Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2019)
A6 STATE Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Democrats renew effort to pass carbon-reduction bill Fear over denial of quorum sparks murmurs of referring constitutional amendment to voters By Sam Stites Oregon Capital Bureau The next session of the Oregon Legislature is expected to begin the way the last one ended: with a dramatic clash between Democrats and Republi- cans over future carbon emissions. Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, is reworking a proposal to create a cap-and- trade program in Oregon for consideration by legisla- tors when they convene next February. And he’s aiming political pressure at Senate Republi- cans who walked out of the 2019 Legislature in a move that killed consideration of House Bill 2020. Dem- brow was one of the chief architects of that legislation, which would have limited greenhouse gases, created tax incentives for industry and generated millions to be used for environmental programs. In the four months since 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. the 2019 session ended, Dembrow and his col- leagues have worked to strengthen their proposal against Republican rebuke. He isn’t ready to share details and worries that Republicans may repeat in February their no-show approach to keep the Senate from acting. “Until we fix the quo- rum requirement, it may not be possible for us to address climate action in the Legis- lature,” Dembrow said. Legislators may feel pres- sured to act in the face of three ballot measures being proposed by environmen- tal advocacy group Renew Oregon. The group said it intended to submit several thousand signatures on Oct. 30 as a step toward putting before voters the elements of the 2019 legislation. Such a tactic would sideline oppo- nents from a role in crafting Oregon’s program. As proposed earlier this year, the cap-and-trade pro- gram would restrict the amount of carbon dioxide that businesses in certain industries — such as trans- portation, energy and fossil fuels — are allowed to emit. It would require an 80 per- cent reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2050. Under the law, business would buy allowances for every ton of greenhouse gas they emit more than permit- ted. The state would make fewer credits available over time with the intention of requiring businesses to pol- lute less. Opponents argue the pro- gram would put undue pres- sure on Oregon’s rural econ- omies by causing higher fuel costs and lost jobs. Dembrow is currently working on changes to the bill that would provide more clarity and certainty around investments and economic impacts “to address the wild allegations and misinforma- tion about cost impacts that Fall is here. Time to Renew your Line of Credit and begin planning for next year. r o f u o y k n Tha . s s e n i s u b your Bob Quinton, Loan Officer JOHN DAY BRANCH PRAIRIE CITY BRANCH 200 W. Main Street (541) 575-1862 178 N.W. Front Street (541) 820-3321 Janice Provencher, Branch Mgr Andrea Austinson, Branch Mgr Member FDIC NMLS# 414459 S149399-1 Rates & terms may vary. All loans subject to credit approval. were distributed via social media,” he said. One such piece of mis- information was the claim that gas prices would rise to $5 a gallon in the first year of the program, Dembrow said. Projections from the state analysts show gas ris- ing by around 21 cents in the first year of the program and approximately $3 by 2050. The idea behind those revisions — which Demo- crats are holding close to the vest for the time being — is to make more Oregonians and businesses comfortable with how the program works and its potential benefits. Dembrow said he wants to clarify how the program would actually work. He’s working with “people on the ground” in rural dis- tricts to help voters under- stand the harmful effects of climate change. He’s hoping those open to climate action policy will then convince their neighbors and commu- nity that long-term action is needed. Social media campaigns targeting rural voters and even a short documen- tary explaining how cap- and-trade policy works are expected to be rolled out in the coming month, according to Dembrow. Dembrow wouldn’t go into more specific detail about what industries and groups he’s working with to perfect the proposal, calling it “delicate situation.” He’s hopeful that getting information out to voters of the districts of the 11 Repub- licans who walked out in June would hold them accountable to show up to work in Febru- ary and stay there. But it seems unlikely that Dembrow and his colleagues will find a middle ground to work with Republicans and keep them in the Capi- tol if cap-and-trade is on the agenda again. Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-On- tario, said there was no change that could be made that could get him to vote for cap-and-trade. “The reason has to do with the poisoning of the well by virtue of the unsuccessful attempt to pass it this previ- ous session,” Bentz said. “I think the focus should be on carbon policy that has noth- ing to do with pricing carbon, and everything to do with addressing CO2 reduction using tools already available, and we have a lot of them.” He pointed out federal tax credits already exist to address some carbon issues. Democrats worry that Senate Republicans might not show up in February, denying Democrats a quo- rum and from accomplish- ing anything ahead of what is expected to be an import- ant election for both parties next fall. “The walkout was only used as a vote blocking device because of the incred- ibly egregious nature of these bills and concepts,” Bentz said. “I don’t think people understand how overreach- ing HB 2020 was. I don’t think they get it.” He said, if Democrats refer a constitutional amend- ment to voters changing Ore- gon’s quorum requirement, he won’t stand in the way. The Oregon Senate requires two-thirds of senators be present to act. There has been talk of changing that to a majority, which would allow the Democratic-con- trolled Senate in the current lineup to proceed without Republicans. Bentz expects a public backlash to such a change. “That’s exactly what peo- ple are supposed to do when they see the majority over- reaching. They need to step up and say no,” Bentz said. “Now if that tool is taken away by the people of Ore- gon, or a majority of them, then so be it. But there are going to be other ways peo- ple will express their dissat- isfaction with the majority.” Gov. Kate Brown told reporters last week that she expects Senate Republicans to show up in February the same as she expects that from Democrats. “They made a decision to run for the Legislature, and I expect them to show up and do their jobs,” Brown said. Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger, R-Grants Pass, said Oct. 30 that he believes the short ses- sion shouldn’t be used for big policy programs like cap and trade, rather for budget- ary fixes and minor legisla- tive tweaks. He also said it’s too early to discuss whether Republicans would use the denial of quorum as a tactic in 2020. For Dembrow, he’s not confident that a cap-and- trade proposal in 2020 would withstand the feverish pres- sure Republicans will surely feel against the legislation from their base in an elec- tion year. Although he’s excited to see others take up the work he and his colleagues are pushing to get done in Feb- ruary, he’s doubtful whether it will help Democrats in their pursuit climate action. “In some ways (these measures) could lead to quicker, stronger action than legislative action,” he said. “Will they help move Republicans to allowing a climate bill to be consid- ered in February? I don’t know.” Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com S151415-1 Thank you to all of the brave men and women who have served our country for your fearlessness and sacrifice – we are eternally grateful. Mt. Vernon Volunteer Fire Dept Bake Sale & Holiday Bazaar Saturday, Nov 9 th 9am – 4pm Mt. Vernon Community Center • Cookies, Pies, Bread and Muffins available for Thanksgiving Dinner • Lunch Served 11am-3pm • Loaded Baked Potatoes $6 DONATION OF BAKED GOODS ACCEPTED AT MT. VERNON CITY HALL DONATE 1 CAN OF FOOD FOR 1 RAFFLE TICKET COME SUPPORT OUR LOCAL VENDORS AND YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT! For Tables & More Information, Grant County Veteran’s Services 530 E Main St. Suite #5 John Day, OR 97845 541-620-8057 S150971-1 Contact Bonnie: (541) 571-3284 S149543-1
