Remember the last time I wrote about the Oregon state legislative session? I compared it to a 400 meter run, suggesting that we were in the final sprint. Well, this time, my metaphor now includes being tripped by someone in the other lane, then having them sit on you so you can’t go anywhere. Because that’s what ten Republican senators have done to the entire legislative session.
With only three weeks left in the Oregon legislative session, we remain at a stand-still until these Republican senators come back to work. The legislators who have been absent from session are not only shirking their duty as the representatives of the people, but in doing so, they are preventing key climate and social justice bills from moving forward.
So what can we do?
The fight isn’t over yet, as legislators still showing up for work have created funding packages that combine language from multiple bills, with the hope that these could be passed quickly in the event that the Republican senators come back. We are particularly excited about the Climate Action package (HB 3409), which would invest nearly $100 million in climate action by passing a suite of bills, many of which are the ones we’ve been working to pass — including the REBuilding Bills (SB 868, 869, 870, 871, HB 3166), Community Green Infrastructure Act AKA TREES Act (HB 3016), Community Resilience Hubs (HB 2990), and Natural Climate Solutions (SB 530).
While not perfect (the Climate Action package includes HB 3590 – which 350PDX opposes because it could create a commercial avenue for burning woody biomass for energy), this funding and policy package is our last hope at moving forward much needed climate action. HB 3409, along with the Drought/Water Package (HB 3124), should be voted on in the Natural Resources subcommittee in the next few days. Help make sure it gets passed!
You can help get the Climate Action package passed by contacting your legislators! Even if you’ve reached out to your legislators already this session, it’s important they hear from you again.
What happens next?
Until the legislative session officially ends on June 25, we’ll do everything in our power to get the Climate Action package passed. But what then? Republic legislators walked out of session this year despite attempts to deter them, including the overwhelming approval of Measure 113 that makes lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences ineligible for reelection, and the recent fine requiring absent lawmakers to pay $325 daily. This is already the longest legislative walkout in Oregon history, and we’re not sure if/when it will end, or whether this tactic will be used again and again.
It is particularly alarming that the walkout is largely an effort to block passage of HB 2002 – a bill meant to protect reproductive rights and gender-affirming medical care. Over 72% of Oregonians agree that abortion should be legal in most or all cases, and so do we. If a few legislators are able to hold hostage bills that the majority of Oregonians support — and that would protect our basic rights — by simply not showing up to work, then this sets a dangerous precedent for the future of our democracy.
We’ll have to keep organizing beyond this session to prevent similar walkouts in the future. Oregon is one of only four states that has a 2/3 quorum requirement to conduct business, and the requirement is embedded in our constitution. All other states require a bare majority. Moving forward, we’re sure there will be more conversations about how to ensure a small minority cannot thwart the will of the people. And 350PDX will show up, listen, and take action to uplift community voices and make sure our climate justice priorities are represented.
Regardless of how this legislative session ends, I honor the work of the hundreds that came together to stand up for climate and social justice bills over the past few months, including at least 400 people in the 350PDX community. We made calls, lobbied in Salem, and sent message after message so that our legislators would listen to us. Within the broader climate justice community of brilliant organizers and fierce activists here in Portland, we came together in a big way. Good job, y’all!
Join us in this final push by calling on your legislators to support climate action!
Let’s do this,
Brenna Bell, 350PDX Forest Climate Manager
