Merkley pushes for funds for forest management in infrastructure bill
Senators and the White House are a step closer to salvaging the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
The loose framework for the bipartisan package was agreed to weeks ago but disagreements over how to pay for it have stalled talks.
On Wednesday, the Senate voted to again start work on the nearly $1 trillion package.
It's still unclear whether the final bill will pass, but KATU spoke with Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley minutes after he stepped out from a test vote.
He laid out what he's looking for in the final product.
"I'm really pushing for billions of dollars for forest management, to thin our forests, to do prescribed burns, to take the appropriate actions in different types of forest to reduce their vulnerability to fire."
The process could take days and 10 Republicans would need to vote for the bill for it to pass in the evenly split 50-50 Senate.
KATU will air Steve Dunn’s interview with Merkley this Sunday on “Your Voice Your Vote” at 9 a.m.