Tester talks housing tax credit legislation in Kalispell

Sep. 21—Sen. Jon Tester continued to distance himself from the Harris-Walz presidential ticket during a press conference in Kalispell on Friday on legislation aimed at making home ownership more attainable.

Tester talked up the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act before a gaggle of reporters at Bias Brewing in downtown Kalispell on Sept. 20. He is co-sponsoring the bill, which would establish a refundable tax credit valued at up to 10% of a home's purchase price, capped at $15,000.

Tester said the bill would direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a program for advance payments of the credit, so it can be used at the time the home is purchased.

The legislation comes on the heels of Vice President Kamala Harris unveiling similar efforts. The Democratic nominee for president last month touted her economic agenda, which included up to $25,000 in down-payment support and a $10,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers.

Tester, who has not lent his support to his party's standard-bearer, said he could not comment on Harris' plans to address the national housing crunch.

"I have not read the proposal," Tester said Friday.

Tester said Congress can play a role in helping Americans when it comes to housing, citing the Homestead Act of 1862, which he said allowed his family to move to Montana in the first place.

"I do not have to tell the folks in this room that the cost of housing is a real economic inhibitor here and it doesn't allow our families, young and old, to be able to purchase a home," Tester said.

A few business representatives and residents attended the press conference, expressing support for Tester's work for making affordable housing attainable.

Brian Aegerter, general manager for Applied Materials in Montana, said that in times of unprecedented growth, it is important to improve opportunities to attract and retain talent. Workforce housing is a major part of that, he said.

Montana was recently designated as a technology and innovation hub, opening the door for federal funds to boost the state's tech sector. Both Tester and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, pushed for the designation at the federal level. The designation will help Montana businesses like Applied Materials, Tester said.

"The semi-conductor industry is poised to grow tremendously in the next decade, for us to meet the challenge of that industry ... we need to be prepared to strengthen Montana's workforce," he said. "For us, we need to build a workforce of the future, and for us that means policies that strengthen the opportunity to improve Montana's talent pipeline."

Tester's bill is one of those opportunities, Aegerter said.

Rick Guenther and Nancy Cronin, both Flathead Valley residents who work in Whitefish, were invited to the conference to share their experience in the regional housing market. Both were priced out of their rental property.

"To live in the community that we love is out of sight," said Guenther, a Whitefish real estate broker and resident. "... I've seen a lot of people have to move away because they can't afford it."

Both Guenther and Cronin thanked Tester for his efforts, saying they would support him through November.

EARLIER THIS month, the Cook Political Report redesignated the Senate race in Montana, which has Tester facing off with Republican businessman Tim Sheehy, from "toss up" to "leans GOP."

Recent polls show Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL who later founded Bozeman-based Bridger Aerospace, with a growing lead over Tester.

"Today we are making a major shift — moving the Montana Senate race from Toss Up to Lean Republican," Cook Political Report's Jessica Taylor wrote earlier this month. "This means that Republicans are now an even heavier favorite to win back control of the Senate, regardless of the result at the top of the ticket."

When asked about the poll results, Tester said that he felt "very good" with where he was at right now.

"I want to be very clear, that was one poll that they're referring to," Tester said without specifying the poll. "This is going to be a margin of error race."

He likened the situation to his past successful campaigns in 2012 and 2018. In 2012, Tester won by a 3.9% margin and in 2018 he won by a 3.5% margin.

Sheehy currently leads Tester by 6% on a head-to-head ballot, according to a September Montana voter survey by AARP Research.

An August poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of the GOP had Sheehy up by 7%. That poll included Libertarian Sid Daoud and then Green Party candidate Michael Downey.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.

Sen. Jon Tester speaks about his First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act during a press conference at Bias Brewing in Kalispell on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Casey Kreider

Sen. Jon Tester speaks about his First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act during a press conference at Bias Brewing in Kalispell on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Casey Kreider

Nancy Cronin and Rick Guenther speak with Sen. Jon Tester about their recent experience finding housing in the Flathead Valley with during a press conference on Tester's First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act at Bias Brewing in Kalispell on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Casey Kreider