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A8 STATE Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Gov. Brown signs executive order on climate change Order directs DEQ to cap emissions on three largest sources and doubles state’s clean fuels program By Jake Thomas Oregon Capital Bureau Gov. Kate Brown signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that directs state government to significantly cut greenhouse emissions in Oregon. The governor’s move is in response to the Legisla- ture adjourning for the sec- ond time on Sunday with- out having passed a bill with similar goals. Flanked by students at the Capitol, Brown said the order would put the state on a path its children could be proud of and was needed urgently to address climate change. “We are all in this together, and if we can make progress on climate change, we just might have a world we can pass onto our chil- dren,” said Brown. The order updates and adds more teeth to the state’s existing greenhouse gas reduction goals. It sets a 45% reduction from 1990 levels by 2035 and an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. The order directs the Department of Environmen- tal Quality to put caps on emissions from the state’s three largest sources includ- ing transportation fuels, nat- ural gas and large industrial polluters. It also doubles the state’s clean fuels program, requires higher efficiency for buildings and appli- ances while requiring all state agencies to view their actions through a climate change lens. The order also outlines a variety of means to reach the new goals. On Monday, the legis- lative Emergency Board voted to direct $5 million to the state Department of Environmental Quality to begin drafting rules aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state. A statewide program to cap greenhouse gas emis- sions has been a priority for Democrats who con- trol the governor’s office and lopsided majorities in the Legislature. But previ- EO Media Group/Claire Withycombe Gov. Kate Brown addresses the media Feb. 24. ous attempts were stymied after legislative Republicans walked out of the Capitol in the last two sessions, deny- ing lawmakers a quorum to conduct business. The most recent walk- out occurred during the most recent legislative session that ended on Sunday. Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertsch- iger Jr. has questioned the governor’s move, saying it would open the state to an expensive lawsuit. “The governor is ignor- ing Oregonians,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “She is not listening to three quar- ters of the state or the 28 counties that signed procla- mations against the cap and trade concept. It’s obvious Kate Brown is not Oregon’s governor, she is Portland’s governor, and as she prom- ised, she is serving revenge, cold and slowly.” House Republican Leader Christine Drazan called Brown’s order “a flawed vision of leadership that exposes our state to litigation.” “This is not only an abuse of power, it shows how out of touch the governor is with the pressing needs of families and communities across the state,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “Ore- gon struggles to protect fos- ter kids, improve graduation rates and address home- lessness, but rather than acknowledge the need for greater leadership in these essential areas the governor misdirects time and atten- tion away from core func- tions and our shared pri- orities to double down on climate at any cost.” On Tuesday, Brown said that her order had been care- fully vetted to ensure it was in compliance with state law and constitution. The allocation would be used to hire 10 new posi- tions. During Monday’s Emergency Board meeting, Richard Whitman, director of the Department of Envi- ronmental Quality, said that the new hires would help complete initial rulemak- ing for a greenhouse gas reduction program by 2022. That’s roughly the same timeline laid out in the bill killed last session to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. After a similar bill failed to pass during last year’s legislative session, a coali- tion of businesses environ- mental groups and others called Renew Oregon began preparing a greenhouse gas reduction initiative for the 2020 ballot. Renew Oregon applauded Brown’s move in a statement following her announcement. “Oregonians have orga- nized, advocated, worked and voted for years demand- ing our state take bold action to reduce climate pollution, improve our health, and transition to clean energy. Governor Brown delivered today with strong and com- prehensive action,” said Tera Hurst, executive direc- tor of Renew Oregon, in a statement. “This action will hold large corporate pollut- ers accountable for the pol- lution they create. We all have a responsibility to do our part and most of us do, now it’s time for large pol- luters to start doing theirs.” Brad Reed, spokesman for Renew Oregon, said that his group is currently con- sidering whether to move forward with its ballot initia- tives or withdraw them. He said that it will consider if the ballot initiatives overlap with the governor’s order and if they accomplish the same goals. House Speaker Tina Kotek, a Democrat, applauded Brown “for pro- tecting our planet and our children’s future.” “Her order puts Ore- gon on a path to reduce our greenhouse gas pollu- tion according to strong, sci- ence-based targets,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “I will be reviewing the execu- tive order to see whether we need to take additional cli- mate action in our upcoming special session.” Lawmakers allocate $24.2M in emergency spending GOP, Dems blame By Sam Stites Oregon Capital Bureau Following a feeble end to Oregon’s 2020 Legislative Session, members of the leg- islative emergency board con- vened Monday morning to allocate funding for emergen- cies throughout the state. With Republicans away from the Capitol in a boycott over a bill to reduce green- house gas emissions, lawmak- ers were unable to pass critical spending bills to address situ- ations dealing with the flood- ing in the Umatilla Basin, as well as the state’s response to the