Region in transition? (Excellent discussion of recent testimony in D.C.)

Whether the drilling, mining and timber industries are losing importance as the West’s economy shifts to include more high-tech, tourism and outdoors business sparked a largely partisan debate Wednesday at a congressional hearing where three Montana officials testified.

Rehberg took issue with the stated purpose of the hearing — to focus on local efforts to combine sound resource conservation with robust economic development and "to highlight the positive impact of these ongoing trends on the region."

After the hearing, Williams said Republicans there haven’t accepted the changing economy.

"You saw the two sides of the argument in here," he said. "One side saying, ‘No, no, the West is still the old West, it’s still oil and gas and timber.’ And the other side saying, ‘Well, oil, gas and timber still have some relative importance out there, but the real economic value in the West is the diversity of the economy.’ "

By NOELLE STRAUB
Star-Tribune Washington bureau

Full Story: http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/03/01/news/wyoming/b8da2dd7f271a1cb87257291000af134.txt