The Senate Appropriations Committee has moved forward a concept backed by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to provide for the Interior Department with funding for an expected amount of wildfires, but then pay for firefighting costs above that amount through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Many Western lawmakers have sought such a move for years, contending the cost of battling catastrophic wildfires has hampered the ability of the Forest Service to do fire prevention work.  Merkley says the concept is still a long way from becoming law, noting the broader bill with the plan in it passed on a split partisan vote with a series of policy riders that could be harmful to environmental programs and the Clean Power Plan.  Merkley and other Democrats voted against the broader bill.