Demonstrators advocate for cap and trade legislation outside the Oregon Capitol Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (Claire Withycombe/Salem Reporter)
Oregon Democratic Senators said Tuesday they’d keep fighting for a cap and trade plan after Democratic leaders said they didn’t have enough votes to pass the proposal.
Sen. Michael Dembrow (D – Portland) gave an impassioned speech on the Capitol steps following Senate President Peter Courtney’s statement.
Senate Republicans “who have fled the state are counting on us just giving up this battle,” he said, to boos from the audience.
“No extortion!” one crowd member yelled.
“Our climate action program is good for this entire state. It will create jobs in every part of Oregon. The bill calls our and prioritizes rural Oregon, coastal Oregon, particularly the low-income people who live in those places,” Dembrow continued.
“The whole world is watching Oregon right now,” he said.
Reporter Aubrey Wieber: [email protected] or 503-575-1251. Wieber is a reporter for Salem Reporter who works for the Oregon Capital Bureau, a collaboration of EO Media Group, the Pamplin Media Group, and Salem Reporter.
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