Letter: Three Rivers group thanks Rehberg

Dear Editor:

We want to say thank you to Rep. Rehberg for coming to Libby for a listening session concerning Sen. Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act (S. 1470).

We are pleased to hear that he and Sen. Tester will be meeting soon to discuss this important gridlock-breaking piece of legislation. To quote Rep. Rehberg, “Doing nothing is not the answer.”

On the Kootenai, we know firsthand that the fighting has gotten us nowhere – only one mill left in Lincoln County, out-of-work loggers who could and should be doing much-needed fuels and restoration work. The fighting has to stop before we lose everything.

As Rep. Rehberg reiterated Sunday, it’s not about finding reasons to say “no;” it’s about making changes that will allow everyone to say “yes.”

This is what the Three Rivers Challenge has been doing for five years and we appreciate Rep. Rehberg working with Sen. Tester on this important legislation, and not a minute too late. Sens. Tester and Baucus listened and we thank Rep. Rehberg for listening.

Three Rivers

Challenge Coalition

(Editor’s note: The letter was signed by representatives Wayne Hirst, Hirst and Associates; Robyn King, Yaak Valley Forest Council; Kurt Rayson, Rayson Logging; Donna O’Neill, Libby Sno-Kats; Jerry Wandler, Troy Snowmobile Club; Rick Bass, Yaak Valley Forest Council; and Joel Chandler, Kootenai Ridge Riders.