Earlier this month, with bipartisan support, the Senate passed a version of HB 2434, introduced by State Representative Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene) that included the Forest Harvest Tax. The tax provides critical funding for fire fighting, forestry and climate education programs at Oregon State University, and critical forest conservation programs.

Today, the House Democrats, less one, voted down the measure, sending it to a conference committee. The bill came back to the Senate floor without those key funding provisions.

“Make no mistake, while several active wildfires are burning in Oregon, Speaker Kotek and House Democrats refused an increase in funding for fire fighting. That is what happened today,” Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Lyons) said. “They gave the Senate no choice but to pass the bill without these important provisions. Their temper tantrum is going to have real-life consequences for those who fight fires.”

Parliamentary procedure required the Senate to pass the version of HB 2434 that did not include the increased Harvest Tax.

House Bill 2434 passed the Senate on a vote of 24-4, despite bipartisan disappointment that House Democrats stripped important forestry funding from the bill.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-25 22:17:01