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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 19, 2005 Timber support bill clears panel Legislation would provide money to Oregon counties with large tracts of federal forest land By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A bill to renew federal support for timber-dependent areas such as Jackson County cleared a major hurdle when a U.S. House committee unanimously endorsed it Wednesday. "Every hurdle that it clears, the better," said county Commissioner Jack Walker after learning of the House Resources Committee vote. The legislation still must clear another committee before going to a full-House vote, then to the U.S. Senate and finally to President Bush. Jackson County received $24 million last year under legislation that supports counties that have large tracts of federal forest land. Jackson County receives the third highest amount of timber money of the 32 counties in the state that are eligible. Douglas and Lane counties each receive in excess of $50 million annually. Advertisement The counties would no longer receive this money after 2006 if the federal government doesn’t reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-determination Act. Walker said that without the money, which represents about half of the county’s general fund budget, "you would probably see library closures, or we’d end up getting volunteers or something to run them." Human services programs would have to be drastically cut and mental health programs reduced, he said. "You’d have to see layoffs," said Walker. A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, who is on the House Resources Committee that voted on the legislation, said the bill has strong bipartisan support in both houses. It is also being sponsored by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith, as well as other Oregon lawmakers. "There are so many bipartisan co-sponsors from all corners of the nation," said Walden spokeswoman Angela Wilhelms. The bill would continue to give counties a similar level of funding until 2013. Despite a tight budget, Wilhelms said, the executive branch is behind the bill. "The administration does indeed support the bill, but with offsets for the funding," she said, indicating that other programs would have to be cut to keep the federal budget from expanding. The federal government has a long history of returning federal timber money to counties. Legislation was passed in 1908 and again in 1937 to return a portion of the money generated by timber sales on federal lands to counties to help fund schools and roads. In the 1990s, timber sales dropped off, resulting in an average 80 percent decrease in these funds. Some Oregon counties saw a 97 percent reduction. In 2000, the federal government decided to make up for these losses by passing the timber legislation. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s