 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 5 * March 15, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Craig wants to work with counties on PILT By Kevin Wilcox
It’s a bad idea to decouple timber receipts and create a separate, PILT-type program for it, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) told delegates at the March 1 luncheon at the 1999 Legislative Conference. Craig is on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Let’s not do that folks," Craig said. "Let’s keep revenue tied to some formula. If we ever divide that, then I’ll have to go to urban senators with my hat in my hand." Craig said that it’s already hard for him to convince senators from urban areas that PILT money is important. "Urban county senators say to me, ‘Why should I support your county? Your county doesn’t support mine.’ It’s been difficult to get support," he added. He pointed out that PILT is underfunded by 54 percent, adding that "it works, but it doesn’t work that well." Craig is working to create a new set of policies to address these public lands issues and hopes to unveil them in mid–March. "We’re going to hold off until you and I can craft a policy that will work and then we’ll try to get that through Congress," he said. Craig then turned to the Republican agenda, saying that he is very proud that the country has a balanced budget, which has been an interest of his since he first came to Washington in 1981. "When I introduced balanced budget legislation in 1981, some said, ‘Kid, not in this lifetime.’ I say ha, ha. Now, we on the Republican side of the aisle think that when you balance the budget and are running a surplus, you’re probably over-taxing," Craig said. Craig said that saving Social Security is one of his top priorities. He said not only does he want to save it for his parent’s generation and for his own, but for those to come. "What I really want to do with Social Security is to be able to turn to my children and my grandchildren and say your investment in a Social Security annuity is the best investment you can make," he said. "We ought to be smart enough to get this done without bickering about politics," he added. |
