Category: HotOffPress

Hearing for Oregon Climate Action Program (HB 2020) set for Saturday, February 23, in Medford

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Very Important – Plan to attend the Medford Hearing of the Legislative Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction at Central Medford High School this Saturday, February 23rd, from 9:00 am until noon.  The subject of the hearing is Oregon House Bill 2020 (HB 2020), which establishes the Carbon Policy Office and directs the Director of Carbon Policy Office to adopt the Oregon Climate Action Program.

HB 2020 is Oregon’s best effort to reduce greenhouse gases and enact reasonable policies to slow down or stop climate change.  Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) expects a large contingent of people opposed to HB 2020 to be in attendance and provide testimony.  If you are concerned about climate change, please attend the Hearing.  We want to show that there are a significant number of people in southern Oregon that care about our planet and who want to put the brakes on climate change. Even better, attend and testify why you support HB 2020.

SOCAN has an excellent discussion of the bill on their website.  You will find helpful explanations of points to make in favor of the bill and to counter arguments that opponents will use against it, what cap and trade is and how it works, how to provide oral testimony, how to provide written testimony, and much more.  If you intend to provide testimony, we recommend that you contact Alan Journet, PhD.  SOCAN is trying to coordinate the testimony to cover all bases.

The Hearing will be held this Saturday, February 23rd, from 9:00 am until noon, at Central Medford High School, 815 S. Oakdale, Medford, OR 97501+ Google Map

Use ctrl + scroll to zoom the map

Wisconsin becomes 20th state to join climate alliance designed to uphold Paris accord

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On Tuesday, February 12th, Wisconsin became the 21st state, when you include Puerto Rico, to join the United States Climate Alliance.  Members of the U.S. Climate Alliance are committed to taking real, on the ground action that urgently addresses the climate challenge.  For more information about the U.S. Climate Alliance go to their website.

Nearly 70 per cent of Americans, including the majority of people in every state, support the Paris Climate Agreement.  Not only have governors committed their states to the U.S. Climate Alliance in support of the Paris Climate Agreement, mayors of cities all across the U.S. have agreed to endorse this worldwide movement.  We would love to see the government officials of Josephine County throw their support behind the Paris Climate Agreement as well, and agree to adopt, honor, and uphold the goals of this agreement.

This should not be a partisan issue.  Protecting the health of our planet and saving it for our children, their children, and beyond should be the goal of every reasonable human being.  Please write to your majors, city councilmen and women, and county commissioners and ask them to pledge their support for this very important issue.  Ask them to sign our Citizens’ Environmental Pledge.

The Cave Junction City Council have already agreed to support these principles.  Thank them for that and urge the Grants Pass City Council and the Josephine County Commissioners to do the same.

If you haven’t signed the Citizens’ Environmental Pledge yet, we urge you to do so now.

Let’s Join KS Wild and Thank Senators Wyden and Merkley for Protecting Our Wild Rivers

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Please thank Senators Wyden and Merkley for protecting Wild Rivers today! Thank you!

Late yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed the Natural Resources Management Act, including the Oregon Wildlands Act, the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Act, and the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Rogue Riverkeeper, KS Wild, and allies have worked for over ten years to secure southwest Oregon protections in this bill – these include:

  • Protecting the upper Chetco River from mining claims.
  • Expanding Wild & Scenic protections for streams feeding the Wild Rogue River.
  • Expanding Wild & Scenic protections for streams feeding the Elk River.

This is an amazing step forward for wild rivers! The Oregon bills have been pending in Congress for years even with broad public support across the state. These bills will protect some of Oregon’s most unique lands and rivers that are treasured sources of clean drinking water, phenomenal outdoor recreation, and wilderness character.

Despite widespread support for expanding the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, it was left out of the final bill. We want to thank Senator Wyden for vowing to continue to fight to protect the world-class Wild Rogue Canyon between Grave and Mule Creeks and we will do all we can to support him. The bill will now move forward for a vote in the House.

Think Piece

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Michael Gerson is a commentator who writes for the Washington Post. As an atheist and a Democrat I have many points of disagreement with Gerson, who is an evangelical Christian and a Republican. Nevertheless, I find him worthy of respect as a thoughtful and ethical writer. Here’s a link to a recent opinion piece by him that, depending upon you, the reader’s, religious beliefs, may challenge you to think in a different way.

