Posted on 12/15/2007 10:37:06 AM PST by george76
The Senate removed a provision from the energy bill that would have extended for four years payments to rural counties that once depended on federal timber money to pay for schools and libraries.
A House bill approved last week would set aside more than $1.5 billion to compensate 700 rural counties in 39 states -- mostly in the South and West -- that were hurt by federal logging cutbacks in the 1990s. An additional $350 million would have gone to rural states through a program that reimburses state and local governments for federally owned property.
The timber plan had support from lawmakers in both parties, but was dropped in final negotiations Thursday as Senate Democrats ...
The Senate fell one shy of the 60 votes needed to bring the bill to a vote. Republican Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon, Orrin Hatch of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Western Democrats in supporting the call for a vote.
All other western Republicans opposed it.
"Congress had a golden opportunity to do what's right for rural America, but they chose to turn their backs on our Main Streets,'' said Sen. Max Baucus...
"A minority of senators on the other side of the aisle are denying rural counties their lifeline,'' Kardon said. "In this case 40 senators supported President Bush in stiff-arming rural counties.''
"Without an extension of this successful program, schools will begin to lay off teachers and librarians..."
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...
Pork is pork.
Sometimes. But the way they explain it around here is that the govt. now ‘owns’ much of the land in Oregon. Land that used to belong to timber companies - made worthless to them when logging was outlawed (save the owls).
Now the govt doesn’t pay property tax on the vast expanses of timber country that they own/manage. Hence these payments were compensation for that missing property tax.
So the "War on the West" has been inexoribly turning the western states into the USSA and we want our country back!!!
Not pork... just what was!!! Please, people... Please!!! We don't want welfare for our counties and cities! We only want the Federal & State governments to stop ripping off our revenues for such basics as roads and schools!!! That's all!!! (and we want NGO CONservancies to stop facilitating the ripoff!)
It's sad to see NV lose these property rights champions and to see that state swarmed by city slickers from LALA Land and the Gay Bay liberals!!!
God save the west from lousy liberalism and their "War On The West!!!
Agenda 21 says to move the folks into the cities and suburbs. This is one way to help get them moving.
American cultural attrophy!!! (slouching to Gomorah)
Pingin the three "Daves!!!"
yes :
Agenda 21 says to move the folks into the cities and suburbs...
IMO, the Federal Government has no business with that land in the first place. It should revert to the states. The last thing we need is the federal government trying to hang onto our land.
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