County bailout funds must still clear Senate, Bush

A one-year extension of a county payments program cleared a major hurdle Thursday in Congress when it was included in an emergency spending bill for the Iraq war.

"It saves the counties from bleeding to death," said Republican Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon's 2nd Congressional District.

Walden and Rep. Peter DeFazio, a Springfield Democrat, spearheaded an effort to renew the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, which expired last year.

Jackson County loses $23 million if the act isn't renewed, forcing the closure of libraries April 6, cutting search and rescue operations and reducing funds for road maintenance and other government services.

Other counties in Southern Oregon would fare even worse, with Curry County possibly declaring bankruptcy.

Walden estimated the House bill has a 75 to 80 percent chance of passing but added, "It doesn't mean there isn't the potential for some hiccups."

The White House said Thursday that President Bush would veto the measure, which would require the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq in 2008. The bill provides nearly $100 billion the Bush administration requested for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Walden said other issues could surface to threaten the county payments program, which provides $400 million to 700 counties in 39 states that have been hurt economically by restrictions on timber harvests on federal lands.

While some states have complained that Oregon receives too much from the county payments program, Walden said there wouldn't be any tinkering with the formula — at least for the one-year extension.

Walden said it has not been determined whether counties would receive the funds at the beginning of the fiscal year in July or toward the end of the calendar year.

DeFazio said inclusion of the bill in the military funding measure was a big step, despite the controversy over Iraq funding.

"This is what we call around here a must-pass bill," DeFazio said. "That's why we wanted to be included in it."

DeFazio predicted a "protracted fight" over funding for the war effort, but said everyone recognizes that the military funding is necessary — the issue is primarily over how the money will be spent, not whether it's needed.

"Hopefully our little corner of the bill will not be involved in any of the controversy," he said.

Walden said extensive lobbying by all members of the Oregon delegation as well as county commissioners and union groups helped gain support for the bill.

"It took a very long time to get through to the consciousness back here of people who don't have a dog in this fight," he said.

Jackson County Commissioners C.W. Smith and Dave Gilmour are wrapping up a visit to Washington to lobby for support of the county payments program.

Smith, en route from Washington to Medford, said on a phone message, "I think we have some good news."

Commissioner Jack Walker welcomed news of the bill. "I do not know how any of us could not be pleased that it is in appropriations (committee)," he said.

Walker said because of the lengthy process the bill must undergo before the vote, he is cautiously optimistic over its chances of passing.

Once the bill goes into the Senate, he worries that other appropriations will be added to it that could unravel the process.

"That's the part that's scary, when they start bloating it up," he said.

If the county does receive $23 million, Walker said it's too premature to say how the money would be spent.

"Let's get the money first, then we'll decide what we're going to do," he said.

Walker said the county's budget committee already decided not to reopen libraries if a one-year extension for the county payments program is received. But Smith said earlier this week, "Let's leave that option open."

Medford resident Judith Stevens thinks the commissioners should reopen libraries if they get the $23 million.

"Of course — what are they thinking?" said Stevens, a regular visitor to the Medford library. "The public would have use of the library for another year — hello."

Stevens worries that a three-year levy in May will fail, so she said commissioners should come up with multiple solutions to keep the libraries open.

Medford resident Joe Lamorie said the county needs to think of other solutions to keep libraries open, suggesting that libraries make a bigger effort to collect donations rather than pass a levy.

"You're forcing instead of asking," he said.