No cap and trade could make for a smoother session
By Terry Murry on Friday, January 15th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – State Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) says the 2021 session of the Oregon Legislature should be relatively smooth, compared to the previous two sessions. Indications are the Democrats are not going to utilize the muscle of their supermajority and do not plan to introduce the cap and trade bill that inspired the previous two GOP walkouts.
“That was the contentious bill that caused everything before,” he said. “If it comes back as it was before, then we’ll probably have the same issues. At this point, I think they’re addressing it in different ways.”
Democrats have said there is no need to propose cap and trade again, thanks to Gov. Kate Brown. Shortly after it was pulled in the last session, she issued an executive order on carbon emission reduction that addressed items within the failed legislation.
Hansell said that while there probably won’t be a walkout, that doesn’t mean both parties will always get along. “There will be issues to debate, argue over, fight about, and try to get amended,” he said.
