Senate leader told of safety net

Three weeks after President George W. Bush signed into law a one-year emergency continuation of the federal timber safety net, the groundwork is already being laid out for a longer extension.

Two dozen county and other officials, including Douglas County Commissioner Doug Robertson, met Saturday in Portland with U.S. Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

McConnell, the Senate minority leader has been courted by Smith as an ally in efforts to maintain the safety net for another four years following the emergency extension. The Republican sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, whose support will be vital in pressing for a further reauthorization, Robertson said.

"Any opportunity that we have to speak to one of the principals -- and particularly one of his stature, leader of the minority party in the U.S. Senate -- is a situation we have to take advantage of," Robertson said. "We were very fortunate to have him in Oregon."

Robertson and other officials spoke with McConnell for an hour, during a meeting held at the World Trade Center Building in downtown Portland. They stressed the importance of the safety net to timber communities and how time is needed to come up with a plan to reduce counties' reliance on it.

"He was very interested in it and very appreciative," Robertson said.

Robertson gave a presentation based upon his position as president of the Association of O&C Counties. Other speakers included Lane County Commissioner Bobby Green, who serves as president of the Association of Oregon Counties, and Linda Goodman, regional supervisor for the U.S. Forest Service.

"Sen. McConnell's willingness to come out to Oregon and listen and learn more about our problems is a very positive signal that he wants to help," Robertson said. "It appears to me he is committed to do everything to help us."

Robertson credited Smith, Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden for continuing to make the safety net their top priority.

"They are not going to let this drop. We aren't either, of course," he said. "But we have to rely on those who represent us in Congress to keep the pressure on."

Under the bill signed into law, Douglas County will receive about $53 million for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. That's the same amount the county received during the current fiscal year.

The Senate tried to get a five-year extension of the safety net passed in the emergency supplemental funding bill that also provided money for continued military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House would only agree, however, to a one-year extension.



* You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.