Montana Wilderness News: Letters to the Editor

Rep. Dennis Rehberg is touring the state, saying in one breath that government needs to get out of the way so small businesses can prosper -- and in the next breath that he intends to stand in the way of legislation Montana's community-based sawmills say would help them thrive.

Rehberg's opposition to the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act doesn't make sense -- at least not the way he explains it.

The FJRA was introduced by Sen. Jon Tester, and Rehberg is running against Tester in this coming November's election. Is that the real reason for Rehberg's opposition?

I sat in on two small meetings where Senator Tester’s “Forest, Jobs and Recreation Act” was reviewed and discussed. No one was quite satisfied with it because it was a compromise bill worked out with environmentalists, scientists, and included the timber industry.

“The American frontier has closed.” These words echo more true than ever since Fredric Jackson Turner said them in 1893. There is no more land to be found, thus, effective management of the areas that humanity has not overwhelmingly penetrated becomes an issue of massive importance. Sen. Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, I believe, puts forth a responsible method for maintaining some level of economic dependence on our public land by local communities and balances it with the immediate need for common-sense wilderness protection.

It is heartening to see the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act move forward as part of the Interior Appropriations bill. I hope the Senate and House of Representatives act with courage and conviction and pass this timely piece of legislation.

Count me in Dale Bosworth’s camp as one who would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Senator Tester to this long overdue solution to the stalemate and inaction that has plagued Montana for too many decades, way too many!

By Luke Morgan Allgeyer - Letter to the Editor | Posted: Friday, June 10, 2011 12:00 am

When polled, visitors to Montana cite clean water, clean air,
wildlife, scenic vistas and open space as their top five reasons
for visiting the state - five reasons that all stem from Montana's
wild places. Furthermore, beyond the realm of tourism, most, if not
all, members of the state's various communities have something to
be thankful for regarding Montana's wilderness.

Wednesday, February 02 2011 @ 09:11 PM MST

Contributed by: Admin

I have been following Sen. Jon Tester and his proposed changes to the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act; this bill has some things in it I really like and some things I disagree with, but the truth is he's showing it for Montanans to see as it moves through Washington, D.C.

That was Tester's promise when we elected him and he's keeping that promise. "Tester said in a conference call with reporters, ‘It's going to streamline the process to make it work better, faster and more flexible.' " (Missoulian, June 18).

Judging by the civil and substantive discussion and considerable
support from Montanans for the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, it may
well be one of the most relevant and timely pieces of natural resource
legislation to grace our great state in a very long time.

During his recent visit to Montana, Secretary of Agriculture Tom
Vilsack praised Sen. Jon Tester's forest bill and expressed his support
for the legislation as a pilot project (see "etc.," March 11, 2010). As
a supporter of the bill I'm glad to see these two decision-makers reach
common ground.

Dear Editor,
I am writing to express that we all need to push for the passage of
Senator Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. As a Montanan, I
feel that it is important to preserve our way of life that we have
become so accustomed to and grateful for.