A8
STATE
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Cap and trade takes significant step toward reality
Landmark carbon
pricing proposal moves
out of committee on
party-line vote
By Aubrey Wieber
Oregon Capital Bureau
Oregon’s carbon cap and trade
proposal passed out of its legisla-
tive committee on a party-line
vote Friday, setting it up as the
next landmark piece of legisla-
tion to pass in the 2019 session.
It’s now one step closer to the
desk of Gov. Kate Brown, who
last week signed the Student Suc-
cess Act into law. If cap and trade
were to pass as well, it would
give her two landmark wins
within months of her re-election.
The bill now goes to the Ways
and Means Committee, where
it can continue to be tweaked,
though the committee will look
at the financial aspects of the bill,
not the policy.
House Bill 2020 would set a 52
million metric ton cap on green-
house gas emissions. Companies
that produce at least 25,000 met-
ric tons of emissions per year
would have to pay for every ton
they emit by buying allowances
Capital Bureau/Aubrey Wieber
Rep. Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, and Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland,
leaders of the cap and trade proposal, speak at a rally outside the Capitol.
through an auction. The proceeds
from those sales would go to
highway projects, climate mitiga-
tion projects, rural and minority
communities and other programs.
The passage would join Ore-
gon with California as the only
U.S. states to implement cap-
and-trade systems. It’s a journey
Oregon lawmakers have been on
for about a decade.
The bill’s passage out of com-
mittee was expected. While simi-
lar proposals failed in past years,
Democratic leadership has been
adamant that it’s time to move
forward with an answer to cli-
mate change.
O utlook
The proposal has received
strong criticism from Republi-
cans and the business commu-
nity, but with Democratic super-
majorities in both the House and
Senate, it was always expected to
have the votes to pass. It was also
something Brown campaigned
on.
However, there was a hiccup
last week when a deal over an
education package was reached.
In order to pass a $1 billion-per-
year business tax to fund educa-
tion reforms, Democrats agreed
to kill a couple bills and do a
“reset” on cap-and-trade.
For several days, it wasn’t
clear what that meant. That’s
because the specifics were never
hammered out.
Democrats agreed to give Sen.
Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, a staunch
opponent of the bill, more
involvement. That wasn’t much
in evidence Friday. Sen. Michael
Dembrow, D-Portland, and Rep.
Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, who
co-chaired the committee, allowed
Bentz and other Republicans
to offer their amendments for a
vote at Friday’s meeting — but
all were voted down along party
lines.
Dembrow and Power’s own
amendments passed, again on a
party-line vote. They were essen-
tially technical fixes.
Bentz’s amendments were
largely to lighten the burden on
his district, which covers much
of sparsely populated Eastern
Oregon. One proposed amend-
ment would have excluded Mal-
heur County from the program
altogether.
Dembrow said, while he
respects Bentz’s interest in pro-
tecting constituents, the bill
already does that.
“At the end of the day, we
are going to look back at this
program in 10 years and say,
‘This is a program that works
for Eastern Oregon,’” Dembrow
said.
Bentz said despite the hard
work the committee put in, the
bill is nowhere close to ready.
The tension on the six-Repub-
lican, eight-Democrat commit-
tee was often palpable. Republi-
cans often used their committee
time to talk about how the bill
will hurt industry and rural Ore-
gonians while failing to make a
dent in the global climate change
problem. Democrats talked about
how Oregon needs to be a leader
in this fight and argued the state
is already dangerously behind
schedule in taking action.
SENI R
PRAIRIE CITY – Hey!
What happened to
spring? I had to get my
winter coat out today.
Yep, that’s spring in
Grant County. Rule #1:
Rose Coombs
Never leave home
without a jacket of
some sort. Why?
Because Rule #2: The weather may change at any moment.
We wish to report that we had two tables of pinochle players today! So
come on down (or up, as the case may be) and join the party. We start at
10 a.m. That is also the cut-off time for ordering takeouts, so you have
been informed.
Drew led the flag salute and Jack asked the blessing. Deliveries were
made by Jay and Carlos. Tom’s thought for the day: some people reach
the top of the ladder of success only to find it is leaning against the
wrong wall. The table to go first thru the serving line had a little ladder
leaning against the flowerpot. Har, har. Cathy Lewis won the gift
certificate donated by Chuck’s Little Diner.
We want to thank Solutions (formerly known as Oster’s) for computing
our little taxes year after year. Sure helps my poor little non-
mathematical brain.
Eastern Oregon Realty was our entrée provider today. Many thanks to
them too. Our meal included chicken enchiladas, rice, black beans, corn
salsa, green salad and your choice of fruited green or orange Jell-O for
dessert. Yummy in the tummy.
Visitors from Valley View included Jean Willey, Elise Hersky, Shirley
Haggard and Lois Bidasola. Lorna and Krystin brought Thelma Kite,
Marilyn Randall, Gordon Sindt and Charlotte Dean from the Blue
Mountain Care Center. We had 43 names on the registration book.
