THE OREGON REPUBLICAN LEGISLATOR: IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR WAY, WALK OUT.

    Oregon is generally a blue state, thanks to the major population areas on the west side of the Cascades. The eastern half of the state is a much different story. Thanks to the motor-voter bill, signed into law a few years ago, and mail-in voting , that has been in place since about 1987, the Republican party has not been successful at voter suppression. Thus, the GOP holds a minority of seats in both houses of the legislature. In the Senate, Democrats have a veto-proof majority. Thus, the only legislative tactic left to them is a walkout which denies a quorum. They have done this twice, in two consecutive legislative sessions. Both times have been over the issue of cap-and-trade. In 2019, one legislator, Brian Boquist of Dallas, actually threatened to shoot any state cop who came to take him to the capitol. That's another thing about Republicans, there are too many unhinged people who own guns. 

     Republican disbelief aside, our world is threatened by climate change brought on by burning carbon fuels. Carbon that had remained sequestered deep under ground for millions of years, long before  the time of Noah's Ark. Cap-and-trade is a conservatives idea for encouraging energy efficiency. At least it used to be when conservatism was not hostile to conservation. The principle is you, the business, are giving a certain amount of energy credits. If you are successful at using less of your banked energy credits, you may sell the excess. If you use more than your allotment, you can buy credits from those more efficient businesses. The legislature gave a concession to the logging industry whose business is less predictable. Still it was the logging industry that was the principle reason for both walkouts. I get it, diesel fuel is expensive, the logging roads they drive their loads on are more demanding on trucks, fuel, and drivers. And the loads they haul cannot be pulled by hybrid vehicles without a significant investment in new equipment by owner-operators, who operate on a slim margin.

     I'm old enough to remember the ubiquitous wigwam burners in timber-dependenant communities, and the air pollution they engendered. I'm also old enough to remember when timber companies felled whole mountainsides of old-growth trees and burned the slash, leaving an ugly bare patch behind. Legislation has relieved us of some of these issues. Lumber mills used co-generation of energy, our state legislators, of both party's required timber companies to plant 5 seedling trees for every tree knocked down, clearcutting was allowed only under strict conditions. All of these required logging companies, and loggers to sacrifice, and some companies fled the state rather than comply. We are a more beautiful, and bountiful state because of these laws. Fish and game are more abundant, though still struggling with encroachment of growing communities and hydro-electric facilities. What happened then, was that legislators worked out compromises and the voters grudgingly accepted. Republicans today are unwilling to compromise and resent that their will is not law. Republican leaders are stuck on displays of aggression, including brandishing guns. Some, like Sen. Boquist, even use threats. There does not seem to be a moderating influence. Until there is, voters should take names and kick them out.