continued outbreak of COVID-19. The legislative Emergency Board — which has about $75 million at its discretion — approved emergency allo- cations Monday, including $11.5 million for flood relief in the Pendleton area, $5 mil- lion for COVID-19 efforts and $2.7 million for the Office of Emergency Management to implement new preparedness programs. They acted a day after the 2020 Legislature adjourned automatically. The absence of Republican legislators in the days before the adjournment prevented any votes on fund- ing needs or other legislation. But at Monday’s Emer- Curriculum/Student Success Act Specialist The Grant County Education Service District is looking for a Curriculum/ Student Success Act Specialist. The curriculum specialist works with the education industry in Grant County from pre-K to post-graduate in- stitutions. The Grant County ESD Curriculum/SSA Specialist works with staff and administrators of component districts as well as the ESD to coordinate activities related to instructional leadership and the Student Success Act. Duties and Responsibilities: • Works with district personnel in a consultative and supportive manner in a variety of curriculum and instructional and staff devel- opment areas including but not limited to: » Aligning curriculum to state standards » Continuous improvement planning » Coordination of state and district assessments » Implementing and evaluating instructional strategies » Adopting instructional materials » Assisting with SSA application and plan monitoring • Writes well and synthesizes the writing of others into meaningful materials and documents to support district curricular, school improvement planning needs and for the purposes of developing Grant County ESD grant proposals. • Assists with identifying and locating grant opportunities for Grant County ESD and local district and then works collaboratively to de- velop and implement grant proposals and their identified activities. • Prepares and submits reports on progress towards meeting, grant and project activities as requested. • Attends meetings as requested. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: • Demonstrated leadership and project organizational skills, with the ability to plan for, meet deadlines, and coordinate multiple projects as the same time. • Strong interpersonal skills to allow specialist to work effectively with a wide range of teachers, principals, and superintendents. • Excellent written and oral communication skills. • Ability to be flexible, fluid and comfortable with ad hoc committee work and a diverse student, teacher and administrative commu- nity. Education and Experience: • Master’s Degree preferred with coursework or equivalent training in education. • Valid Oregon teaching license. • Experience and/or knowledge in the necessary foundation skills of: » developmentally appropriate practices; » needs of special populations; » curriculum development/alignment, instructional and assess- ment strategies. • At least two years of successful experience classroom teaching in appropriate grades. • Staff development experience in curriculum, instruction and assessment. gency Board meeting, all seven Republicans were pres- ent and engaged. The $11.5 million for flood relief includes $2 mil- lion for new affordable hous- ing units for Umatilla County flood victims and $1.5 million for rapid rehousing and rental assistance to flood victims. Another $4 million would be used for replacing damaged housing and infrastructure. The Oregon Business Development Department will receive $3.2 million for busi- ness cleanup and to help Pend- leton repair its levee. The committee approved the COVID-19 funding with- out specifying how it would be used. Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, pointed out that Washington state had requested an esti- mated $100 million to bolster its response to the virus. He also said he spoke with sev- eral county health officials in his vast district covering much of Eastern Oregon, and they asked him whether there would be any assistance for them. “They’re on the front lines, and they need some help,” Findley said. Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward said that one advan- tage of Gov. Kate Brown’s emergency declaration over the weekend was that it allows the state to mobilize emer- gency physician corps, partic- ularly in rural counties, who are able to help local health departments. “I’ve had extensive con- versations with the Health Authority over the weekend, and the reason we’re able to unschedule some of this money for the moment is that they do feel comfortable with the amount,” Steiner Hayward said. “And we do have the ability to move funds around administratively through executive order, and we do have the ability to call the Emergency Board back at any moment should this prove to be insufficient.” Senate President Peter Courtney added that the Emer- gency Board could definitely be back again to allocate more money. “We simply don’t know,” he said. “This thing is very dynamic, and we may be back for more.” The Emergency Board also approved by 12-8 vote — with all Democrats except Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, voting yes — to give $5 mil- lion to the state Department of Environmental Quality to establish 10 new positions to start drafting rules to imple- ment the expected executive order by Gov. Kate Brown aimed at reducing Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions. Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. said he opposed the allocation because he feels the move by the governor opens up the state to more costly lawsuits such as the $1.06 billion 13 counties won against the state for losses associated with tim- ber harvests. “Where I’m probably most concerned is not so much with the issue, but the process,” Baertschiger said. “I think it’s going to initiate lawsuits right from the beginning. Given the lack of success with the last lawsuit the governor just lost, which is costing the taxpayer $262,000 in interest every single day, I would think we’d want to try to do any- thing to not get us in another lawsuit.” Other Republicans didn’t see the emergency requiring the immediate funding. Tax Problems: RESOLVED There are many ways we can tackle IRS or State tax relief together: ✔Tax Levies & Liens Release ✔Resolve Back Taxes ✔Wage Garnishment Release ✔Payroll Tax Negotiation ✔Stop Penalties and Interest ✔Tax Preparation & Bookkeeping Services ✔Tax Debt Negotiation & Settlement ACCREDITED BUSINESS ® A+ Rating Call us now for your FREE tax consultation & evaluation: 844-945-2056 Anthem offers a money-back guarantee designed to help you avoid wasting money on ineffective tax services. We will gather as much information from you as necessary and work with tax authorities to give you the best chance of reducing your tax debt. 