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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Eyes on the skies: $16.7 million would keep radar stations in top shape through 2030 ... Our view: RCC's health care opportunity can't be lost ... Medford plans to go after utilty debtors ... Eyes on the skies: $16.7 million would keep radar stations in top shape through 2030 ... Our view: RCC's health care opportunity can't be lost ... Medford plans to go after utilty debtors ... OUR VIEW Our View: Find middle ground on timber policy Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 10, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 10, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News Sen. Ron Wyden acknowledges he's running out of time to advance his bill to increase timber harvests on the former Oregon & California Railroad lands in Oregon. He vows to continue the fight next year, but with Republicans taking over the Senate, the odds will get even steeper. Congress is set to adjourn for the year on Friday after passing some essential spending bills to keep the government operating. One of those is the Defense Appropriations Bill to which Wyden had hoped to attach his O&C measure, but the final version didn't include it or a long-awaited Klamath water deal. Wyden claimed his O&C bill would both ramp up logging and protect old-growth forests while expanding wilderness protection. The timber industry opposed the measure, saying it wouldn't provide enough timber. Some environmental groups said it would damage forest health and harm watersheds, while others supported it as a better alternative than a version that passed the Republican-controlled House. That bill, drafted by Oregon Reps. Greg Walden, a Republican, and Democrats Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader, would cut more trees while dividing the O&C lands in Oregon in two, half to be protected and half to be managed for timber production. The industry backed the House bill, but the White House said President Obama would veto it if it reached his desk. With the GOP taking over the Senate in January, prospects for the House bill will get much better. But if Republicans push through a bill that is destined to be vetoed they will have accomplished nothing except to manufacture another excuse to blame Obama for not going along with them. Oregon counties facing potential bankruptcy need more than partisan jousting. Oregon workers without employment need jobs, not rhetoric. Congress should address the issue of forest management in Oregon, but with an eye toward passing a bill containing some measure of compromise. Passing a bill everyone knows will be vetoed serves no one, especially the communities in need of opportunity.      MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 10, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501