BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- A candy industry magnate who owns a sprawling southeastern Montana ranch is pushing state lawmakers to adopt legislation that could undermine a proposed $341 million coal railroad through his property.
Forrest Mars Jr., 77, is former chief executive of Mars, Inc., the family owned candy empire. He owns the 140-square-mile Diamond Cross Ranch in Birney and has a personal fortune estimated at $12 billion.
A bill drafted by a Mars lobbyist and sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jill Cohenour of East Helena would tighten eminent domain law to make it harder for private property to be taken over the owner's objections.
That could make it harder for the Tongue River Railroad's developers to secure the land needed to build the project.
An initial vote on the bill by a House committee is expected in the coming days.
