U.S. Sen. Tester undaunted as lone Montana Democrat

HELENA (AP) — As the 114th Congress convened this week, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said he isn't daunted by his new status as the lone Montana Democrat in Congress or by the fact that his party is now the minority in the Senate.

"It will be similar to the state Legislature days when I spent time on the minority," Tester said.

So far the ranking Democrat, both parties and his Montana Republican cohorts, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, are "playing nice" with each other, Tester said.

Tester, Daines and Zinke have come together this week, continuing a weekly tradition of coffee meetings that are open to all Montanans. Tester and Daines introduced a bill to grant the Great Falls-area Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Cree federal recognition. Zinke is expected to introduce a similar bill in the House.

"I wish the agency would do their job and either recognize them or give solid reasons they shouldn't be recognized," Tester said. The senator added that he's introduced a bill to this effect every year since he was elected to Congress in 2007.

Tester and Daines also met with U.S. Air Force officials to explain their opposition to expanding the Powder River Training Complex in southeastern Montana. The senators said they're concerned about military aircraft interfering with civilian air traffic where the current proposal allows low-altitude flights in areas with little to no radar coverage.

But with a Republican majority in Congress this session, Tester said some of his priorities including a long-term bill to repair roadways and bridges across the country will face challenges because some will see funding it as a tax increase.

"Roads and bridges are not going to fix themselves, and studies are out there that say we need this," he said. "I'm passionate about this because it would be a killer to our economy if we didn't have the infrastructure to get products to and from the market."

He also said not doing anything on it will eventually lead to leaving a third-world country to the next generations.

Tester is optimistic on a couple of his priorities, however, that he said could make headway this session.

Reforms at the Veterans Administration, especially those involving mental health, and a package of bills addressing forest management are among issues Tester thinks could see bipartisan support.