Editorial: Senate can redeem itself on subsidies

Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., authored legislation that would have stopped needless subsidies to timber companies that build logging roads in national forests. Bryan was joined by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and others in opposing this "corporate welfare" program. But the Senate deadlocked 50-50 in its vote to kill the subsidy.

Although timber companies won last year there's still hope that the program will meet its fate. There are two solid reasons to end the subsidies. First, there's no sense in continuing what Bryan calls "food stamps" for the timber industry. Second, excessive road building has damaged the environment. Even at Lake Tahoe old logging roads have created runoff that has muddied the lake, Bryan says.

The Senate, which may vote again on the subsidy as early as this week, should fell this unnecessary handout for the wealthy timber industry.

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