SALEM, Ore. — Republicans in the Oregon state House didn’t show up Tuesday, expanding a GOP protest over a measure that aims to curb global warming.
On Monday Republicans in the state Senate left the Capitol, rather than debate the so-called cap-and-trade bill calls for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 45% below 1990 emissions levels by 2035 and to at least 80% below by 2050. The bill would force big greenhouse gas emitters to obtain credits for each metric ton of carbon dioxide they emit.
Opponents say fossil fuel companies will wind up offloading increased costs to customers. Proponents say the measure is needed to begin to confront the devastating effects of climate change.
“Oregon House Republicans are taking a stand, with working families, in opposing cap and trade and this rigged process,” House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said in a statement.
