Senate deletes timber funds

The Senate on Thursday removed a provision from a major 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.

Some rural politicians have said their communities could not survive without federal money they’ve been receiving since 2000 under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Senators of both parties said they’ll work to extend the program before Congress adjourns for the year.

“Without an extension of this successful program, schools will begin to lay off teachers and librarians, vital infrastructure improvements will be stalled and cuts in emergency services would hit hundreds of our hard-working Northwest rural communities,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

Called the Craig-Wyden Act for the Northwest senators who authored it, the program was designed to help 700 rural counties that were hurt by federal logging cutbacks in the 1990s. Most of the money goes to Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California and Alaska.

Washington counties and school districts received more than $47 million in 2006, The Spokesman-Review has reported. Stevens County, for instance, received $250,000, and Ferry County received $400,000, prompting a county commissioner earlier this year to warn of a “budget crisis” if the money weren’t reauthorized.

More than $20 million went to Idaho counties and school districts in 2006. That included more than $1 million for the Kellogg School District, where the superintendent has said losing the money would mean cuts in everything from technology upgrades to textbooks and schoolroom supplies.

A House bill approved last week would have set aside more than $1.5 billion to continue the payments. It would have authorized $554 million for the timber program in the budget year that starts in October, with payments decreasing each year until they reach $202 million in 2012.

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 agreed to remove tax breaks for a wide range of clean energy industries from the bill.

The Senate dropped the tax package after lawmakers failed on a procedural vote to end debate on the energy bill. 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 – including Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, who co-authored the Craig-Wyden act. Craig opposed the House energy bill “because it contained a $22 billion tax increase,” said his spokesman, Dan Whiting.

Craig was among those saying Congress needs to enact an extension before adjourning for the year. Other Northwest senators have made similar pledges, while criticizing Thursday’s outcome.

“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, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Josh Kardon, chief of staff to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Wyden was extremely disappointed that the timber money was removed, despite support from what he called an overwhelming majority of the Senate.

“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.”