Cap And Trade Debate Continues In Salem

The Oregon legislative session wraps up June 22^nd, and in that time expect to hear a lot of debate over Cap and Trade.

Lawmakers in Salem are looking at a Carbon Tax similar to one passed in California, where the state establishes a market where credits can be purchased and sold.  The Cap and Trade legislation, House Bill 2020, has been debated extensively, with 90 amendments and three full rewrites, just in the Carbon Committee.  Jonathan Sandau, public policy specialist with the Oregon Farm Burea said while farmers are exempt from many aspects of the legislation, those that work for or with farmers are not.

“Currently drafted, it’s still going to raise the cost of transportation, and it’s going to raise the actual cost of operation.  And so, you’re going to see a lot stretched farm dollars, going to pay these increased costs.”

Sandau said there is buzz in Salem HB 2020 could move out of the Carbon Committee Friday, but from there, it’s difficult to predict the future of the legislation.

“It will go to the Oregon ways and means committee, which is the purse strings of the legislature, where the fate of it is unclear down there.  And there’s a lot of conversation about even amending it further down in ways and means.”

Sandau said it's important in the upcoming weeks that farmers across the state contact Salem to tell lawmakers how Cap and Trade will impact their operation.

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