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).
The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act has always been about partnership. The bill is supported by timber mills from Livingston to Deer Lodge, by wilderness groups from across the state, and by sportsmen from places as diverse as Libby, Butte and Ovando. Tester brought folks to the table to work out our forest management issues. I'm pleased he did it and I'm especially glad that he's not walking away from that table now, when dialogue is heating up.
Tester is sticking by wilderness. He's sticking by logging. He's sticking by recreation and restoration. This bill really does hold the promise of creating more work and having better forest management in the future. Tester seems to be a guy who understands what partnership really means.
A. Miller, Missoula