How to Sell a Carbon Tax. And Not
In Oregon, conservative politicians literally run and hide from carbon pricing. How did BC’s similar party make it law?
Erik Neumann Today | Jefferson Public Radio / InvestigateWest
Erik Neumann is a radio producer and writer. The story was published as partner of a partnership with InvestigateWest. SHARES A man holding a sign opposing Oregon’s climate bill talks to fellow rallygoers from the roof of a truck at an event on the Oregon Capitol steps in Salem, June 27, 2019.
Photo by Bryan M. Vance, OPB. [Editor’s note: This report is contributed by Jefferson Public Radio, a partner in Getting to Zero, a year-long reporting initiative on how the Cascadia region can achieve a zero carbon economy. The Tyee is a collaborator in the project, which is led by Seattle-based InvestigateWest.]
Home » Environment » Decarbonizing Cascadia » Can Oregon Democrats learn from B.C.’s conservative-backed carbon tax?
After two years of defeat in Salem, carbon pricing still lacks support from business and rural interests.
This report is contributed by Jefferson Public Radio, a partner in Getting to Zero, InvestigateWest’s yearlong reporting initiative.
In 2019 and again in 2020, Oregon Republicans walked out of the state Legislature to prevent a vote on
cap and trade climate bills. The legislation was meant to drive down the state’s carbon emissions, but Republicans feared the bills would place the greatest burden of higher fuel prices on sparsely populated rural communities.
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Sgt. Brandon White of the Multnomah County Sheriff s Office puts a cable lock on a training Glock on Jan. 14, 2019 in Portland, Oregon.
After three years of lobbying from gun safety organizations and multiple stalled attempts, Oregon lawmakers passed a firearm storage law Thursday. If the legislation is signed into law, Oregon will join 11 other states with laws requiring locking devices on stored firearms.
The bill passed Thursday in the House, Senate Bill 554, also includes language banning firearms from the state Capitol, and allowing public school districts, universities, and community colleges to enact similar bans.
The bill passed 34-24, after a lengthy and sometimes emotional debate. Three Democrats voted in opposition: Reps. Mark Meek, David Gomberg and Paul Evans. It must now be sent back to the Senate, which passed an earlier version. No Republicans supported the bill.