White House Threatens Veto on Oregon Lands Bill
Source: Associated Press
White House Threatens Veto on Oregon Lands Bill
GRANTS PASS, Ore. September 19, 2013 (AP)
By JEFF BARNARD Associated Press
The White House is threatening to veto a bill to boost logging on national forests, including a provision aimed at producing more money for timber counties in Oregon.
The Statement of Administration Policy issued Wednesday says if the bill were presented to President Obama, his senior advisers would recommend a veto.
It says the bill (H.R. 1526) would harm national forests and the government's obligations to manage them by sidestepping environmental laws, which would lead to more conflict and delay.
The measure includes a provision developed by members of the Oregon delegation to turn over half the so-called O&C lands in Western Oregon to a state-appointed trust that would manage them for timber production. The other half would be managed for fish and wildlife habitat, and includes creation of new wilderness areas.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/white-house-threatens-veto-oregon-lands-bill-20299513