Oregon Public Broadcasting

Springfield Democratic Congressman Peter Defazio says reports that the White House had endorsed county payments were false hope. Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

Defazio is one of the most vocal supporters of the subsidy for formerly-timber-dependent counties.

But he says Democratic Senator Ron Wyden is wrong to claim the White House expressed support for the program in a recent letter to Congress.

Defazio points to an earlier White House statement of administration policy, where the President “urges” the House to eliminate the county payments funding.

Rep. Peter Defazio: “Wyden is spinning it, that because he is for the Senate version of the tax bill, that he’s for county payments. The president has never been for county payments. He’s never been for county payments."

Josh Kardon is Senator Wyden’s chief of staff. He notes that an administration official told the Oregonian the President recognizes the importance of county payments.

Josh Kardon: “That’s the first time we’ve seen that in print, so there’s no spin there. It’s in print. It’s on the record."

Kardon says the real obstacle is now convincing House Democrats, like Speaker Nancy Pelosi.