Fiscally Responsible, Not

In Montana's Senate Race, Jon Tester keeps portraying himself as fiscally conservative and wanting to balance the Federal budget. He continually blasts Sen Burns for cutting taxes and spending money that the country doesn't have. Now Tester has all kinds of ideas on how to spend money, extending CHIPS to all children, but I have never heard him once say how he would balance the budget. He never talks about raising taxes or cutting spending to get the deficit under control, just criticizes Burns for not doing it while proposing spending increases by the Federal government. I've really wondered about all of this since it doesn't really add up. Now, what do I see today?<br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/10/05/news/state/35-tester.txt" >Tester proposes homeowner tax break</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>State Sen. Jon Tester, D-Big Sandy, in front of the James and Catherine Bentler home in Billings on Wednesday, outlined federal tax proposals to help homeowners, college students and families.<br />n<br />nTester is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate opposing U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who is running for his fourth term. Libertarian Stan Jones of Bozeman is also on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.<br />n<br />nTester said his "Real Tax Relief" plan would provide targeted property tax relief from the federal government, "an idea that has never been tried in Washington." He said the importance of the idea is that it is fair and benefits Montana families and homeowners.</blockquote><br />n<br />nSo, Tester wants to cut taxes and increase spending as his platform for getting into the Senate. Doesn't this just sound like Sen Burns's strategy? I'll admit, the tax breaks are different from the ones Burns supports but the strategy is the same. How does this help balance the Federal budget like Tester has been campaigning on? I wish somebody could answer this for me but I'm sure the Tester fanatics out there will just ignore me.<br />n<br />nI find the one tax break very interesting.<br />n<br />n<blockquote> * Establish a 5 percent tax credit for life for any honorably discharged service member.</blockquote><br />n<br />nAs a disclaimer, I will admit this is one that would benefit me personally if they grandfather in anybody that has ever served, but why should a person get this for service to their country? What makes them so special? I served my country for two reasons, one is for the education that was offered and the other was because it was the right thing to do. I am very proud of my service to my country and what I did for my country. I have never asked for any special treatment for this service and I don't think veterans should receive any, unless they were injured while in the service, for their service. I know, I am in the minority on this opinion but pandering to the veterans this way to me demeans their service.<br />n<br />nSorry, I got off track. My whole point here is that Jon Tester is following Conrad Burns right down the same path. Reduce taxes while increasing spending. How does this help Montanans or the country? The short answer is, it doesn't. People need to remember this.<br />n<br />n<strong>There are three principles in a man's being and life, the principle of thought, the principle of speech, and the principle of action. Martin Buber </strong>