Baucus will hold listening sessions

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., will hold a listening session in Pablo today, then will move on to Columbia Falls on Friday.

Baucus is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. today with leaders of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes at the tribal council office in Pablo.

In a press release, Baucus said he is looking forward to listening and answering questions about health care, ongoing water settlement negotiations and economic development on the Flathead Indian Reservation and surrounding communities.

There was no indication in the press release whether members of the public are invited to the session.

On Friday, Baucus is scheduled to hold a “small business roundtable” at 1:30 p.m. at Glacier Discovery Square at 540 Nucleus Ave. in Columbia Falls.

In a separate press release, Baucus said he is “looking forward to hearing from folks in Columbia Falls and offering them an update on the latest developments in the U.S. Senate.”

Baucus wrote the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. The senator is urging his colleagues to pass the legislation, which he said includes more than $12 billion in small business tax relief and “will help small businesses in Montana and across the nation access capital, stimulate investment in small businesses and promote entrepreneurship.”