LOC News
Walkout 2.0
This week, the legislative process came to a screeching halt when most Senate and House Republicans walked out of the Capitol, denying a quorum on the Senate and House floors. Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) and Representative Cheri Helt (R-Bend) are the lone Republicans in the building. The reason for the walkout comes down to Republican opposition to a package of carbon bills. With no quorum in either chamber, all remaining bills are stalled. Thursday evening House leadership raised the bar by issuing subpoenas to all House Republicans to compel them to return to Salem.
Thus far, only three bills have made their way through both chambers and await the governor’s signature. A few policy committees remain active, along with the Ways & Means Committees, in order to advance priority budget adjustments and key policy bills in hopes of a return to business before March 8, the statutory end of the short session.
The LOC government relations team continues to monitor 200 bills, with a specific focus on two dozen which include broadband, wildfire, mental health funding and housing. A number of these bills present significant value to LOC members, and we continue to advocate for support from those legislators still in the building.
A series of bills was introduced this week by House leadership to show there are still other, more aggressive options available to SB 1530, the carbon bill. HB 4173 & HB 4171 would set new greenhouse gas emission reduction goals similar to Initiative Petition (IP) 50, which was offered in 2019 by environmental groups. In addition, HB 4170 mandates 100% renewable carbon free electricity by 2045 and is similar to IP 48 and 49. Finally, HJR 204 amends the Oregon Constitution, allowing the Legislature to take one-half of the state highway fund proceeds and spend it on any programs or projects that the Legislature deems to be appropriate.
For additional details on these carbon bills see related article in today’s LOC Bulletin.
Contact: Jim McCauley Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 2/28/20