CENTRAL POINT, Ore. — Republicans on Friday joined the congressional debate over thinning national forests to prevent wildfires with a bill that includes unchecked power for the Bush administration to authorize 1,000-acre clear-cuts in the name of controlling insects.
    Speaking at a U.S. Forest Service tree nursery here, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said the Healthy Forest Restoration Act put together by himself and Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., would provide for aggressive thinning in national forests tempered by streamlined public appeals.
    But it was quickly criticized by Democrats who have offered their own bill to reduce wildfire risks by promoting national forest thinning around rural communities while maintaining public oversight.
    "Discretionary 1,000-acre clear-cuts don't pass the laugh test," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who with Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., has offered an alternative fire prevention bill.
    "I've got to assume that either this gets removed from the bill or this is just another attempt to produce something that might excite some constituency but will be doomed to the congressional wastebasket."
    DeFazio noted that a promising effort to reauthorize the Endangered Species Act six years ago was not brought to the floor of the House by the Republican majority leadership after a similar effort to transform it.
    Miller criticized Republicans for releasing the bill just days before it is to be marked up in the House Resources Committee on Wednesday, allowing no time for interested parties to offer comments.
    "The only way to rebuild the trust between local communities, conservation interests, impacted businesses and federal agencies is to have a vigorous, informed and public debate on policy and on proposed projects," Miller said.
    Republicans and Democrats reached a compromise on a wildfire prevention bill last year but ran out of time to enact it.
    Focusing on the wildfire section of the bill, Walden said it holds, "great promise to help us prevent catastrophic fire, produce healthier forests, safer communities and jobs in rural areas.