[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 68 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HOLD ON NOMINATION OF DAVID BERNHARDT

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to attempt, once again, to 
raise awareness of the plight of countless rural communities due to the 
impending expiration of the Secure Rural Schools and County Self-
Determination Act. I regret that the lack of concern at the White House 
and the inertia in Congress forces me to put a hold on David Bernhardt, 
the administration's nominee for Interior Solicitor. It is time for 
everyone to focus their attention on the needs of the more than 700 
rural counties in over 40 States that are depending on the 
reauthorization of this county payments legislation.
  Thus far, the administration's solution to funding county payments is 
unacceptable. The county payments law, which provides a stable revenue 
source for education, roads, and other county services in rural areas, 
is due to expire at the end of this year. In early 2005, I coauthored a 
bipartisan bill, S. 267, to reauthorize county payments for another 7 
years. The bill has 26 Senate cosponsors. In February, the 
administration proposed reauthorizing the law for only 5 years while 
cutting funding by 60 percent and funding that reduced portion with a 
controversial Federal land sale scheme. In response, Senator Baucus 
proposed a sensible, alternative funding source for county payments, a 
proposal which I was pleased to cosponsor. Our legislation fully funds 
county payments by ensuring that a portion of Federal taxes are 
withheld from payments by the Federal Government to government 
contractors. The Federal Government currently does not withhold taxes 
when it pays government contractors. Recently, however, over my 
objections, Congress approved a major tax bill that uses the Baucus 
proposal to instead provide tax cuts for this country's most fortunate 
few. This lack of regard for the historic obligations of the Federal 
Government to rural counties severs a vitally important funding 
lifeline to communities throughout the country.
  I will hold this nominee--and many nominees coming after him, if need 
be--until the administration finds an acceptable way to fund county 
payments.

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