Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 21 June 2019
Oregon gov. sends police after GOP senators who fled Capitol

By SARAH ZIMMERMAN and levels by 2050.
GILLIAN FLACCUS Those opposed to the cap-
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon and-trade plan say it would
Gov. Kate Brown deployed exacerbate a growing di-
the state police Thursday to vide between the liberal,
try to round up Republican urban parts of the state and
lawmakers who fled the the rural areas, which tend
Capitol to block a vote on to be more conservative.
a landmark economy-wide The plan would increase
climate plan that would be the cost of fuel, damaging
the second of its kind in the small business, truckers and
nation. the logging industry, which
Minority Republicans want is already in freefall due to
the cap-and-trade pro- federal environmental pro-
posal, which is aimed at tections, they say.
dramatically lowering the "Protesting cap and trade
state's greenhouse gas by walking out today rep-
emissions by 2050, to be resents our constituency
sent to voters instead of and exactly how we should
being instituted by law- be doing our job," said Sen-
makers — but negotiations ate Republican Leader
with Democrats collapsed, Herman Baertschiger, Jr., of
leading to the walkout, Grants Pass.
Kate Gillem, a spokeswom- A small group of loggers
an for Senate Republicans gathered to protest outside
said Thursday. In this Feb. 7, 2019, file photo, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown speaks to reporters in front of pictures of the Capitol on Thursday.
Brown had warned a day previous state governors in Salem, Ore. Gov. Bridger Hasbrouck, a
earlier that she was in "close Associated Press 32-year-old self-employed
communication with Ore- logger from Dallas, Ore-
gon State Police" and "pre- the Senate president pub- in the House and Senate, was effectively killed. gon, said the bill if passed
pared to use all resources licly rebuked him for the re- meaning their Republican On Thursday, Oregon's Sen- would be "devastating" to
and tools available." marks. colleagues don't have ate president pleaded with his business because he
Oregon State Police can Gillem confirmed on Thurs- many ways to influence Republicans to return. uses diesel fuel to power all
force any senators they day that some members the debate on major policy "I beg and beseech my fel- his logging equipment.
track down in Oregon into left the state to avoid a bills that would affect their low legislators to come to "There's a whole lot in-
a patrol car to return them vote because state police constituents. the floor. I need you, the volved but the biggest
to the Capitol. don't have jurisdiction out- Republicans walked out of Legislature needs you, the thing that's very crippling
"Send bachelors and come side Oregon. the Senate last month to people of Oregon need is the fact that these bills
heavily armed," Sen. Brian Democrats have an 18 to block a school funding tax you to pass budgets to take would impose regulations
Boquist, a Republican from 12 majority in the chamber, package. The standoff last- care of our citizens," Senate that would take trucks off
Dallas, said late Wednes- but need 20 members pres- ed four days, until the gov- President Peter Courtney the road that people are
day as the prospect of a ent for a quorum. ernor struck a deal to table said in an emotional plea using to earn their living," he
walkout loomed. "I'm not This is the second time in legislation on gun control on the Senate floor. "I can- said. "The American dream
going to be a political pris- this legislative session that and vaccine requirements. not do it without you. We of owning a small business,
oner in the state of Oregon. minority GOP lawmakers The tactic is rare, but has cannot do it without you." it starts to go away."
It's just that simple." have used a high-stakes been used throughout his- The walkout brings all Sen- Democrats say the mea-
Boquist, who is reportedly walkout as a way to slow tory, sometimes creating ate business to a halt with sure is an efficient way to
in Idaho, did not respond the process. Democrats comical scenes. Abraham just over a week left in the lower emissions while in-
to e-mails on Thursday after have a rare supermajority Lincoln once leapt out of legislative session. Senators vesting in low-income and
a window in an attempt to still need to vote on the rural communities' ability to
deny a quorum when he budget as well as legisla- adapt to climate change.
was a lawmaker in Illinois. In tion on affordable housing, It has the support of envi-
Washington three decades paid family medical leave ronmental groups, farm-
ago, U.S. Sen. Bob Pack- and an increased tobacco workers and some trade
wood (R-Oregon) was car- tax. unions.
ried feet first into the Sen- But the cap-and-trade leg- The proposal also contains
ate chamber after Demo- islation remains a sticking a $10 million investment to
A great opportunity exist to work in a dynamic crats ordered the arrest of point. protect workers adverse-
company, for compelling, ambitious individuals. Republican senators who Under the proposed bill, ly affected by climate
We have openings for; were denying a quorum. Oregon would put an over- change policy, as some in
In 2003, Texas Democrats all limit on greenhouse gas transportation or manufac-
fled to neighboring Okla- emissions and auction off turing sector could face
Gemologist homa to deny a quorum, pollution "allowances" for layoffs. The legislation pro-

Diamond Grader holing up in a Holiday Inn each ton of carbon indus- vides unemployment ben-
efits and pathways to clean
tries plan to emit. The legis-
to block a GOP redistrict-
Jewelry Appraiser ing bill. The Republican lation would lower that cap energy jobs that, under the
House speaker ordered over time to encourage law, must provide competi-
state troopers to find the businesses to move away tive wages and benefits.
Democrats and have them from fossil fuels: The state "'Rural' here is not one
arrested. The Democrats would reduce emissions to voice," said Mimi Casteel,
returned to Texas after the 45% below 1990 levels by a farmer in rural Hopewell,
bill's deadline passed and it 2035, and 80% below 1990 Oregon.q