By the way, Gerson has written many commentaries excoriating Trump.

Anita Savio, PCP Cave Junction

Gerson

Help Save the Planet; Reduce Consumption of Meat and Animal Products

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High among its prescriptions for limiting global sea level rise and climate disruption is an advisory for humanity to reduce its collective consumption of animal products by at least 30 percent. After all, between the feed production required to raise cattle and other livestock and these animals’ massive release of methane, animal agriculture harms the climate more than the combined emissions from every plane, train, car, bus, and boat in the world.

For further information, click on https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/8-ways-start-easin-vegan?utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Public Hearings to Stop the Jordan Cove LNG Pipeline Being Held in Several Locations in January

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Join us at a public hearing to stop the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline.

If built, the Jordan Cove LNG project would harm nearly 500 waterways, seize property from private landowners through eminent domain, create a major safety and public health hazards, impact Tribal territories, cultural resources, and burial grounds, and become the largest source of climate pollution in the state.

The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) will hear from the public about whether Jordan Cove’s Removal-Fill permit should be denied or approved. This is one of the state permits that, if denied, would stop the Jordan Cove LNG even if the Federal Government approves the project.

More info on writing public comment and a rally before to come soon! In the meantime, please submit written comments at https://nolngexports.good.do/DSL/DSLComments/

Click here, then click on “Events” in the left-hand column, to see when and where there will be a public hearing near you to Stop the Jordan Cove LNG Pipeline. So far there are 5 scheduled in January from the 7th to the 15th. Since the public hearing in Jackson County is scheduled for the same day as the Josephine County Democrats Central Committee meeting, I plan on attending the public hearing for Douglas County at the Seven Feathers Casino the next day.

 

 

Message from Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Jeanne Atkins

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This was a great night filled with great results, and it wouldn't have been possible without your support.
What an incredible evening for Oregon Democrats!

When we began this campaign, we said we had three big jobs to do — and I’m proud to say we accomplished each one of them.

We re-elected Governor Kate Brown, thanks to an amazing statewide outreach effort.

We re-elected our great Oregon Democratic Congressional Delegation and made a big noise in Oregon’s Second Congressional District, a noise that is still reverberating. I can’t say enough about Jamie McLeod-Skinner and her team — the campaign that they ran truly exemplified the spirit and heart of Oregonians in the district, and she earned the best result for an Oregon Democrat in CD-2 in at least 20 years.

And last but not least, we defended and expanded our Oregon Democratic majorities in both houses of the legislature in Salem.

Over the last two years I’ve had the privilege to travel across Oregon meeting with Democrats in all 36 of our counties. And one of the things I’ve said to them is that we want to send a message with this election.

We do not want to make ourselves great at the expense of anyone else. We want to have health care for all and public education for our children. We want humane immigration policies, strong unions, retirement plans for our seniors, and for women to have control over our own bodies.

Last night, Oregonians resoundingly said that we will not allow our state to cut reproductive health care, that we would not return to the days when racial profiling was legal, and that we will not hamstring our state and local governments just to protect corporations and the well off from paying their share of taxes.

This was a great night filled with great results, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your support. For that, we cannot thank you enough.

Now, as we look ahead toward the work to be done in 2019 and beyond to defend and uphold our Oregon Democratic values, I hope you’ll keep standing with us.

Thank you,

Jeanne Atkins
Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon

 

 

Support our work to elect more Oregon Democrats, and protect the Democratic values we hold dear. Donate today.

Governor Kate Brown Protects Women’s Reproductive Rights

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VOTE FOR KATE BROWN FOR GOVERNOR
 
Governor Kate Brown signed this progressive Reproductive Health Equity Act into law. (August 2017)  
 
“Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed into law one of the most progressive reproductive health bills in the United States. The new law aims to expand insurance coverage on abortion procedures and other reproductive health services to residents of Oregon regardless of their income, gender identity, or even citizenship status. The law would also protect abortion rights in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned and allocates public funds for low-income Oregonians who need postpartum care. “
 
August 15, 2018 marks the one-year anniversary of Gov. Brown signing into law the Reproductive Health Equity Act, a landmark bill that expanded access to the full suite of reproductive care. Among those who voted against the bill? You guessed it — faux-choice GOP candidate, Knute Buehler. The DPO has more.  
https://www.refinery29.com/2017/07/162171/oregon-new-bill-cost-free-abortion
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