Juniper Group Political Action

There are many ways to affect what our government does. Perhaps you're inundated with emails from many organizations. But it's really important that you get involved - you can make a difference. So here's a brief guide to what you can do in Central and Eastern Oregon, focused on the Oregon State Legislature, since it is now in session.

Other Resources

• Oregon Sierra Club Legislative Tracker
• Senate Measure History
• House Measure History
• Budget Updates 2009-2011

Central Oregon Contacts

• Judy Stiegler, rep.judystiegler@state.or.us, 503-986-1454 (Bend)
• Chris Telfer, sen.christelfer@state.or.us, 503-986-1727 (most of Deschutes County)
• Gene Whisnant, rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us, 503-986-1453 (much of Central Oregon, not Bend)
• John Huffman, rep.johnhuffman@state.or.us, 503-986-1459 (Jefferson County)
• Ted Ferroli, sen.tedferroli@state.or.us, 503-986-1950 (Jefferson County)
• George Gilman, rep.georgegilman@state.or.us, 503-986-1455 (Crook County)
• Doug Whitsett, sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us, 503-986-1728 (includes parts of Crook, Deschutes and other counties)
• Tammy Baney, tammy_baney@deschutes.org, Deschutes County Commissioner, Chair
• Dennis Luke, dennis_luke@co.deschutes.or.us, Deschutes County Commissioner, Vice-Chair
• Alan Unger, alan_unger@co.deschutes.or.us, Deschutes County Commissioner

2009 Oregon Legislature Bills

A brief guide to the Bills in the current legislative session. The text and fates of these Bills are rapidly changing, and even the Oregon Legislature web site can't keep up, so check as many sources as you can for the latest status and text. Sometimes a "good" Bill becomes a "bad" bill through amendments, and vice versa.

Recommend Support:

• SB 34 - Allow transit districts to increase portion of payroll tax for funding of public transit.
• HB 3249 - State forest natural resource conservation areas (3072 related)
• SB 80 - Carbon cap.  Note that poison pill language has been inserted into this bill in committee.  If the language survives, we may have to oppose this bill.
• SB 101 - Passed, sent to Goverrnor! Requires State Department of Energy to establish greenhouse gas emissions performance standard for generating facilities that produce base load electricity.
• HB 2626 - Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act
• SB 38 – Greenhouse gas emission reporting from electricity and fossil fuels--Part of SB 80 language.
• HB 3199 – Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds for energy conservation measures for public and Indian tribe buildings for 2009-11 biennium
• HJM 11 – Urges President and Congress to ensure that revenues realized from carbon sequestration projects on federal lands are shared with state and county governments.
• SB 797  - Renames Dept. of Justice account, expands qualifying legal expenses to include cases related to civil rights and environmental crimes.
• HB 2181 - Authorizes financing of building efficiency by local districts
• SB 79 - Building efficiency standards
• HB 2186 - Transportation fuels emissions standard
• HB 3492 Require LNG projects to reimburse State for costs of processing permits
• HB 3298 - Passed, sent to Governor! Metolius protection.  The language from HB 3100 has been included in been included in HB 3298, originally a bill intended to place restrictions on urban reserve designations. The original bill restricts designation of urban reserves until half of existing reserves have been incorporated into Urban Growth Boundaries.
• HB 2227 - Senate amended, sent back to House, but failed 6/26.  In conference. Reforms destination resort statues to better protect natural resources and farmlands.
• HB 741 Senate version of the Metolius bill (HB 3100). Restricts development in Metolius River basin.
• SB 596 - Modifies definition of 'hazardous substance' to include decabrominated diphenyl ether (decaBDE). (Env & Water)
• SB 513 - Requires that the Sustainability Board establish a working group for the purpose formulating policies for the recovery of costs associated with the use of ecosystem services
• HB 3367 - Shielded outdoor lighting act.
• HB 2544 - No Child Left Inside
• HB 3013 Establishes Ocean Policy Advisory Committee with a charter to guide sustainable use of wave energy and other ocean resources.

