Selflessly – at the request of the Governor – environmental groups and many legislators willingly abrogate authority to an executive branch to avoid making tough decisions.  Both sides seem happy. 

In a tight vote, the House Environment Committee, Thursday, adopted amendments to HB 2186 to grant the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC – the Governor-appointed rulemaking body for the DEQ) with broad, new authority to adopt and enforce rules on types of gasoline sold in Oregon (low carbon fuels), types of car and truck tires, and even commercial and consumer products based on their greenhouse gas implications.  The committee noted that it retained its authority because it would receive “reports.”

There were some mildly embarrassing moments in the hearing:

• No one has data or estimates as to how much GHG would be reduced by the bill;
• No one has data or estimates as to how many jobs would be impacted by the bill;
• No one has data or estimates as to what the impact would be on consumers.

Because of the foregoing, Representative Deborah Boone (D – Cannon Beach) proposed an amendment that would have the DEQ research all the data and then ask for transfer of authority from the legislature to the DEQ.

The amendment died on a tie vote. 

Vote on: Representative Boone's Amendment ("YES" is PRO - Jobs vote)
Representative Ben Cannon, Chair (D – Portland)	No
Representative Vic Gilliam, Vice-Chair (R – Silverton)	Yes
Representative Jefferson Smith, Vice-Chair (D – Portland)	No
Representative Jules Bailey (D – Portland)	No
Representative Phil Barnhart (D – Eugene)	No
Representative Cliff Bentz (R – Ontario)	Yes
Representative Deborah Boone (D – Cannon Beach)	Yes
Representative Bob Jenson (R – Pendleton)	Yes

The next vote was to adopt the Governor's amendment to grant the agency broad authority to impose rules without further legislative approval.

Vote on: Governor's Amendment ("NO" is PRO - Jobs vote)
Representative Ben Cannon, Chair (D – Portland)	Yes
Representative Vic Gilliam, Vice-Chair (R – Silverton)	No
Representative Jefferson Smith, Vice-Chair (D – Portland)	Yes
Representative Jules Bailey (D – Portland)	Yes
Representative Phil Barnhart (D – Eugene)	Yes
Representative Cliff Bentz (R – Ontario)	No
Representative Deborah Boone (D – Cannon Beach)	Yes
Representative Bob Jenson (R – Pendleton)	No

A final vote in the committee was postponed until next Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

SB 80 – the Governor's only Greenhouse Gas Bill was postponed for a vote in the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources until next Tuesday, April 28, 2009.