A plan to extend payments to rural areas hit by federal logging cutbacks has fallen short in The House of Representatives.
The plan, the so-called “timber payments bill”, received a 218-193 vote in favour, but needed a two-thirds majority to get through.
President Bush had already threatened to veto the bill before the vote, making it difficult for the bill to progress to law.
The financial help currently pays for school, roads and other projects in 700 rural counties across 39 states.
