A group of 29 U.S. senators have urged the Obama administration to include a long-term reauthorization of the country timber payments program - otherwise known as the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act (SRSCA) - in its 2012 budget.

Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined 20 Democrats and nine Republicans (among them Washington Democrats Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and Idaho Republican Mike Crapo) in signing a July 14 letter to President Barack Obama, "The SRSCA is not an entitlement program, but rather a demonstration of the commitment that this nation made to rural forest counties when it determined that large blocks (193 million acres in total) of our forest lands should be set aside for the benefit of the entire nation," they wrote. "Indeed this 'contract' between the federal government and rural America is part of the very foundation of our national forest system."

Congress passed, and President Bill Clinton signed the act in 2000, providing six years of funding to timber-dependent rural counties nationwide, among them 33 counties in Oregon, including Lincoln County.

For the complete article see the 07-28-2010 issue.

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