Oregon House urges reauthorization of timber payments

The Oregon House unanimously approved HJR100, a joint resolution urging the US Congress to reauthorize payments to offset infrastructure costs such as roads, libraries and schools for rural communities that have significant tracts of BLM land.

Counties in Southern and Eastern Oregon have been hit particularly hard by the cut since they cannot collect taxes on land owned by the federal government, and have lost timber revenues that partially offset those taxes.

One legislator likened the federal government to a deadbeat dad refusing to pay child support.

The resolution now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to pass unanimously.