Maine Gov. Paul LePage (Sun Journal file photo)

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s Republican governor and a Democratic senator are set to discuss the challenges facing loggers and the state’s logging industry.

Gov. Paul LePage will attend a logging discussion hosted by Democratic Sen. Troy Jackson in New Canada on Friday afternoon.

Jackson, a logger himself, has said Maine loggers and truckers are out of work while Canadians cut Maine wood, mill it in Canada and sell it back to the U.S.

Jackson wants to establish a “Hire American” tax credit for businesses engaged in the logging industry that hire U.S. citizens.

The Legislative Council voted 5-5 Thursday against allowing lawmakers to weigh in on his bill.

The governor has said Canadian softwood lumber tariffs are making it tough for companies that do business on both sides of the Maine border.