JANUARY 2008: AROUND THE STATE
Timber payments axed from energy bill
STATEWIDE
A four-year extension of federal timber payments to rural
counties was approved in mid-December by the U.S. House of
Representatives, tucked inside a major energy bill, then
removed from the bill by the Senate days later, despite support
from both parties. The extension would have given $1.6
billion to 39 states, including Oregon, to help pay for
schools, roads and public safety in 700 rural counties. The
energy legislation faced a filibuster from Republican senators
and President Bush threatened to veto it. At press time,
lawmakers reportedly were working to restore the timber
payments in separate legislation.
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