House Denial
Timber Payments Denied To Rural West
Rural America felt a blow today when a bill that would have kept federal funding flowing was denied by the House. An Oregon senator was less than pleased by Thursday's outcome.By Joseph Friedrichs, 6-05-08
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A bill that would have continued to give money to Western schools, roads and public safety for the next four years was denied today by the House because Republicans sided with “already profit-rich oil and gas companies,” according to one Oregon senator.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., was vividly distraught when the timber program he diligently supported was denied by the House.
As a result of the bill’s shut down, many counties in southwest Oregon are about to lay off employees by the hundreds, DeFazio said, as reported by the Associated Press. In turn, rural counties across the country are likely to lose jail beds, sheriff patrols, teaching positions and other vital public-service jobs, DeFazio said.
The timber program helps pay for schools, roads and public safety in 700 rural counties in 39 states.
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