House Kills Tongass Logging Roads Funding, Don Young Vows Revenge
5/19/06Washington, D.C.
The U.S. House on Thursday evening passed a $25.9 billion spending bill that would reduce funding for the Interior Department, Forest Service and national parks and would drop two Bush administration proposals to sell federal lands.
The Forest Service has lost an average of $40 million a year -- and $48 million last year -- to subsidize a dying logging industry that employs only 300 Alaskans, the sponsors of the measure said.The provision, added as an amendment to the FY2007 Interior appropriations bill, would block spending on roads meant to be used by private companies for logging operations.
The 237-to-181 vote was cheered by conservation groups.
Alaska Rainforest Campaign legislative director Caitlin Hills said the vote was "a major step toward saving our last great rainforest and saving taxpayer money as well."
Seventy-nine tourism-dependent businesses in Southeast Alaska also backed the amendment in a petition.
"Think of that: (for) every job, $150,000 in taxpayer subsidies for that one job," said Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio. He said he's all for logging "but not when the taxpayers are being ripped off."
The vote was 237-181. Most of the Democrats and 68 Republicans voted for it.
Alaska Congressman Don Young said he was "adamantly opposed to this sneaky amendment."
He said it violated the spirit of representative government, because it affects only his state, and he didn't want it.
Taking a page from Sen. Ted Stevens' playbook, Young said he would make note of who voted against him and retaliate in future legislation.
"Each one of you, think about this, in this room: This should be a representative form of government, and what you're doing is dead wrong, and I shall not forget it," he said.