Wilderness Bill: Schweitzer Backs Tester’s Wilderness Bill

HELENA – The governor says he is backing U.S. Sen. Jon Tester's plan to both create more wilderness and mandate more logging.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, submitted the testimony in advance of Thursday's hearing on the bill in the U.S. Senate. He says it will create good jobs with more logging.

Tester's bill would add 600,000 acres of Montana wilderness, and set aside specific areas for recreation and trails. It is jointly written by logging outfits and environmental groups.

Criticism has come from ardent wilderness advocates who want less logging — and from the opposite side which doesn't like all the new wilderness the bill creates.

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, a fellow Democrat, is also supporting it. Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg says he is still evaluating the idea.