|
900 W. Main St.,
PO Box 690 Grangeville, ID 83530
Phone: 208.983.1200 |
| |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Sali ‘ho-hum’ on future of Craig-Wyden funding |
|---|
| Editorial - David Rauzi, editor |
|---|
By David Rauzi
With Western communities facing significant financial shortfalls due to the potential end of funding subsidies through the Craig-Wyden Bill, not much hope is being found with our newly elected U.S. Representative Bill Sali.
A news report this month concerning the Republican freshman's stance came across as indifferent and lacking understanding of the issue.
Sali's chief of staff Rob Schwarzwalder was quoted as saying Sali would vote for Craig-Wyden funding "if final passage depended on his vote," and later that Sali doesn't consider the program fiscally sound: "He believes strongly we need to get to the root of the issue which is allowing timber harvest to go forward. We can't just say endlessly, 'Here is a worthy project.'"
Granted. Craig-Wyden is basically a handout, money allotted to compensate for significant losses in timber receipts off federal lands that have historically funded county roads and schools. Sali's comments are right on the money, though not the "revelation" they are presented to be.
The problem is the "forced to vote against my fiscally conservative principles" attitude Sali appears to be conveying.
In comparison, Idaho's Senator Larry Craig, co-author of the 2000 bill, recognizes forests need to be more productive, and he is working -- not pontificating -- toward that end in trying to salvage the bill in the difficult atmosphere of a fiscally tight Congress. He knows what he'd like to see happen, but he is realistic to expend effort on what he knows he's likely to be able to accomplish.
What is at stake? Reports are without Craig-Wyden funding, Idaho County's budget could see a $2.8 million shortfall, and Idaho County schools stand to lose $1.2 million.
Ideally it would be great for those funds -- or more -- to come from putting people to work in harvest and forest restoration projects, such as came out of the Craig-Wyden Bill ... or better yet without it through more federal openness for activities on public lands.
To that end, we need people working the issue and not engaged in insubstantial, unproductive political posturing.
|
| Go to top. |
| Click here to Subscribe |
|
|
