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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 12, 2006 Wyden criticizes timber funds bill By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden says a tax package approved by Congress this week will set back efforts to extend a federal timber subsidy considered critical for county funding. Republican members of the Senate, however, said they didn't believe there was a link. Wyden, D-Ore., criticized the legislative action, saying money that would have gone to counties and schools will instead help fund a tax cut for the wealthy. "In effect rural communities had their needs placed behind a tax break for those who are very fortunate," Wyden said. The senator said the Bush administration had earlier balked at the idea of fully funding a program that put $24 million into the current Jackson County budget. The 6-year-old law, formally known as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, has helped offset sharp declines in timber sales in Western states after federal forest policy restricted logging to protect endangered species such as the spotted owl. Oregon received more than $190 million in the current budget year, followed by California $64.6 million, Washington $41.8 million and Idaho $21 million. If Jackson County doesn't get the money, it could mean libraries will be closed and sheriff's patrols will be cut back. Schools also receive funding. To continue funding the timber subsidy program, Wyden and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., proposed collecting $2.6 billion from a fund from payments the federal government withheld from government contractors in lieu of taxes. Previously, the money wasn't withheld, but a Government Accounting Office study revealed that many of the contractors actually never pay federal taxes, Wyden said. "Apparently, the congressional leadership agrees we had a good funding idea," Wyden said. "They liked it so much they used it for their own priorities." Wyden's assertion was contradicted by the Senate Finance Committee under Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. "We don't see that consequence," said Jill Gerber, press secretary for the committee. She said certain provisions of the tax bill that would require additional funding wouldn't kick in until 2011 and she didn't see how it would jeopardize the federal timber subsidy. But Josh Cardin, a spokesman for Wyden, said there are provisions in the tax cut bill that specifically refer to using the money Wyden wanted to set aside for counties until 2013. "It has now been taken," Cardin said. "A lot of that potential funding has been taken off the table." Cardin said he would welcome an explanation that showed how the county payments program would be funded until 2013. "No one would be more delighted to be proven wrong on this matter than us," he said. "And if somehow we got it wrong, we'll look forward to Ms. Gerber's boss endorsing full funding for seven years." Both the House of Representatives and Senate passed the tax bill, HR 4297, this week and sent it to President Bush for his signature. Despite the setback, Wyden said he would continue to look for another source of money, making it his top priority this year. "I'm going to do everything I can from keeping Congress from ducking this issue," he said. "We can't afford to leave rural communities in the lurch." R.C. Hammond, a spokesman for Sen. Gordon Smith, said the senator supports the tax cut legislation. "The senator believes when you cut taxes it helps grow an economy," he said. Hammond said he wasn't aware of any connection between the tax cut and the timber money. "The bill was about tax cuts," he said. Jackson County Commissioner Dave Gilmour said he supported Wyden's original idea to fund the timber program and denounced any move to undermine it. "In all fairness we should be getting the money and not the wealthy people," he said. "It's another one of those cases where it's Robin Hood in reverse. They're taking the money from the poor and giving it to the rich." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy