GOP Says Increased Lodging Tax Will Help Oregon Ranchers

State lawmakers are divided over a bill to increase Oregon’s lodging tax by more than 1.5%.  The additional money would fund wildlife protection, habitat conservation and wildfire mitigation.

Republican Representative Bobby Levy said it would also help ranchers who lose livestock from wolves.

"The Wolf Management Compensation Trust Fund exists for a reason, it provides compensation for confirmed losses and supports proactive measures to prevent conflict management before it happens," Levy said.

Some Democrats oppose the bill, because of potential impacts on tourism, but Representative Mark Gamba doesn't think it'll hurt.

"I've had the great, good luck to have had the opportunity to travel a lot," Gamba said.  "I have never once looked to see what the bed tax was to make a decision on where I was going."

The bill passed 36-22 and moves to the Senate.

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