Despite objection from the following groups, HB 2186, granting sweeping new authority to the DEQ to mandate restrictions on gasoline, car tires, truck parts, and consumer goods, passed out of the House Environment Committee and was sent to the House Floor with a “Do Pass” recommendation:

• Alliance of Auto Manufacturers
• American Automobile Association
• American Chemistry Council
• American Forest & Paper Association
• Associated General Contractors
• Associated Oregon Industries
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #48
• Northwest Food Processors Association
• Northwest Grocers Association
• Oregon Association of Realtors
• Oregon Auto Dealers
• Oregon Farm Bureau
• Oregon Forest Industries Council
• Oregon Metals Industry Council
• Oregon Petroleum Association
• Oregon Trucking Associations
• Oregon Wheat Grower League
• Oregonians for Food and Shelter
• Umatilla Electric Co-Op
• Western States Petroleum Association

AOI, along with the groups listed above, are opposing the bill on the floor, and support an alternative (“Boone Amendment”), which would not grant rulemaking authority to the agency until after it had done proper analysis and an assessment of costs and benefits.  The bill, as amended, grants full rule making authority to the DEQ automatically in 2011. 

Vote on: HB 2186 ("NO" vote is a 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

What You Can Do to Help:

Click here to find your Representative and ask him or her to vote NO on HB 2186.

SB 80, the CO2 Cap and Trade Bill now amended with the Governor’s language, still tosses the GHG program to the DEQ to do by rule, imposes the nation’s most stringent cap on CO2 emissions, and would drastically drive up energy costs for all Oregonians.  The amendment, similar to previous proposals, was offered and promoted before the committee by the Governor’s staff.  Despite a formal request from AOI to allow a business representative to comment on the new amendments, the Governor’s text was adopted and the bill voted out of committee without further testimony.  However, the measure was sent to the Way & Means Committee instead of the Senate Floor, indicating that its proponents feel they do not have a majority of the Senate; testimony to the effectiveness of AOI member’s communications.

Vote to move: SB 80 as amended to Ways & Means                             ("NO" vote is a PRO - Jobs vote)
Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair (D – Portland)	Yes
Senator Brian Boquist (R – Dallas)	No
Senator Jason Atkinson (R – Grants Pass)	No
Senator Floyd Prozanski (D – Eugene)	Yes
Senator Mark Hass (D – Beaverton)	Yes

The bill remains very much alive in Ways & Means.