Democrats Likely To Endorse Salmon Plans Lawmakers Want Guarantee There Will Be Help Paying Bill

Five Northwest Democrats said Friday they are inclined to support costly new government plans to save salmon from extinction, as long as federal taxpayers pick up part of the tab.

They urged President Clinton in a letter to “help us let Northwest ratepayers know that salmon recovery is potentially affordable for the region.”

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., organized the letter signed by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Reps. Elizabeth Furse, D-Ore., Norm Dicks, D-Wash., and Jim McDermott, D-Wash.

“I don’t want to be the one to tell the next generation of Oregonians that we let the Pacific Northwest’s incomparable salmon runs slide into extinction,” DeFazio said. “We’re simply asking the federal government to carry its fair share of the economic costs of salmon recovery.”

The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a draft biological opinion this week projecting an additional $160 million a year will be needed to save the salmon from extinction.

A similar plan, advocated by the Northwest Power Planning Council, was estimated to cost about $175 million a year, they said.

“With the help we are seeking from the federal government, the Pacific Northwest should be able to afford its share of the costs of a biologically sound salmon recovery plan,” the Democrats said.

Without federal help, the lawmakers said they are worried about the ability of Northwest electric users to pay for all the proposed changes in hydropower dam operations.