House defeats timber payments bill

The House Thursday defeated a bill that would have continued payments to rural counties hurt by federal cutbacks in logging.

A majority of lawmakers voted for the bill, but under special House rules, the bill was defeated. Supporters had brought up the bill under rules that did not allow any amendments. The 218-193 vote in favor of the bill – largely along party lines – was well short of the required two-thirds needed.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., denounced Republicans who voted against the bill, saying the vote dealt a huge blow to rural counties in Oregon and other Western states.

By MATTHEW DALY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

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