NEWS  LETTERS
Wallowa.com
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
A5
Timber families protest climate bills at Oregon Capitol
By SIERRA DAWN
McCLAIN
Capital Press
SALEM, Ore. — A fl eet
of about three dozen log-
ging trucks converged on
the state fairgrounds at
8 a.m. Wednesday as part of
a demonstration by dozens
of loggers, millers, truckers
and their families who con-
tinued to the state Capitol
steps to protest two climate
bills they say will devastate
them and their industry.
The legislation they were
protesting is aimed at slow-
ing climate change, but
industry members say they
cannot afford to replace
expensive diesel trucks or
the skyrocketing fuel prices
the two bills would cause.
In addition to the timber
industry, the bills concern
many of Oregon’s farmers
and ranchers as well.
House Bill 2007 aims
to phase out older die-
sel engines by prohibit-
ing the use of heavy-duty
trucks with engines predat-
ing 2007. The bill has now
been amended to apply only
to Multnomah, Washington
and Clackamas counties, but
the timber industry operates
in that area as well.
Supporters say HB 2007
as a critical step toward
slowing climate change. The
bill is a high priority for law-
makers in Portland area.
The other bill, House
Bill 2020, would set a limit,
or cap, on greenhouse gas
emissions starting in 2021.
By 2050, the Oregon Cli-
mate Action Program esti-
mates the annual amount
of carbon emitted into the
atmosphere would decrease
by 43.4 million metric tons
— equivalent in weight to
over 9 million elephants.
Critics, however, claim
that amount will make lit-
tle difference, amounting to
only 0.12% of global green-
house gas emissions, which
reached 36 billion metric
tons, according to the 2018
Climate Conference.
The bill would require
companies that emit more
than 25,000 metric tons of
carbon a year to buy “allow-
ances” for every metric ton
they generate. This would
Oregon House
approves $1.43
million for FFA
funding
SALEM, Oregon –
The House of Represen-
tatives today passed an
appropriations bill that
will provide $1.43 mil-
lion for the Oregon Future
Farmers of America. Rep.
Greg Barreto (R-Cove)
is the chief sponsor of
HB 2444 that funds FFA
activities throughout the
year.
The bill provides
funding for enrollment,
leadership development
and training, coordinat-
ing two dozen state-level
competitive events, and
other general FFA pro-
grams. Another $600,000
will be appropriated for
grants to school districts
for extended duty con-
tracts for program teach-
ers during the summer.
The bill passed unani-
mously, 60-0.
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
Loggers and their families gather at the Oregon Capitol to protest House Bills 2007 and 2020.
Sierra Dawn McClain / Capital Press
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
Mike Pihl, owner of Mike Pihl Logging Inc., prepares to address
the crowd. Tony Chapman, 45, a third-generation logger from
Deer Island, stands beside his 4-year-old son, Gunner, who
holds the fl ag for the Pledge of Allegiance.
From left, Matt Koch, Angelia Sanchez, Cheryl Greenlee and
Nick Sauer. From timber to trucking, each person represents a
diff erent industry impacted by the climate bills.
apply to about 100 compa-
nies statewide, include fuel
companies and utilities. As a
result, according to the Ore-
gon Farm Bureau, fuel and
energy prices would spike.
raise the cost of living for all
Oregonians, not just those in
rural communities.
Geisinger and those he
represents are also worried
about HB 2007. Because
many loggers own pre-2007
vehicles, this bill would
make their fl eets worth-
less. A new logging truck,
according to Geislinger,
costs around $200,000 so
buying a new fl eet is eco-
nomically impossible for
most companies.
Impact on rural
industry
Jim Geisinger, executive
vice president of Oregon
Associated Loggers, said
promoting a cleaner envi-
ronment is important — but
not in this way.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Road improvement
waste of tax money
I am against the
improvements to Wal-
lowa Mt. Road that started
this week. The speed limit
is 35mph. Most vehicles
are going around 55. The
deer are getting killed and
If HB 2020 passes,
Geisinger estimated fuel
costs will increase 18 to 20
cents per gallon initially
and continue rising until
prices reach $6 to $7 per
gallon. Geisinger said that
would drive many produc-
ers, loggers and mills out of
business.
