02/21/07 Fighting BPA budget changes

Larry Craig and Mike Crapo have joined six other Northwest Senators who oppose an increase in electricity rates. The Bush Administration budget writers want BPA money which could lead to a 5.5 to 11 percent hike in the Pacific Northwest power rates. CRAIG "We will not accept the proposal that has been offered." That's Senator Craig's view and that of the Washington, Oregon and Montana senators who see the Office of Management and Budget simply raiding the Bonneville Power Administration. Senator Crapo says the White House has tried this before. CRAPO "And each time the members of the Northwest delegations, Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate, have worked together to stop the effort to basically raid our relatively inexpensive power system in the Northwest." Crapo says if the federal government wants BPA money then it should also assume responsibility for programs BPA now maintains. CRAPO "If the federal government wants to take over the funding responsibilities for salmon and steelhead recovery then maybe we could talk about some kind of a mix there but the fact is whenever we bring that up the federal budgeters are very quick to back off and say no we just want you to send your money here to Washington." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott