After Senate Bill 83 passed the Oregon Senate unanimously on April 22nd, with strong bipartisan support and praise from Senate Democrats for responding to public outcry over the flawed wildfire hazard map, the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment voted "Do pass and be referred to Rules. Regardless of trying to blame Democrats in a plot to use the bill as a bargaining chip, they weren't the only votes that halted the progress.

Of course, Speaker Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) could have sent SB 83 to the floor for a vote, but she did as the committee proposed. “When policies don’t work for the people of Oregon…Democrats listen and take action,” Senate Democrats said in April after passing the bill. “Senate Bill 83 passed the Senate floor in a unanimous vote, reflecting a strong spirit of collaboration.”

Now, that spirit of collaboration has seemingly vanished. House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) said, “This bill matters to Oregonians and should not continue to be held hostage. SB 83 has been heavily vetted through an open public process that included multiple hearings, stakeholder input, and thousands of emails from Oregonians harmed by these flawed maps.”

For whatever political games are being played, the Democrats have the power in every committee and every floor vote, so sending SB 83 to Rules instead of a floor vote would have happened regardless of how Republicans voted. But blaming Democrats on a bi-partisan vote seems to smell of deceit.

Rep. Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg), House Republican Whip voted to move SB 83 to Rules instead of moving it to the floor. He now says, “It saddens me to see a group of representatives, who are so beholden to their liberal bosses committed to stealing our kicker, not care at all about the will of the people they represent. We have had almost 40 years to reform wildfire funding and House Democrats are now using these flawed wildfire maps as leverage to take away money from the same people that voted for them. These wildfire maps have cost people property values, insurance increases, and many heartaches.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Rather than allowing a floor vote on a bill that has already earned overwhelming support, including from Senate Democrats, House Democrats—under pressure from Governor Tina Kotek and Speaker Julie Fahey—are delaying SB 83 in an effort to extort Republican votes for their latest attempt to raid over $1 billion from Oregon taxpayers’ kicker refund.

“Oregonians were promised relief. Now they’re being told that relief is contingent on agreeing to a massive tax grab,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “It’s political gamesmanship at its worst—and it’s coming at the expense of rural property owners and families across the state.”

House Republicans tried to force a vote on the House Floor on SB 83, to give relief to burdensome regulations imposed on communities by the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map. The motion to withdraw the bill from the Rules Committee failed despite receiving bipartisan votes. Only seven House Democrats were allowed to break party lines by Democrat Leadership, resulting in a 29-22 vote. Where is the will of the people?

Senate Republicans urge House leadership to stop playing politics with wildfire relief and represent constituents fairly and honestly. If Democrat leadership continues to use SB 83 against the kicker, it won't be viewed favorably by voters.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-06-05 11:18:41

Last Update: 2025-06-05 23:07:18