So, on our speedy trip to Ontario last week, we saw this sign on The
Outdoorsman store advertising “crappie skirts” 10/$1? What in the
world are crappie skirts? Surely some of you fisherman can enlighten
me. I fished for crappie in our pond in Idaho, but I never had need of a
skirt for one…
Wandered out to Lake Creek Youth Camp. Wildlife count: one wild
turkey, three antelope, four deer and one stupid sage hen. How that
species survives is a miracle! Evolution sure hasn’t taught it to get out of
the road! As I was digging in a flowerbed, neighbor Mike asked if I was
going to have a garden this year. I answered that I had bought some
seeds… So I guess I better make an attempt to dig the weeds out of that
area. Will be easier now that it got rained on, right? The unusual project
is to get some support for the grape vine. Have to do some serious
thinking on that one…
Luke 22:17-18 “After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, ‘Take
this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the
fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
JOHN DAY – PTL for all
this wonderful rain! We are
greatly blessed for this sort
of weather before the heat
of summer is upon us. This
weekend is going to be
Dusty Harris
great for mushroom
hunting and I’ve already
heard of people finding lots of morels out in the woods! Sauté those up in
some butter and garlic and you have quite a tasty treat.
On May 13 our greeter was Ron Dowse and there were 65 total meals
delivered by our faithful volunteers at Step Forward as well as Francis and
Bonnie Kohls. The meal was served by another group of wonderful
volunteers from the Redeemer Lutheran Church! We thank each and every
one of you for your service to our center. The meal was sausage, onion,
peppers, corn, spuds and ice cream for dessert. The winner of the free
meals was Buss Gilmore and Karen Barrietua won the Len’s Drug gift
card!
What are your plans this weekend? It’s Memorial Day so hopefully you
have some wonderful plans that also pay homage to the brave men and
women that serve our country, we are forever grateful. Make sure you
have everything you need because most stores are closed in recognition
of Memorial Day! When was the last time you thanked a veteran or
current service member for what they’ve sacrificed for our country?
Something to think about.
On May 16 our greeters were Gregg and Jeanette and we adore them for
being so selfless each and every week. There were 36 meals delivered
by David Gill and Harvey from Step Forward and also Jeannie and Chet
Day! How lucky are we to have such amazing folks join us for our
meal?
The sponsor for our lunch was the Law Office of Rob Raschio;
welcome aboard Rob! The meal was then served by volunteers from the
United Methodist Church. Our meal was chicken Caesar pasta with
Venetian vegetables, cheese stuffed breadsticks, tossed salad and
chocolate cupcakes for dessert. Yum, yum! Congratulations to Ron
Dowse, Maria Stran and Dale Stennette for being the winners of our
weekly giveaways!
Jeremiah 51:16 “When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters
in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the
earth; He makes lightening for the rain And brings forth the wind from
His storehouses.”
Prairie City
Seniors
John Day
Seniors
MONUMENT – Terry
Cade and Carrie Jewell
made us mac n cheese with
ham for our lunch, along
with a fresh green salad,
dinner rolls, peaches and
Soo Yukawa
chocolate chip cookies for
our dessert. My younger
daughter loved it because
she is a cheese girl. We thank our cooks for preparing and working hard to
feed us.
Our greeters at the table were Jimmy Cole, Linda Blakeslee and Kristi
Guimont. Bodean Andersen led us in the flag salute, made the
announcements and prayed the blessing over our meal, Jimmy and Linda
collected and counted the money and Kristi checked in the guests. We’re
glad that Jimmy is back and recovered from his cold.
There were 44 guests on the books and five takeouts. Ed Bustardo and
Larry Vogt were the lucky winners of the free meals tickets. Judy Cavendar
was the winner of the free spring raffle.
We congratulate Max and Betty Breeding. They welcomed their newest
great-granddaughter recently. Her name is Nova Aurora Ruby Myers. She
was born on May 8 and weighed in at 5 lb. 7 oz. and was 17 inches long.
What a blessing to have so many grand children and great-grandchildren!
We want to also congratulate our marine Molly Hoodenpyl. She just got
married! We are happy for her along with her parents, Dean and Liz, and
her siblings, Miranda, Jesse and Olivia. May the Lord bless her and her
husband in their marriage and that they would grow old together strong in
Monument
Seniors
the Lord.
We have more good news! Sarah Newton, who just donated one of her
kidneys to her brother, is now home and doing well. Cody Cole is also
doing well and is recovering from the surgery. We pray that the Lord
would heal both of them quickly and there would be no complications.
May God bless Cody with newfound freedom and continue to heal his
body. Our God is a good God and He hears the cries of His children.
May Sarah and Cody feel and know the prayers of many on their behalf.
Did you remember to mark your calendars yet? The big 3rd annual
rummage sale is going to be happening June 14, 15 and 16. It is going to
be huge! I am sure that all who come will find some treasure. There will
be lunch served and the sale is by donation. All the proceeds will go
towards our senior center.
Have you come by and seen the new and beautiful carpet? It is just
gorgeous! The new bathrooms are wonderful as well. Thank you all for
your generous contributions and help! This community is so blessed to
have this wonderful facility that is available for use to everyone. Many
meetings, funeral potlucks, bingo and other activities use the senior
center. We are also so blessed to have so many people who care, give
their time and work and are involved in improving our senior center.
Contented sigh, it is truly wonderful to live here in Monument. We love
it!
Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
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