County Timber Payments, Feb. 16

County Timber Payments
The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee is expected to complete work on a proposal Thursday, Feb. 16, that will reportedly replace the federal county timber payment program with a new source of revenue for counties suffering from the loss of the governmental money.  The bill is on a fast track after being introduced two days earlier in Congress.  Not many have commented on the proposal.  Committee Chair Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Washington) did state that "active management of our national forests is necessary to help rural communities create jobs and fund roads, schools and emergency services."  He added, "This bill provides a long-term solution that will generate a stable source of revenue for counties, put people back to work, stimulate rural economies and keep our forests healthy by establishing a sustainable plan to increase responsible timber production."  The bill would create trusts, devoted to conservation and commercial development.  The loss of County Timber Payments has put many county governments in a budget crisis.