Senate Leadership Fund

What changed, Jon?

Jon Tester did a little grandstanding in an op-ed yesterday. He explained how three short-term CRs was his breaking point and that he would now be joining Chuck Schumer in using the filibuster to shut down the federal government.

So what changed for Tester? During 8 years of the Obama Administration, Tester voted for thirty (30) short-term CRs to fund the government. That sure makes Tester’s “WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH” rhetoric in his op-ed seem a little disingenuous.

Hopefully voters ask the same question of Tester when they go to the ballot box this November.

BACKGROUND:

Jon Tester voted for 16 short-term continuing appropriations bills during Barack Obama’s Administration, and there were an additional 14 continuing appropriations bills passed by voice vote in the Senate. (James V. Saturno and Jessica Tollestrup, “Continuing Resolutions: Overview of Components and Recent Practices,” Congressional Research Service, 1/14/16)

  1. December 19, 2016, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through April 28, 2017.“McConnell, R-Ky., motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill that would provide funding for federal government operations through April 28, 2017, at an annualized discretionary rate of $1.07 trillion. The measure also would provide $170 million in response to the lead-contaminated drinking water system in Flint, Mich., including $100 million in capitalization grants for EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund that the city could use to repair its drinking water infrastructure. It also would provide $872 million for medical research and anti-opioid addiction grants and would transfer a net $45 million to support extending health benefits for retired coal miners for four months. It would provide $10.1 billion in additional Overseas Contingency Operations funds for the Defense Department and certain other security-related accounts. The measure also would provide for expedited Senate consideration of legislation that would exempt President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, from a requirement for seven years to have passed before retired military officers can be the Pentagon chief.” (H.R. 2028, CQ Vote #161: Motion agreed to 63-36: R 40-13; D 22-22; I 1-1, 12/9/16, Tester Voted Yea)
  2. September 28, 2016, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through December 9, 2016.“Passage of the bill that, as amended, would provide $82.3 billion in discretionary funding for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction and military housing in fiscal 2017. It also would fund other government operations through Dec. 9, 2016, at roughly 0.5 percent less than fiscal 2016 levels; provide $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus; and provide $500 million for the Community Development Block Grant program to respond to major disasters declared in 2016.” (H.R. 5325, CQ Vote #151: Passed 72-26: R 40-14; D 31-12; I 1-0, 9/28/16, Tester Voted Yea)
  3. September 30, 2015, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through December 11, 2015.“McConnell, R-Ky., motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill regarding Transportation Security Administration personnel, with Cochran, R-Miss., amendment no. 2689 that would provide funding for government operations through Dec. 11, 2015, at an annualized rate of $1.017 trillion. The Cochran amendment would provide funding for Overseas Contingency Operations at a rate of $74.8 billion, roughly equal to the fiscal 2015 level. Most programs would be funded at a rate that would be 0.21 percent less than their fiscal 2015 funding levels, but funding levels for certain other programs would be specified and funding flexibility would be provided for a number of departments and agencies to ensure implementation of certain activities. It also would provide $700 million in emergency funding for urgent wildfire suppression and would extend certain expiring authorities, including the ban on state taxation of Internet access and the E-Verify employment verification program.” (H.R. 719, CQ Vote #272: Motion agreed to 78-20: R 32-20; D 44-0; I 2-0, 9/30/15, Tester Voted Yea)
  4. September 18, 2014, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government until December 11, 2014.“Passage of the joint resolution that would provide funding for federal government operations until Dec. 11, 2014, at an annualized rate of $1.012 trillion. It would provide $88 million for government efforts to fight the Ebola virus, provide U.S. border agencies with budget flexibility to maintain current border protection and enforcement activities and extend the Export-Import Bank’s operating authority through June 30, 2015.” (H. J. Res. 124, CQ Vote #270: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 78-22: R 33-12; D 44-9; I 1-1, 9/18/14, Tester Voted Yea)