Recommend opposition:

• SB 691 - Exempts timber industry from land use rules under Measure 49, requiring payment to industry for any environmental restrictions past or future
• HB 3072 Tillamook/Clatsop logging bill
• HB 3485 Tax credits for transportation woody biomass
• HB 3058 – Failed. Changes definition of ‘applicant’ for purposes of removal-fill permitting program to go beyond the landowner, or someone authorized by the landowner, to include anyone or company that has filed a written application for a permit to remove material from the beds or banks of any waters of the state, or fill any waters of the state. Impacts LNG pipelines.

Monitored bills, no position:

• HJR 35 Expresses support for findings and implementation of report issued by Federal Forestlands Advisory Committee. Passed house 4/27.
• HB 3005 Calls for development of a business plan to develop bio fuels in the State of Oregon.
• HB  3039 Specifies requirements and framework for solar photovoltaic energy generation by electric utilities. Info on feed-in tariffs generally: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feed-in Tariff. We approve of the concept of feed-in tariffs as specified in this bill. We have issue with a provision that gives solar a 2 to 1 contribution credit relative to other renewables in meeting the renewable energy standard.

Special Bills

HELP US PROTECT THE METOLIUS RIVER!

This coming Wednesday, July 15th, Governor Kulongoski plans to sign House Bill 3298, the Metolius Protection Act of 2009, into law. This historic bill signing is scheduled to take place at the Wizard Falls Hatchery, located at 7500 Forest Service Road 14, just a few miles downstream from Camp Sherman, at 10:30 am. The event is open to the public, so if you want to see history in the making, we'd encourage your attendance.

The Oregon Legislature passed on Monday, June 22, HB 3298: the "Metolius Protection Act of 2009," a Sierra Club supported bill to protect Central Oregon's Metolius River as an "Area of Critical State Concern." The text of HB 3100 was inserted into this bill, previously passed by the House.  This bill will prevent the development of two destination resorts that currently pose a significant threat to the Metolius and its surrounding forests and wildlife. These sprawling resorts would include hundreds of new houses and condominiums that would threaten the groundwater supplies that feed the Metolius River as it mysteriously gushes from the ground at the base of Black Butte, and they would negatively impact world-class fish and wildlife habitat in the Metolius Basin.

Support an Oregon Environmental Crimes Enforcement Unit

The Ways and Means Committee is holding town halls around the state to obtain citizen input on seed-funding the ECEU (and a Civil Rights Unit), which will generate funds through fines/settlements and prevent future pollution clean-up costs. HB 5022 and SB 797 will establish an Environmental Crimes Enforcement Unit beginning with a $1 million investment from the legislature. This would allow DOJ to immediately start prosecuting Oregon’s worst illegal polluters. See John Kroger's video on the Oregonian web site Oregon AG Discusses Prosecuting Environmental Crimes. (5-01-09)

LNG Battle Goes On

The LNG Public Protection Act, HB 2015, would safeguard Oregon's communities, clean water, and natural resources from irresponsible development of liquefied natural gas terminals and pipelines. While HB 2015 would not ban LNG, it would significantly strengthen the state's ability to protect Oregon's rivers, farms and forests and help stop the irresponsible LNG projects currently proposed for Oregon. Imported from places like Russia and the Middle East, liquefied natural gas emits 20-30% more global warming pollution than domestic sources of natural gas. At a time when Oregon and the nation are grappling with how to reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels obtained in hostile or unstable regions of the world, it makes no sense to build LNG import terminals in our state and deepen our dependence on yet another foreign fossil fuel. Learn more about LNG in Oregon and the LNG Public Protection Act at the Oregon Chapter LNG web page. Call or email your state rep soon, because this legislation is moving.

Capping Greenhouse Gas Pollution

This bill, SB 80, sponsored by Gov. Kulongoski, directs the Environmental Quality Commission to set a cap on greenhouse gas pollution in Oregon from electricity generation, transportation, and other activities. Note that poison pill language has been inserted into this bill in committee.  If the language survives, we may have to oppose this bill.  As originally written, it allows for greenhouse gas emission allowances and offsets to keep greenhouse gas pollution within a state, regional or nationally established cap. Would require reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and registration. SB 80 will encourage innovation to reduce greenhouse gases that will stimulate the economy and create green jobs in new and existing industries in Oregon. Call or email your rep today. Find out more on the Oregon Chapter Tracker web page.