Gianforte Credits Pressure for Good Neighbor Agreement Announcement, "Why Has it Taken the Gov so Long to Act?"

Press Release

Bozeman businessman and tech entrepreneur Greg Gianforte credited strong pressure in recent weeks for the announcement that Governor Steve Bullock will finally be signing a Good Neighbor Agreement with the US Forest Service on Monday. But, Gianforte also asked why it took the governor so long to enter into an agreement.

GIANFORTE: "At least 18 other states have already entered into Good Neighbor Agreements with the US Forest Service. Why has it taken our governor so long to act? We've already lost 600 timber jobs under his watch, including 100 job losses just announced last month in Columbia Falls. More importantly, why won't he address the real problem and support comprehensive federal land management reform so we can have healthier forests and get more logs flowing to our mills?"

Earlier this summer, Gianforte called out Bullock for failing to exercise "Good Neighbor Authority" agreements allowed under the federal Farm Bill. "Good Neighbor Authority" is allowed under federal law. Montana's entire congressional delegation, Democrat and Republican, voted for it. The Governor of Wisconsin has already exercised this authority, as have at least 17 other states, and the Good Neighbor Agreement in Wisconsin is expected to increase timber harvests on one forest by 25 percent.

Gianforte spent time in Northwest Montana over the weekend, visiting a fire hall in the Yaak, and holding meet and greets in Rexford and Troy.

He says the visit also highlights the need for federal land management reform, and the need to get more timber jobs back up and running in Montana. Gianforte added, "Good Neighbor Authority, Hazardous Fuel Reduction Funds- this is simple stuff. What we need is a governor willing to tackle the big issues like land management reform and litigation reform."

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