  5. January 15, 2014, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through January 18, 2014.“Passage of the joint resolution that would provide continuing appropriations for government operations through Jan. 18, 2014, reflecting an annual discretionary level of about $986.3 billion.” (H. J. Res. 106, CQ Vote #11: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 86-14: R 31-14; D 53-0; I 2-0, 1/15/14, Tester Voted Yea)
  6. October 16, 2013, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through January 15, 2014.“Passage of the bill that would provide continuing appropriations for government operations through Jan. 15, 2014, reflecting an annual discretionary level of about $986 billion. It would allow federal borrowing to continue through Feb. 7, 2014, after the president certifies that the U.S. Treasury cannot pay its obligations and would set up an expedited process for Congress to consider resolutions of disapproval for debt limit increases included in the 2011 Budget Control Act. It also would provide for retroactive pay for federal employees who worked through the government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, 2013 and for workers furloughed during that time. The bill also would require the Health and Human Services Department to verify the income qualifications of people who apply for tax subsidies under the 2010 health care overhaul.” (H.R. 2775, CQ Vote #219: Passed 81-18: R 27-18; D 52-0; I 2-0, 10/16/13, Tester Voted Yea)
  7. September 22, 2012, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through March 27, 2013.“Passage of the joint resolution that would provide continuing appropriations for the federal government through March 27, 2013, at an annualized rate of $1.047 trillion in discretionary spending for regular appropriations. The measure would increase funding for most federal programs and agencies by 0.6 percent, with higher levels for certain programs, such as cybersecurity and wildfire suppression. It also would provide nearly $100 billion in war funding and $6.4 billion in advance disaster relief funds.” (H. J. Res. 117, CQ Vote #199: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 62-30: R 12-29; D 48-1; I 2-0, 9/22/12, Tester Voted Yea)
  8. November 17, 2011, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through December 16, 2011.“Adoption of the conference report on the bill that would provide about $128.1 billion in discretionary funds for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and for science programs and other related programs in fiscal 2012. Excluding emergency funding, the bill would provide roughly $19.8 billion for Agriculture programs, $52.7 billion for Commerce, Justice and science agency programs and $55.6 billion for Transportation and HUD programs. The measure would provide approximately $2.3 billion in emergency-relief funding. It also would include provisions to make continuing appropriations for all other programs through Dec. 16, 2011.” (H.R. 2112, CQ Vote #208: Adopted (thus cleared for the president) 70-30: R 17-30; D 51-0; I 2-0, 11/17/11, Tester Voted Yea)
  9. September 26, 2011, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through November 18, 2011.“Reid, D-Nev., motion to concur in the House amendment with a Reid substitute amendment no. 662 that would make continuing appropriations for fiscal 2012 through Nov. 18, 2011, at an annualized rate of $1.043 trillion. It also would provide $2.65 billion in disaster relief funding for fiscal 2012, without offsets.” (H.R. 2608, CQ Vote #153: Motion agreed to 79-12: R 26-12; D 51-0; I 2-0, 9/26/11, Tester Voted Yea)
  10. April 14, 2011, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through September 30, 2011.“Passage of the bill that would provide $1.055 trillion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2011, $39.9 billion less than fiscal 2010 spending. The bill contains a full Defense Department spending bill that would appropriate $513 billion for fiscal 2011, plus $157.8 billion for overseas operations. Spending for other government agencies and programs would be based on fiscal 2010 levels, less certain reductions, rescissions and eliminations. The bill would bar the use of federal or local funds for abortions in the District of Columbia. It also would modify, reauthorize and appropriate funds for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program through fiscal 2016. The bill would bar the use of funds to transfer or release Guantanamo detainees to the United States.” (H.R. 1473, CQ Vote #61: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 81-19: R 32-15; D 48-3; I 1-1, 4/14/11, Tester Voted Yea)
  11. March 17, 2011, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through April 8, 2011.“Passage of the joint resolution that would provide continuing appropriations for the federal government through April 8, 2011. Most spending levels would be based on fiscal 2010 levels, with the exception of adjustments contained in previous continuing resolutions and the measure. It would make $6 billion in program reductions and eliminations, including reductions to several accounts funded in fiscal 2010 to reflect the elimination of earmarks and the rescission of money left unspent by the 2010 Census.” (H. J. Res. 48, CQ Vote #44: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 87-13: R 38-9; D 48-3; I 1-1, 3/17/11, Tester Voted Yea)
