Senators Oppose Selling the Forest for the Schools
Senators from both parties challenged a Bush administration plan to sell more than 300,000 acres of national forest to help pay for rural schools.
Lawmakers said the short-term gains would be offset by the permanent loss of public lands. They also said profits from the proposed sales would fall far short of what was needed.
“I just don’t think we can play Russian roulette with these local communities,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who vowed to “do everything I can” to stop the plan.
Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) told administration officials at a hearing: “No, heck no.”
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