Letter: Another view of Tester's Dillon meeting on forest bill

By Josh M. Peck - 10/03/2009

I am writing in response to the letter by Betty Staley published Tuesday regarding Sen. Jon Tester and the forest jobs legislation. Staley was complaining about the format of Tester's open house in Dillon.

The humorous or disturbing part of this is that for quite some time, the people who have opposed this bill have been saying that they were left out of the process. Yet when the senator tries to include them in the process, they complain about the format.

It would seem that all this very small group of opponents does is look to create trouble while other people, like those who are working at the mill in Deer Lodge, are worried about their jobs.

Staley then goes on to write about how the senator wasn't listening to people. She must have been at a different meeting than I attended. The senator and his staff stayed around for an hour after giving a presentation on the forest jobs bill talking personally to people.

People are losing their jobs in a sagging economy and Tester is making the brave step to do something about it. Meanwhile, when invited to the table, Staley and the handful of others making these complaints are only doing so to cause problems, which is very unfortunate because Montana jobs are at stake.

When it comes to Montana's forest economy, if you see smoke, then say so, but don't bother yelling, "Fire!" when you don't see any smoke. It only hurts our state and our jobs.

Josh M. Peck 1001 W. Park St.

Butte