  12. March 2, 2011, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through March 18, 2011.“Passage of the joint resolution that would provide continuing appropriations through March 18, 2011 for all government agencies and programs. Most spending levels would be based on fiscal 2010 levels, less certain eliminations and reductions totaling $4 billion. It would eliminate funding for earmarks that were included under the continuing appropriations law that expires on March 4.” (H. J. Res. 44, CQ Vote #29: Passed (thus cleared for the president) 91-9: R 42-5; D 48-3; I 1-1, 3/2/11, Tester Voted Yea)
  13. December 21, 2010, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through March 4, 2011.“Reid, D-Nev., motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with a further Reid substitute amendment no. 4885 that would continue most appropriations at fiscal 2010-enacted levels through March 4, 2011. The measure would provide an overall annualized spending rate that is $1.16 billion more than fiscal 2010 levels. It would provide additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Pell grants. It also would allow the awarding of a Navy contract for shipbuilding of Littoral Combat Ships to multiple suppliers.” (H.R. 3082, CQ Vote #289: Motion agreed to 79-16: R 25-14; D 52-2; I 2-0, 12/21/10, Tester Voted Yea)
  14. September 29, 2010, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through December 3, 2010. “Passage of the bill that would make would provide continuing appropriations through Dec. 3, 2010, for all federal departments and agencies, none of whose fiscal 2010 appropriations bills have been enacted. It would provide several spending adjustments including an increase of $624 million for the National Nuclear Security Administration and $23 million for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. It would reduce spending for the Census Bureau to $964 million. It also would extend year-round child nutrition programs and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s pre-disaster mitigation operations. The bill would allow the District of Columbia to implement its local budget beginning on Oct. 1, 2010.” (H.R. 3081, CQ Vote #247, Passed 69-30: R 11-29; D 56-1; I 2-0, 9/29/10, Tester Voted Yea) 
  15. October 29, 2009, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through December 18, 2009.“Adoption of the conference report on the bill that would appropriate $32.3 billion in fiscal 2010 for the Interior Department, the EPA and related agencies. The bill would provide $11 billion for the Interior Department, including $1.1 billion for the Bureau of Land Management; $10.3 billion for the EPA; $5.3 billion for the Forest Service and $4.1 billion for the Indian Health Service. The bill would fund the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities at $168 million each and the Smithsonian Institution at $761 million. The funding also includes $3.4 billion to fight and prevent wildfires. It also would prohibit the EPA from requiring mandatory greenhouse gas reporting from manure management systems for one year. It would provide continuing appropriations through Dec. 18, 2009, for all federal departments and agencies whose fiscal 2010 appropriations bills have not been enacted. Funding would continue fiscal 2009 levels, with some exceptions.” (H.R. 2996, CQ Vote #331: Adopted (thus cleared for the president) 72-28: R 15-25; D 55-3; I 2-0, 10/29/09, Tester Voted Yea)
  16. September 30, 2009, Tester voted for a CR that funded the government through October 31, 2009.“Adoption of the conference report on the bill that would appropriate $4.7 billion in fiscal 2010 for legislative branch operations. It would provide $1.3 billion for operations of the House of Representatives, $926 million for operations of the Senate, $602 million for the Architect of the Capitol and $643 million for the Library of Congress. It also would provide $557 million for the Government Accounting Office, $328 million for the Capitol Police, $147 million for the Government Printing Office, and $45 million for the Congressional Budget Office. It also would provide continuing appropriations through Oct. 31, 2009, for all federal departments and agencies whose fiscal 2010 appropriations bills have not been enacted. Funding would be set at fiscal 2009 levels, with some exceptions. It also would reduce required Postal Service payments to retiree health benefits by $3 billion, extend surface transportation programs and prohibit funds from being provided to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).” (H.R. 2918, CQ Vote #302: Adopted (thus cleared for the president) 62-38: R 5-35; D 55-3; I 2-0, 9/30/09, Tester Voted Yea)