East Oregonian
A4
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
CHRISTOPHER RUSH
Publisher
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ANDREW CUTLER
Editor
WYATT HAUPT JR.
News Editor
JADE McDOWELL
Hermiston Editor
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Capital Press Photo/Sierra Dawn McClain
A panoramic view of the June 27, 2019, protest at the Oregon Capitol in Salem.
Voices of frustration, and fear, at the Capitol
T
housands of Oregonians gath-
ered in front of the state Cap-
itol last week to protest cli-
mate change bills that wouldn’t help
the climate but would raise the cost
of gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity
and natural gas in addition to threat-
ening rural jobs.
The only thing House Bill 2020
offered was the promise of “green”
jobs and the fact that it wouldn’t sig-
nificantly impact the climate. Even
proponents have said it would have
impacted only about 0.12% of global
greenhouses gases.
What the protesters said was from
the heart, born of frustration and
fear for themselves and their fami-
lies and a realization that, in the large
scheme of politics in Oregon, they
barely matter. Portland has the votes,
so who cares about Pendleton, or Til-
lamook, or La Grande, or Baker City
or John Day?
The voices were as clear as they
were heartfelt.
“We’ve got climate problems
to deal with, obviously,” 19-year-
old Mary Hewitt told Capital Press
reporter Sierra Dawn McClain.
Hewitt comes from a family of
truckers, fishermen and other work-
ing-class people. “So many of my
peers have come out supporting these
bills. They think they’re fighting for
the environment, and I get it. But this
is not the way to help the earth. Ride
a bike to work. Walk more. Recycle.
But don’t crush me and my family.
We’re people, too.”
Ellie Hilger, 30, from Tillamook,
also took part in the protest.
“Tillamook is not just a tourist
destination,” Hilger said. “We work
the land and take care of it. I come
from a logging family. My dad runs a
hay farm. This bill will destroy Tilla-
mook industries.”
“Crush” and “destroy” are not
words demonstrating confidence in
the Legislature. These folks — log-
gers, farmers, truckers and ranchers
— have been the targets of Oregon
environmental activists for decades.
The activists have crippled the tim-
ber industry, once a mainstay of the
state’s economy. They have attacked
ranchers — note the shameful attack
on Dwight and Steven Hammond
that continues in a Portland court-
room. Good Lord, haven’t they been
through enough? Now, even after
they were pardoned by President
Donald Trump, the environmental
attack dogs continue.
And note the bills constantly intro-
duced in the Legislature attacking
loggers, farmers and ranchers — the
people who provide the state’s food,
fiber and shelter.
It’s as though rural Oregonians —
even the ones whose families braved
the Oregon Trail to build a life here
— are an endangered species. They
feel that political “leaders” such as
Gov. Kate Brown have not only aban-
doned them but are actively working
against their interests.
We often hear chatter about heal-
ing the urban-rural divide. Yet some
politicians appear to use it and try
their best to widen the gap that
divides Oregonians. As an example,
where was Brown when last week’s
protest took place? Where were the
others, who still insist HB 2020 was
misunderstood?
This was a chance for them to
talk with the protesters, to gain an
understanding of their concerns, to
show empathy and tell them they
fully understand and promise to pre-
vent any legislation that would hurt
rural Oregon. This was a chance to
start building a bridge, yet they didn’t
show up.
HB 2020, the cap-and-trade cli-
mate bill, died in the Legislature
during the waning days of the ses-
sion. But another bill, HB 2007,
which will require heavy equip-
ment and trucks in the three counties
around Portland to have expensive
new diesel engines, passed.
Proponents promise to keep push-
ing cap-and-trade bills in the future.
No doubt they will, and in the pro-
cess they will continue to drive a
wedge between urban and rural Ore-
gon, which would pay a dispropor-
tionately high price for an immeasur-
ably small impact on climate change.
What also won’t die is the distrust
and damage Brown and others have
inflicted on Oregon, its people and its
economy.
YOUR VIEWS
Merkley a tourist, not a
concerned legislator
Sorry, but your Tip of the Hat to
Sen. Jeff Merkley of June 29 is mis-
placed. While it is true that he puts
forth effort to come to Eastern Oregon,
it is clear from his record as a senator
that his visit is for naught and his par-
tisan ways do continue. The visits are
just that, a “visit”; he is a tourist on a
social trip, not a concerned legislator
that comes to listen, understand and
pursue legislation that supports us.
Most recent evidence of him being
out of touch on the needs of all of Ore-
gon is his supporting Tweet of May
28 of Oregon HB 2020. So yes, please
come, senator, but do us all a favor and
listen and act!
Carl Culham
Athena
Lawmakers should do
their job
In the late 1990s, the federal gov-
ernment threatened water rights to
the Little Walla Walla River because
steelhead and bull trout were listed as
a threatened species. I was a pastor in
Milton-Freewater at the time. Those
of us who understand the complexities
of rural agriculture can imagine the
chaos this threatened. Local irrigators,
and our church, began to build a coa-
lition which included the Tribes, vari-
ous government agencies, diverse envi-
ronmental groups and more. We found
a solution and a way around the crisis.
Cooperation was the key.
The Associated Press reported Fri-
day that 11 Oregon lawmakers fled
the state to avoid the cooperation and
conversation that we elected them to
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of
the East Oregonian editorial board. Other
columns, letters and cartoons on this page
express the opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of the East Oregonian.
engage in are now claiming victory in
the defeat of HB 2020.
HB 2020 would have had Oregon
declare a state of emergency around
climate concerns that desperately need
attention. Its goal was to “dramatically
reduce greenhouse gases by 2050”
through a cap and trade regime yet to
be wholly defined. While we in rural
and urban Oregon experience the crisis
differently, we all know it exists.
Those of you in our state legisla-
ture have been given a trust by the
people of Oregon. It’s a hard job. I
respect that. It is likewise the job of
faith communities like mine to sup-
port your work and speak up when
you have failed. I am doing my job.
Leaving the state to avoid doing yours
is a catastrophic failure. My prayers
for renewed integrity in office will
continue.
Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke
Portland
Thank you, Greg Walden
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden held a town
hall meeting in Athena at noon on Sun-
day. He was very forthcoming with
information, from forest fires, opioids,
wolves, the border, and even touched
on the Green New Deal and what the
cost would be to implement such a
plan. He handled the antagonists very
well. His staff gave out contact infor-
mation and he promised to get back in
touch with people with answers to spe-
cific questions.
I was impressed and Greg Walden
is assured of getting my vote again.
It was exciting to actually have him
come to Athena.
Sally Thompson
Athena
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
GOVERNOR
Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
whitehouse.gov/contact/
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Greg Walden
185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
La Grande office: 541-624-2400
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies
for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold
letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights
of private citizens. Letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime
phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published.
REPRESENTATIVES
Greg Barreto, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-38
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-423
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
Send letters to the editor to
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave.
Pendleton, OR 97801