Sen. Max Baucus started his small business listening session in Columbia Falls last week by asking those in attendance to throw their toughest questions at him.

"I'm home all of August trying to figure out where we go from here," Baucus said to the more than 50 people at Glacier Discovery Square.

For more than two hours, folks came to the microphone to ask questions and give comments on everything from the state of the economy to health care.

Chris Holding, owner of Iron Horse Gallery, said finding a market for his product can be a difficult thing and he'd like to see more long-term jobs.

He said his family has built their business without assistance.

"We did this without stimulus. We put it together with our own money," he said. "As a representative of Montana, help small businesses in Montana find a market and hold it."

Baucus said the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 expected to pass in the Senate provides significant tax breaks to small businesses.

The bill provides deductions for start-up expenses, export promotion and trade opportunities and increased government contracts for small businesses. It also includes improved Small Business Administration loan guarantees.

Baucus noted that he is hosting an economic development summit Sept. 13 and 14 in Butte. The event connects Montana businesses with out-of-state companies.

"We hope to put Montana business up front," he said. "The whole purpose of this is to get Montana jobs."

The senator also mentioned the loss in manufacturing jobs in the area, including the shutdowns in the forest products industry and the closing of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant.

He said there is an effort to develop the CFAC plant into an industrial park.

"We can't let that sit there we have to turn that into something," he said.

Dave Renfrow, business owner and chairman of the First Best Place Task Force, said Columbia Falls is ready to invest in value-added wood products. He cited a German company in the field that has interest in developing a plant at the industrial park, but it needs sewer, water and paved streets.

"We're not ready," Renfrow said. "We need help with infrastructure."

Baucus said he would help.

'I like to get on the phone and talk to the CEO and say 'We want you here'," he said. "I like promoting Montana."

According to Baucus, the federal government has already helped Montana's economy through the stimulus bill. He said about $1 billion has gone to the state, including $82 million in the Flathead.

"I'm doing the best I can to figure out what to do to boost the state's economy," he said.

A few business owners spoke from the Gateway to Glacier — The Canyon group, which is working to expand off-season tourism opportunities.

Darwon Stoneman, an owner of Glacier Outdoor Center, said the group has been trying to work with the Flathead National Forest to create more winter recreation opportunities.

"What we're talking about is year-round jobs," he said.

Doug Woehler, owner of the Tamarack Lodge, said the businesses have been hampered by the National Environmental Policy Act. The act requires an environmental assessment before activities like guided cross-country skiing and snowmobiling can take place in the national forest.

"People come to our area for the natural resources," he said. "We can't really help tourists get into the National Forest. The way you can help us is with regulations."

Baucus said he would look into the issue.

"Let's kick this up a notch," Baucus said. "Most people in public service try to do their best — the Park Service, the Forest Service. Sometimes things have gotten stuck in the mud and it takes way too long to get things done."

Dee Brown complained about new "onerous' requirements on businesses for filling 1099 forms for expenses of $600 or more in labor or goods.

Baucus said he is aware of the change and suggested increasing the amount to $5,000 and excluding businesses that have under a certain number of employees.

On health care reform, Baucus spoke about changes in employee health insurance requirements that could affect small businesses.

He explained that businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees are under no obligation to buy health insurance. Also that tax credit will be given to those businesses that don't have to provide insurance, but do anyway.

He said it would be only a small percentage of Montana businesses that will now be required to provide insurance that weren't before.

"Ninety-six percent already provide insurance," he said.

Several in the audience challenged the Senator on an increasing deficit in the federal government.

Baucus said he has approved a number of bill that have reduced costs. He noted that one area that needs consideration for cutting is defense spending.

"Americans spend more than all the rest of the countries combined," he said. "Do we want to keep doing that?"

He told the group that he is serving on the deficit reduction committee, which will make a report in December.

"There are two ways to cut deficit — cut spending and raise revenue," he said.