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Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, and his counterpart in the House, Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Port- land, each announced the ses- sion’s end on the floor of their respective chambers. No one could recall a legislative ses- sion ending with virtually nothing approved. Kotek, typ- ically cool even when prodded by reporters, was visibly angry as she spoke from the dais. “We have been held hos- tage by a small group of elected representatives,” Kotek said. “We have been open to compromise and negotiation from the begin- ning, but unfortunately, their actions turn this into a hostage situation, not a negotiation. When the only thing you want to make a deal on is the one thing the majority won’t give you, you are not negotiating, you’re blackmailing.” Republicans had offered to come back on Sunday, with hours remaining in the ses- sion, to pass budget bills. That was met with exco- riation from Kotek, who said they behaved like a team walking off the second half of a basketball game and offer- ing to return in the last minute on the condition they could determine the final score. After she concluded her potent speech, state rep- BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7 ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY Medical, Dental and Vision coverage available PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) eligible position Holidays – 10 220 day assignment Salary Range - DOEE MOVIE SCHEDULE MARCH 13-19 How to Apply: S175346-1 Applications may be obtained at the Oregon Employment Department, the Grant County ESD Office, or online at http://www.grantesd.k12. or.us/documents/Grant-ESD-Employment-Application.pdf. Applications and resumes must be returned to the ESD Office at: Grant County Education Service District 835 S. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 Grant County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for em- ployment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual ori- entation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. S177756-1 By Claire Withycombe, Jake Thomas and Sam Stites Oregon Capital Bureau 1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439 Benefits: • • • • • each other for unproductive session 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-576-2160 I STILL BELIEVE (PG) The true-life story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp and his journey of love and loss that looks to prove there is always hope. FRIDAY (4:00) 7:00 SAT & SUN (1:00) (4:00) 7:00 MON-THURS 7:00 ONWARD (PG) Disney Pixar. Two teenage elf brothers embark on a quest to discover if there is still magic out there. FRIDAY (4:20) 7:20 SAT & SUN (1:20) (4:20) 7:20 MON-THURS 7:20 THE CALL OF THE WILD (PG) Starring Harrison Ford. A sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon. FRIDAY (4:10) 7:10 SAT & SUN (1:10) (4:10) 7:10 MON-THURS 7:10 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth S177414-1 Flood relief, COVID-19 response top emergency spending following stalemate in legislature resentatives attending the final gathering of the session erupted into applause. Courtney, never one to hide his feelings, was charac- teristically blunt. “This is a failed short ses- sion,” said Courtney. “I cannot believe that. It’s a failed short session because 11 elected officials who are state senators would not come do their job.” Courtney’s remarks were part eulogy for what he views as the damaged institution of the Oregon Legislature. Now, Oregonians from one side of the state to the other won’t receive money that would have been appro- priated from the Legislature. There will be no $120 mil- lion to provide more shelter and affordable housing for the 10,000 Oregonians struggling with homelessness, no $78 million to cover costs at the troubled state forestry depart- ment and start new projects to mitigate wildfire. There will be no $50 million for local parole and probation offices, centers for abused kids or additional judges for Deschutes and Douglas counties. Republicans agreed some of the spending was vital. House Republican Leader Christine Drazan in a video posted to Twitter noted that Courtney and Kotek identified spending that was “most criti- cal to pass” and that Republi- cans reviewed that list. “We agree,” Drazan said in the video. Courtney and Kotek say they want a special session to get critical legislation done. Courtney said that wouldn’t happen for at least 30 days, and if it does, legislators have $1 billion in general fund dol- lars to make the adjustments they weren’t able to complete during this session. With the Legislature now functionally over, lawmak- ers have a modest pot of money to use for the state’s most urgent needs — approx- imately $75 million in an emergency reserve fund. The Emergency Board, a panel of legislators empow- ered to distribute money when the Legislature isn’t in session, will distribute that money. Kotek and Court- ney said they would convene the board Monday, March 9. That’s how lawmakers plan to allocate $12 million to help victims of recent flooding in the Umatilla Basin. Under Oregon law, the legislature can call itself into special session when a major- ity of members in each cham- ber “has cause to believe an emergency exists.” Brown said she was open to summoning legislators back to town but only if lead- ers brought her “a plan for a functioning session.”
