Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Montana businesses rally behind Tester forest bill

Now, thanks to an early hearing and growing business support, the third attempt may be the charm for Sen. Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.

In anticipation of a July 30 Senate committee hearing on the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, Business for Montana’s Outdoors, which represents 60 business owners from 20 Montana towns, sent a letter Tuesday encouraging Montana’s three congressmen to work together to pass the bill before the year’s end.

“We just added seven or eight businesses; we’ve been chipping away at it,” said Jeff Batton, CEO of the Natural Baby Company in Bozeman. “We’re getting large enough that people might start paying attention.”

Most wouldn’t link baby products to forest jobs, but Batton said it’s all about quality of life.