If Montana's timber interests can team with wilderness advocates on a forest compromise, shouldn't Montana's Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg be able to work with Democrat Sen. Jon Tester on advancing the federal legisla tion that flowed from that partnership?
One would hope so.
It can be difficult to see the bigger picture when our immediate needs and wants are at stake. Ask a first grader this holiday
season if they would rather have a new toy or the cash equivalent put into a retirement fund. The answer will undoubtedly be
the toy. That's a first grader, though. As adults we would have really appreciated that retirement fund. This type of foresight is
something that is sorely missing in legislation these days, and this is why the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act is so important.
The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, which was introduced by Sen. Jon Tester in July, had a committee hearing on Dec. 17. Getting a hearing on this bill amid the nation’s concerns over health care and climate change shows that Tester really is looking out for Montanans.
This bill was built by local collaborative projects and provides local solutions to our forest problems, not the least of which is making sure we have access to the places to recreate.
For many years, the timber industry has faced job loss and shortage of supply. Our communities have also been threatened by wildfire and our forests by beetle kill. We need to take action, and the time is now.
In Montana, we have a strong commitment to preserving the natural beauty of our state and integrating our connection to the land in our livelihoods. We all believe in the campsite rule – keeping a place they way we found it.
Sen. Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act will help us keep our forests intact, accessible, and profitable for future generations of Montanans.
Sen. Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act is the best solution to forest management our state has seen in years. The bill brings all kinds of regular, everyday Montanans together to find homegrown solutions to our forest issues. The process and the resulting bill represent good and reasoned efforts in communication and cooperation, which is sorely needed in our public discourse.
When I read a recent article about Sen. Jon Tester's "Forest Jobs and Recreation Act" and how it all started, I can't understand what is being criticized. For decades, Montana's loggers, conservationists and motorized users have been in serious conflict. As the article said, over the last 25 years there has been no new wilderness and no logs for the mills. Because of the timber wars, management became stagnant - nothing changed to alleviate these contentious issues.
As Sen. Tester's bill, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, receives more and more attention - even amidst our national health care crisis - I am increasingly impressed. In a recent Independent Record article, Senator Tester articulated why Montana needs such a bill.
Much of what we treasure in Montana is at stake. Just one look at the brown trees between Helena and Butte tells us that massive wildfires threaten our communities. Driving down the main streets of Deer Lodge or Townsend tells us that Montana's timber towns have seen better times.
As a teenager I discovered the thrill of hunting elk, climbing peaks and fishing in high mountain lakes. I suspect I’ll continue doing this for a long time. Part of the enjoyment is being able to see vast areas untouched by man, places that look and feel as they likely did hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately, as I hike through the mountains of southwest Montana I also see land damaged by pine beetles, illegal motorized trails, weed infestations and camping practices which fall short of Leave No Trace.
I'm writing in support of Sen. Tester's forest jobs bill. The ability to enjoy clean water, to hunt and fish in beautiful forests, and for families to take their children camping and teach them about the great outdoors are all activities that are easy for us to take for granted.