Montana is a small business state, and small business owners know firsthand that they are truly the drivers behind our economy.

Yet owning a small business can be very stressful. Meeting the bottom line can be a daily struggle, and making payroll at the end of the month is no easy task.

One of the main costs for small business is providing health care for their employees or cutting benefits. Too often, business owners are faced with the lose-lose situation of either cutting employees or cutting benefits.

After hearing from business owners across the state about the challenges they were facing, I knew that we had to reform our health care system. And for the last two years, I've worked with Montanans from across the spectrum to help pass meaningful health care reform.

And to be sure, during that time, the needs of small business, both at home and across the nation, were always at the forefront of my mind.

I'm proud to say the legislation recently signed into law will not only be good for our state and our nation, but also for our small businesses.

I know there has been some confusion about what reform does or does not mean for small businesses. That's why I wanted to send this letter to make sure you know how the recently passed health care reform legislation will affect small businesses.

Sen. Max Baucus

Washington, D.C.