Good News And Bad News From The States

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f6fcf505b8b43267d0a10a27f0a14a2f-huge-or By Jamie DeMarco

Oregon appeared on the verge of passing carbon pricing legislation that would have reduced their economy wide emissions 80% by 2050. However, some state senators walked out, denying the state senate quorum. The Oregon legislative session ended on Sunday, and the missing senators succeeded in keeping the bill from passing.

CCL volunteer leaders in Oregon had worked for years to advance this bill and to engage CCL volunteers throughout Oregon to do so as well. During recent weeks, CCL members have gone to Salem to demonstrate in solidarity for our climate and our democracy. The volunteers in Oregon attended actions in other parts of Oregon and called their state senators. At the same time, we recognize that this is not our national, bipartisan, revenue neutral bill, and not all CCL volunteers in Oregon supported this legislation.

On a happier note, in Maine a bill requiring the state to achieve 100% renewable electricity was passed unanimously out of their state senate, with all the Republicans and Democrats voting for the legislation. Maine will become the 7th state or territory to mandate carbon free electricity, following Hawaii, California, Washington DC, Washington State, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, and New York.

Jamie DeMarco is CCL's State-Level Carbon Pricing Coordinator.

Posted by Steve Valk on Jul 3, 2019 10:58 AM America/Los_Angeles

Comments

Sharon Brown

It is frustrating that climate change is not the highest priority for either party. There is still much work to do building political will. The Republican senators that walked out were not the only issue. There weren’t enough Democratic votes to pass the policy either. The Oregonian published an article on the https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/06/how-oregons-climate-change-bill-ran-out-of-gas.html

Posted Tue 09 Jul 2019 06:33 AM PDT

Elizabeth Del Buono

To all those who worked so hard in Oregon, my heart breaks for you. Allow yourself some time to heal. It will take tremendous courage, but I look forward to hearing how you rise from this blow stronger, wiser, and more determined.

Your work has inspired me! Lisa

Posted Thu 04 Jul 2019 10:47 AM PDT

Richard Bradley

Thanks for the update Jamie DeMarco‍. This reminds me that we can't take anything for granted.

Posted Wed 03 Jul 2019 04:37 PM PDT