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Democratic Representatives Meet with Residents

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Jan 18, 2012 at 6:17 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 18, 2012 at 6:17 PM MST

A handful of democratic legislators from Montana continued their listening tour today in Great Falls.

State Democratic representatives including Tony Belcourt, Chuck Hunter, Carlie Boland, John Sesso are traveling throughout north central Montana and talking with business leaders, workers, and concerned residents who have ideas for job growth.

The state leaders say they are going to take these suggestions into a Jobs for Montana plan, which will form the basis for a job creating bill in the next legislative session.

In Great Falls, about 15 people met with the representatives and brought up a couple of issues they feel the state could improve on such as available and affordable housing, education spending and high-tech vocational training, and bio-fuel production.


"What we see in Eastern Montana is a huge lack of housing,” said Sheila Rice of NeighborWorks Montana. “People living in man-camps, unheated garages running for $600 a month.”

“What do we do to pass a bonding bill in Montana so we can unleash the potential of our hard-working people that we have so many of?” asked Rep. Bob Mehloff, HD-26.

"What is the state legislature doing about this problem, because it is a problem, it’s a huge problem,” asked Gerry Jennings of the Silver Crest Trails Assn. in regard to oil companies coming into the state.

Prior to coming to Great Falls, the state representatives stopping in Havre and Browning. Suggestions brought up by other residents include better recycling, access to loans and more investment into agriculture research.

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