Quotes from Jon Tester

A well-trained workforce is critical to small-business success. What I hear from business is that it's hard to find help that meets their needs.

I think if you're going to get anything done in the Senate, you have to be on the same sheet of music. If you don't get people on the same sheet of music it comes out pretty horrible.

Building houses and mansion ranching is not ranching.

I don't know how the other senators see me. I hope they see me as a farmer. That's really what I am. But I don't think they see me on a tractor or fixing equipment. I hope they see me grounded, as somebody who has common sense.

I'm a farmer. I always will be a farmer. When I die, I'll be a farmer. It's something that I've wanted to do since I was 8 years old. I can tell you also that I see opportunity slipping away for our kids.

I don't believe in models that say you just knock on this door, you just go to this community, and you'll get elected. I think you go everywhere, and you listen to everybody. Everybody's got ideas.

Matt Rosendale doesn't know what the hell is going on in Montana. That's why he doesn't talk about the issues he believes in, because he doesn't know them.

When I have to do what I think is right for Montana, I do it.

I will tell you unequivocally, a wall from sea to shining sea is not the right direction to go.

Donald Trump was straight up. I mean, he told me what he thought of me, and that's cool. I might not like it, but at least he did it to my face. That's what Montanans like. They like people to be square with them.

Washington's a mess, but that's not stopping me from getting bills to help Montana signed into law by President Trump.

I take my vacation on the combine and tractor.

You've got to have a good public education system so small-business owners, when they locate to an area, are confident their kids are getting the best education possible. I feel strongly about local control in school districts.

I think what Democrats need to do is they need to work for the country and make sure that not only the southern border but the northern border is secure - make sure that we have the ability on the borders to be able to screen every vehicle coming across to make sure that drugs don't come into this country.

Montanans elected me to the Senate to do away with shady backroom deals and to make government work better.

Healthcare is very much a high priority for me. Healthcare is also a huge issue for business, both big and small.

That's politics. Your friend one day is your enemy the next and vice versa.

I've got my problems with Trump, but I'm going to give him every opportunity to succeed.

I go everywhere in the state and I listen to Montanans, whether it's in conservative areas or liberal areas, and take those ideas back to Washington, D.C., and put them into action.

I have great faith in the people of Montana; they can't be bought.

I want to remain that family farmer independence, which I think is so critical to this country. I think it's helped build this country.