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Tester Hears From the People: In Need of Jobs

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Aug 31, 2010 at 5:16 PM MST

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2010 at 5:57 PM MST

Senator Jon Tester met with community members today in Helena for a listening forum. The U.S. Senator took some of the issues making national headlines to the people to find out what matters most.

"These are more than just listening sessions or forums these are actions sessions for me..." says Tester addressing a packed room inside the Helena National Airport Tuesday afternoon.

And while there's no rapid action for the Iraq war, renewable energy sources , the economy and health care - Senator Jon Tester (D) met with Montanans to take a stab at what components he should take back to Washington.

A local real estate representative part of the discussion panel says "so we've fallen from 205 for a median price to 195,000, five percent, $10,000 dollars."

"Regulate the hell out of those banks, don't ever let them do what they did to us again,” says Jim McGarvey of Montana State AFL-CIO.

Nationally there's talks of a double dip recession but business owners contest that the capitol city's economy is stable, yet for a state relying heavily on small businesses it was clear to Tester that employment opportunities are on the minds of many.

"My plea would be today and always is we got to have sustainable jobs. Sustainable jobs where people have defined benefit retirements," adds McGarvey.

"People are concerned about jobs, their concerned about their own jobs and their neighbors job and what we have to do in Washington D.C. is make sure the economy doesn't go into a double dip, that it continues to improve, that we continue to let small businesses who are the major job creator in this state to create jobs,” says Senator Tester.

Tester is no stranger to giving a voice to the people when it comes to jobs. Last month over 350 community members attended a Small Business Opportunity Workshop hosted by the senator and today’s forum was no exception

“…Look for opportunities, for small businesses to grow and create jobs and if we can help that at the federal level that's the best thing we can do,” claims Tester.

Senator Tester also traveled to Anaconda for an additional forum today.

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