Key was tight alliance of employers and workers

Despite the chaos and upheavals of session’s closing, it appears that most environmental bills that would have resulted in major job losses have been held back or blunted by a broad and steadfast coalition of AOI/business groups and private labor unions. 

Proposals by the Governors’ office/environmental group’s to force a CO2 Cap & Trade regime on Oregon utilities, gasoline, home heating, and industry were defeated, along with Governors’ office/environmental group’s efforts to grant the DEQ autonomous authority to ban types of tires and any commercial and retail products with greenhouse gas implications.

Authority for the DEQ to impose a yet-to-be-defined “low carbon” fuel standard passed both Houses and will be signed by the Governor.  No one had any idea exactly what a low carbon fuel is or how much it will push up fuel costs.  Still, that did not stop the legislature from granting full authority to the DEQ to develop and impose a standard by rule.  AOI and labor argued, unsuccessfully, that the legislature should find the answers to such questions before giving up its powers to the DEQ, not afterwards.