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Governor addresses local issues
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H&N
photo by Ty Beaver
Gov. Ted Kulongoski talks about the Klamath Basin
Restoration Agreement in his Salem office Thursday. The
governor discussed issues impacting the Klamath Basin. |
Kulongoski speaks about water, timber, jobs
By TY BEAVER
H&N Staff Writer
June 6, 2009
SALEM — Water. Timber. The
economy.
During an interview with the Herald and News Thursday, Oregon Gov.
Ted Kulongoski spoke about issues impacting the Klamath Basin: the
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, timberlands devastated by a
pine beetle infestation and jobs in an economic downturn.
Are you concerned about the continuing opposition to the
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement? Do you think it will slow or
derail it?
Kulongoski said he thinks most people in the Basin want a conclusion
to the conflicts over water resources for farmers, fishermen, tribes
and conservationists. The status quo can’t continue.
But the governor said even if there is a final restoration agreement
that is signed and implemented, there will always be opposition and
differences of opinion. He said that the real conflict is between
people wanting everything to stay the same and those willing to
accept change.
“I don’t think a final agreement will mean consensus in the Basin,”
he said.
He is confident state legislation allowing Portland-based PacifiCorp
to raise its Oregon customers’ power bills by about $1.50 per month
will receive final approval from the House before reaching his desk.
Fire season has officially begun. Klamath and Lake counties
are still contending with the potential of a very damaging fire on
federal lands, fueled by timber killed by a pine beetle infestation.
What is the state doing to address the situation?
The governor, a fishing enthusiast familiar with Deadhorse Lake in
the Gearhart Wilderness area, has visited areas impacted by the
infestation. He said he understands the potential for disaster in
the region, should lightning start a forest fire.
The state rejected an earlier request from Klamath County
commissioners to declare an emergency for the area — not because it
isn’t possible but because it didn’t meet the standards for such
action.
The state is attempting to partner with the federal government on
managing those forests and mitigating the danger. Oregon was the
first state to partner with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in
such a way and Kulongoski said he’s also spoken with U.S. Secretary
of the Interior Ken Salazar about it, as well as private landowners.
“This is not an infestation on just federal land,” he said.
You announced, during a speech in Portland several weeks
ago, a proposal to create a jobs program similar to the Civilian
Conservation Corps of the Great Depression era to put some
Oregonians back to work. What other details do you have on that and
how would it impact Klamath County?
Kulongoski said he initially conceived using $90 million to create
up to 12,000 jobs, such as brush clearing and working for food
banks, for the next three to six months.
However, he said, state legislators have raised legitimate concerns,
such as waiting to see whether the federal government extends
unemployment benefits that are set to expire in September. An
extension could determine whether some money could be held over for
jobs in 2010.
There also have been questions about helping the unemployed advance
their job training so they’ll be better positioned when the economy
recovers.
The governor couldn’t say how many jobs would come to Klamath County
but his office has said there’d be a push for the majority to go to
the worst hit counties.
Kulongoski said the jobs would be created through local governments,
nonprofits and even churches so people are doing a job that provides
a needed public service.
“A job is a paycheck, but it’s also a human dignity issue,” he said.
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