Rep. Bill Post, R-Keizer,
who talked with protesters
on the Capitol steps, said
he believes the increase in
fuel prices will dramatically
This would impact Ore-
gonians like Adam Lardy,
46, from Buxton, who owns
pre-2007 logging trucks.
Buxton is in Washington
County.
“I care about a clean envi-
ronment as much as the next
person,” Lardy said. “But I
can’t afford new trucks now,
especially not all at once.
I’m afraid for my neighbors
and friends and the people I
work with, too. We’re afraid
of losing everything.”
Geisinger
applauded
Rep. Karin Power, D-Mil-
waukie, and Rep. Shelly
Boshart Davis, R-Albany,
for their work on amend-
ments that have limited HB
2007 to the three-county
Portland Metro area. But
even with amendments,
Geisinger is concerned.
“Either one of these bills
passing would be very dam-
aging,” said Geisinger.
“Together, they would be
devastating. This protest
is an expression of deep
concern. It’s a grassroots
response.”
At the Capitol, protesters
took turns at the podium,
voicing anger and concern.
Mike Pihl, 58, owns a
private timber company just
west of Portland. He has
been logging since age 17.
“These are some of the
toughest times I’ve been
in,” Pihl said. “It reminds
me of 2008 (the start of the
recession). Everything is in
turmoil.”
If these bills pass,
Pihl said he’s worried he
will have to lay off more
employees. In 2007, Pihl
said he had 60 employees.
Now, he employs 20 peo-
ple. If HB 2007 and HB
2020 pass, Pihl estimates he
will only be able to afford a
dozen employees.
“How long am I going to
put up with this kind of pun-
ishment?” said Pihl. “I’m a
go-getting son-of-a-gun. I
even have a tattoo that says,
‘Never give up.’ But how
much longer can I do this?
How will we survive?”
Rural-Urban Divide
Legislators have a big
task in front of them —fi nd-
ing a way to slow environ-
mental degradation without
hurting rural areas.
“I can’t overemphasize
how divided people are
in rural and urban areas,”
Geisinger said. “Rural peo-
ple are not signifi cantly
contributing to green-
house gases. Urban peo-
ple are producing most of
the greenhouse gases and
causing most of the climate
change, so if they want to
penalize themselves, have
at it. Leave rural Oregon
alone.”
there is no law enforcement
working the problem. I can
imagine how much worse
it will be after the road is
smoothed out. A lot of the
violators are tourists from
out of state. I fi lled out my
response last year to the
survey but doubt anyone
read it. Talk about a waste
of tax payers money.
Gary Parraga
Joseph
More reasons to feel
good about your Medicare
Supplement Choice and
Prescription Drug Plan
• Up-to-date Medicare information
• Highest Coverage/Lowest Premiums
• Local agent will answer questions and
help you navigate the Medicare maze.
• Plan Comparisons for:
- Turning 65 (Medicare eligible)
- SEP (Special Election changes)
- Oregon Birthday Rule
•Lots of family activities
•Trout fishing ponds
•Live music
•Many local exhibitors
•Logging games
•Fun scavenger hunt
with prizes for kids
•And so much more!
Join us as we celebrate our community’s natural and cultural resources.
Free admission for all ages!
June 28th | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Wallowa County Fairgrounds
Kathleen Bennett
616 W. North Street,
Enterprise, OR 97828
541-426-4208
Introducing Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Adam Heisinger
• Doctor of Osteopathy,
Des Moines University, Iowa
• Internship and Residency completed
in orthopedic surgery at Affinity
Medical Center, Ohio; Fellowship in
sports medicine completed at Orthopedic
Research of Virginia, Richmond
• Served four years as flight surgeon,
Langley Air Force Base, Virginia and
Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
BOWLBY
BASH
SOAP BOX
DERBY
ENTRY
INFORMATION
Dr. Heisinger will be seeing patients at Wallowa
Memorial Hospital regularly for clinic visits
and surgery. Ask your physician for a referral today.
We treat you like family
601 Medical Parkway, Enterprise, OR 97828 • 541-426-3111 • www.wchcd.org
Wallowa Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
1ST
INSPECTION
June 14th,
4pm - 6pm
3RD
INSPECTION
June 16th,
1pm - 3pm
2ND
INSPECTION
June 15th,
4pm - 6pm
WALK-IN
INSPECTION
June 22th,
10am - Noon
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
aguilarjaa@gmail.com