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended to benefit Congressional candidate Dennis McDonald in Washington, D.C. that was also attended by then-Sen. Max Baucus and a lobbyist:
On Aug. 2, 2010, Tester attended a fundraiser for Montana Congressional candidate Dennis McDonald with Sen. Max Baucus and Shannon Finley at The Mott House in Washington, D.C. (“Meet and Greet for Dennis McDonald,” politicalpartytime.org, 8/2/10)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Shannon Finley has been a lobbyist since at least 2007. (Shannon Finley – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for August 2, 2010, Archived 8/5/10)
- In March 2010, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended in Washington, D.C. to benefit his campaign that was hosted by multiple lobbyists:
On Mar. 16, 2010, Tester attended a pre-St. Patrick’s Day fundraising reception for his campaign in Washington, D.C. that was hosted by many people, including Shannon Finley, Carolyn Fuller, Niles Godes, Danna Jackson, Denny Miller, Peter Prowitt, Thomas N. Quinn, Brian Pomper, Marda Robillard, Jon Alexander, Mitchell Feuer, Michael Forscey, Rick Kessler, and Will Stone. (“Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Reception for Jon Tester,” politicalpartytime.org, 3/16/10)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Shannon Finley has been a lobbyist since at least 2007. (Shannon Finley – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Carolyn Fuller has been a lobbyist since at least 1998. (Carolyn Fuller – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Niles Godes has been a lobbyist since at least 1998. (Niles Godes – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Danna Jackson was a lobbyist from 2005 to 2010. (Danna R. Jackson – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Denny Miller was a lobbyist from at least 1998 to 2013. (Denny M. Miller – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Peter Prowitt has been a lobbyist since at least 1998. (Peter D. Prowitt – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Thomas N. Quinn has been a lobbyist since at least 2006. (Thomas N. Quinn – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Brian Pomper has been a lobbyist since at least 2006. (Brian Arthur Pomper – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Marda Robillard has been a lobbyist since at least 2000. (Marda J. Robillard – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Jon Alexander has been a lobbyist since at least 2001. (Jon Alexander – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Will Stone has been a lobbyist since at least 2007. (Will Stone – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Rick Kessler was a lobbyist from 2007 to 2014. (Eric “Rick” Kessler – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Michael Forscey has been a lobbyist since at least 1998. (Michael A. Forscey – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Mitchell Feuer has been a lobbyist since at least 2000. (Mitchell L. Feuer – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/3/18)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for March 16, 2010, Archived 3/20/10)
- In February 2009, Tester omitted from his schedule a DSCC fundraising event that he attended in Washington, D.C.:
On Feb. 5, 2009, Tester attended a DSCC Senate Roundtable Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. (“Roundtable Breakfast for National Senatorial Campaign Committee,” politicalpartytime.org, 2/5/09)
This Roundtable was part of a DSCC membership package that requires a minimum annual donation of $5,000. (“Roundtable Breakfast for National Senatorial Campaign Committee,” politicalpartytime.org, 2/5/09)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for February 5, 2009, Archived 2/9/09)
- In January 2009, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended in Washington, D.C. for Al Franken:
On Jan. 18, Tester attended a brunch fundraiser at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. for Al Franken. “A smiling Al Franken hosted an ‘inaugural brunch’ fundraiser at the Willard Hotel on Sunday, a $1,000-a-plate event on his first trip to the capital since he was certified as the leader in the U.S. Senate race with Norm Coleman. … Besides Klobuchar, two other Democratic senators appeared at Franken’s fundraiser: Maria Cantwell of Washington and Jon Tester of Montana, whose former chief of staff, Stephanie Schriock, ran Franken’s campaign. Also present was Vermont’s Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.” (Kevin Diaz, “In D.C., Franken courts big donors; In town for the inaugural, he met party officials and held a fundraiser to beef up his coffers for court actions,” The Star Tribune, 1/19/09)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for January 18, 2009, Archived 1/29/09)
- In September 2008, Tester omitted from his schedule a DSCC fundraising event that he attended in Washington, D.C.:
On Sept. 18, 2008, Tester attended a DSCC Senate Roundtable Breakfast Briefing at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. (“Breakfast for National Senatorial Campaign Committee,” politicalpartytime.org, 9/18/08)
NOTE: According to other event invitations, the Roundtable Briefing is part of a DSCC membership package that requires a minimum annual donation of $5,000. (“Roundtable Breakfast for National Senatorial Campaign Committee,” politicalpartytime.org, 2/5/09)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for September 18, 2008, Archived 9/24/08)
- In August 2008, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended in Denver, CO, for Steve Bullock:
On Aug. 25, 2008, Tester attended a fundraising reception for Steve Bullock at St. Luke’s Lofts in Denver, CO. (“Reception for Steve Bullock,” politicalpartytime.org, 8/25/08; “Saint Lukes Lofts Condominiums,” Zillow, Accessed 8/3/18)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for August 25, 2008, Archived 8/29/08)
- In June 2008, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended to benefit Mark Begich, which was hosted by a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.:
On June 19, 2008, Tester attended a fundraiser for Mark Begich hosted by Patrick Murphy with several other Democratic Senators. (“Reception for Mark Begich,” politicalpartytime.org, 6/19/08)
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Patrick Murphy was a lobbyist between 1998 and 2017. (Patrick M. Murphy – Lobbyist Profile, Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/19/18)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for June 19, 2008, Archived 6/25/08)
- In December 2007, Tester omitted from his schedule a fundraiser he attended in Portland, OR for Jeff Merkley:
On Dec. 15, 2007, Tester attended a fundraiser for Jeff Merkley at MacTarnahan’s Taproom in Portland, OR. “On Dec. 15, Tester (who’s best known outside of Montana for his background as a farmer and his flat-top haircut) appeared at Portland’s MacTarnahan’s Taproom stumping for Merkley. For $500, donors could have their photograph taken with the pair.” (Beth Slovic, “Oregon Dems envy Montana,” Missoula Independent, 12/27/07)
Tester did not list the fundraiser on his online Senate schedule. (Sen. Jon Tester, Schedule for December 15, 2007, Archived 12/26/07)