#MTGOV DAILY RUNDOWN: Bullock Refuses to Use Tools Available to Help Timber Industry

Bullock has tools available to help our timber industry in their time of need but he has failed to take action: (1) Bullock will NOT release money from the Hazardous Fuel Reduction Fund to better manage our forests and get timber to our mills; and (2) Bullock will NOT use his authority under the Good Neighbor Authority to negotiate with the Forests Service to greenlight critical timber job projects.

·         Greg Gianforte: "Unfortunately, we have a state administration today that hasn't been using the tools available to help.”–NBC Montana, 06/30/2016

·         Hazardous Fuel Reduction Fund. “I think there is more we can do to help the timber industry,” Gianforte said. “In particular, our legislature took the effort of creating a Hazardous Fuel Reduction Fund, it’s five million dollars over each biennium. I called last year for the Governor to release that money so we can start managing our forests and getting some timber coming into our mills, he has not released the full amount, I think we need to do this.” –KGVO, 06/29/2016

·         Good Neighbor Authority. “Montana should be taking the lead in efforts to provide healthier forests and more timber for our mills. Instead, a lack of leadership in Helena has led to the lack of a Good Neighbor Agreement with the US Forest Service. The governor had tools in his tool box to help with timber jobs, and he’s failed to use them.” –KMMS, 06/28/2016

·         Good Neighbor Authority. The Good Neighbor Authority gives the ability for the Governor to negotiate with the Forest Service to do timber projects for health and safety,” Gianforte said. “The state of Wisconsin has enacted this Good Neighbor Authority and they’ve increased production on one forest by twenty five percent. 18 states have used this tool, the Good Neighbor Authority in the Farm Bill, but Montana isn’t one of them.” –KGVO, 06/29/2016

Under Governor Bullock, Montana has lost 600 jobs in the timber industry in the last year alone– leaving the industry reeling.

·         The June 22 announcement that timber giant Weyerhaeuser Company was closing two mills in Columbia Falls and eliminating 100 positions is a gruesome testament to the flagging timber industry’s struggle to regain footing in the market after decades of decline. –Flathead Beacon, 06/28/2016

·         Approximately 500 jobs supported by Montana’s wood products industry have dried up this year alone –Missoulian, 10/13/2015

·         Altogether, Altemus said timber mills employ approximately 7,000 people in Montana, and 235 mill workers have been laid off this year. Another 280 jobs that were indirectly supported by the timber industry have also been lost. –Missoulian, 10/13/2015

·         In September, Tricon Timber in St. Regis – which had been Mineral County’s largest employer – cut an entire shift and laid off 90 workers as a direct result of the impending expiration of the agreement. –Missoulian, 10/13/2015

·         There are currently no mills in the state running two full shifts, something that was unthinkable two decades ago. –Missoulian, 10/13/2015

Greg Gianforte is calling for better forest management to strengthen the health of our forests and revitalize Montana’s timber industry. Gianforte continues to press Governor Bullock for failing to work on comprehensive forest management bills supported by Senator Daines and Congressman Zinke.

·         Over 600 timber jobs have now been lost under Bullock’s recent watch. Instead of simply blaming the Obama Administration, Gianforte continues to ask why the governor has failed to utilize existing authority or support land management reforms supported by Congressman Ryan Zinke and Senator Steve Daines. –KMMS, 06/28/2016