AP: Oregon senator threatens filibuster (spending bill)

[Eugene]

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 · Last updated 4:31 p.m. PT

Oregon senator threatens filibuster

By MATTHEW DALY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- An Oregon senator is threatening to filibuster a must-pass
spending bill if Congress does not extend payments to rural counties hurt
by cutbacks in federal logging.

"The federal government has an obligation to rural Oregon, and it's time
to meet that obligation," said Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. "We are talking
about people's jobs, children's schools and general public safety in 700
timber counties in 39 states."

Congress is considering a $463.5 billion spending bill that would pay for 13
Cabinet agencies this year. Democratic leaders hope to move the bill through
the House as early as Wednesday, with the Senate likely taking it up after
that.

Smith said he would try to block the bill if it does not include funding for
the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, a seven-
year-old law that has pumped more than $2 billion into Oregon and other
states hurt by federal policies that restricted logging in the 1990s. The
policies were aimed at protecting the spotted owl and other threatened
species.

-snip-

Full article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Timber_Counties.html

[PSPS]

1. This sounds funny

Didn't BushCo rescind (or otherwise decide not to enforce) the logging restrictions these funds were supposedly meant to compensate?

[Straight Shooter]

2. Start de-funding Iraq and maybe then we'll have some money for what you want, Sen. Smith.

I'm in one of those rural counties, where you still see bumper stickers that say "Wipe your ass with a spotted owl." If Smith had been paying closer attention instead of jumping on the rah-rah-war attack Iraq bandwagon all those years ago, this wouldn't even be an issue, because there would be plenty -- plenty!! -- of funds for what he wants.

[zonkers]

8. If I saw a car with a wipe your ass with a spotted owl sticker, I'd be pissed. Let's just leave it

at that -- this is a public forum.

[salin]

3. Worried about reelection?

Your sudden populist actions (after the 2006 elections) makes your actions suspect. You may be completely sincere - but just the GOP tag - esp one voice that is only *now* (after the 2006 elections) voicing up. Maybe it is sincere - but lack of such similar loud concerns voiced in all of the years prior to your reelection cycle make it hard to see the words as anything but rhetoric. I would hope that Oregon voters will look at his whole record, not just the post-2006 elections record.

[anitar1]

4. I live in Oregon and believe Smith can see the possibility

of losing his seat in 08. He has done nothing for Oregon that I know of. A Bushbot all the way. Gordy has to go and we have someone in the wings who could take him out of the Senate.edit spelling.

[Parche]

5. mr smith goes to washington

Me too!!

We have to get a very well known Dem to defeat Gor-don

Maybe Barbara Roberts, Harry Lonsdale, ......

Any others?

[Arugula Latte]

7. I wish we could get Kitzhaber back in the arena, but I don't think he'll bite.

Maybe Blumenauer could run...

[Parche]

11. 2008

We need to get a very well known name in Oregon
someone who will defeat the Eastern and southern part (grants pass included)

[MissB]

6. This money represents 50-70% of the county budget

in a couple of the affected counties. Other counties rely on a smaller part of their budget (yeah, like 30%). If Smith doesn't do something, then I'd say his ass is definitely gone in '08. These are rural counties - his base.

[denverbill]

9. A one man filibuster ain't going to cut it.

If your program is so damned deserving, let Congress vote it up or down on it's own merits in a separate bill.

[gratuitous]

10. Wouldn't this have been easier when you were in the majority?

I wonder why Mr. Smith is all of a sudden worried about $2 billion in a $463.5 billion bill? Wouldn't it have been easier to put whatever you wanted into the spending bill when you had the majority, Mr. Smith? And passed the bill last year, which is when it was originally due?

Instead, you and your GOP cronies decided not to pass a whole bunch of spending bills when it was your responsibility, and now you’re going to hold things up so you can grandstand for the folks back home? I’m sure your buddies at the Oregonian newspaper will be suitably impressed; I don’t know that this sudden concern for your base will fool a whole bunch of people who are paying attention. And we're going to make sure your constituents hear about this. Often.