1. LNG

Before Oregon’s May primary, Barack Obama said he would work to give the state siting authority over liquefied natural gas terminals. That may or may not affect the Jordan Cove project on Coos Bay’s North Spit.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who coasted to re-election Tuesday, said the president-elect initially plans to focus his attention on the economy. A change in siting authority is further down the priority list. By the time a change is accomplished, the Jordan Cove project may be too far along in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission process.

“It would probably become a legal battle,” DeFazio said. “But it’s a good idea. States should be part of the decision making, not pre-empted by federal bureaucracy.”

2. Transportation

According to Obama’s campaign Web site, the new administration would create a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank “to expand and enhance, not supplant, existing federal transportation investments.” This agency would have $60 billion over 10 years to address highways, bridges, roads, ports, and air and train systems.

Could those investments include dredging the Coos Bay shipping channel? Repairing the North Jetty? Replacing the Isthmus Slough Bridge? Helping rehabilitate the rail line to Eugene?

DeFazio said the House passed a bill this year including $30 billion for infrastructure improvements nationwide, though the Senate hasn’t considered it. Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have talked about an even a bigger package, he said.

Transportation infrastructure is high on Obama’s priority list, DeFazio said.

“It’s a good way to put people back to work,” he said.

In a press release, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said if a stimulus package for roads and bridges isn’t passed in the next month, it should be the top priority of the new Congress.

3. Forestry

Obama’s plans for rural America don’t say much about forests. His campaign gave far more attention to protecting wild areas and enhancing wildlife habitat. His Web site makes no mention of stimulating jobs in logging and wood products.

Loggers probably should forget about a Bush administration proposal that would have allowed old-growth logging on federal lands. DeFazio, however, said he is working with Wyden on legislation to promote forest thinning. The bill would increase federal timber harvests while protecting old-growth forests.

“It should be a relatively noncontroversial issue,” he said. “But nothing with forests is ever noncontroversial.”

4. Timber payments

On the stump, Obama supported extension of federal timber payments. Recently passed legislation provides payments for the next four years. But then what?

DeFazio said if federal timber harvesting doesn’t increase, he’ll support extending the payments. Democratic Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley expressed a similar opinion during the campaign. But Wyden, Oregon’s senior senator, has warned publicly that rural Oregon can’t expect further extensions.

 DeFazio acknowledges that persuading Congress to extend the money won’t be easy, given the current economic picture.

“Anything that costs money is going to be tough,” he said.

5. Health care

Obama’s plan for rural America calls for policies that recruit doctors and nurses to rural areas. If that comes about, it could help South Coast patients who have had trouble getting local health care.

Obama also favors a plan to provide health care to every American. It would be financed by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000, and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.

The current financial crisis could make that plan harder to achieve. But DeFazio said reforms are still feasible, given Obama’s focus on eliminating anti-competitive activity in the insurance market.