Forest Service Chief Defends Bush Budget - AP

[Eugene]

Forest Service Chief Defends Bush Budget
By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press Writer

February 13, 2007, 6:20 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats dismissed as "unworkable" the first budget
request of new Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell.

Kimbell, the first woman to head the Forest Service, came under fire Tuesday as she
defended President Bush's request for the next budget year, which deals her agency
a spending cut and eliminates more than 2,100 jobs.

-snip-

Even so, it would boost spending to fight forest fires by 23 percent to $911 million -- a
recognition that firefighting costs have topped $1 billion in four of the past seven years.
Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the Forest Service in the past for under-
budgeting for fire expenses, noting that money is often taken from other accounts to pay
for fire suppression.

Still, Dicks said the budget request has "big problems." While it increases spending for fire
suppression, it cuts money for fire preparedness, work done to thin overcrowded forest to
reduce the risk of fire.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-forest-service-budget,0,2881797.story

[catgirl]

1. This makes no sense...

with this proposed budget, The Forest Service cuts 2,100 jobs, but increases the
budget for fire fighting? Are fire fighters amongst the 2,100 who will lose their jobs?
And if so, who's profitting in this? Am I missing something here?

[hatrack]

2. Why, they'll just hire temps, silly!

Or maybe they can get some inexpensive prison labor to come and cut firebreaks for them.

[Eugene]

3. Full-time staff like rangers, maintenence workers, and road crews get cut.

Firefighters are are brought in when they are needed.