|
It's hard as an activist to watch the legislation you support go through the Oregon Legislature. The Clean Energy Jobs bill should have sailed through the legislature last year! Instead it is going through the sausage making process once again.
Right now the bill is being amended. House Speaker Tina Kotek has proposed sawing the bill in half. The first half, putting a Cap on greenhouse gas emission, would pass this year. Next year, the legislature (or the Oregon DEQ) would pass the rest of it. For a great description see this PortlandTribune article. Our partners RENEW OREGON and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) are asking us to step back and take a breath. Don't engage around this idea of splitting the bill, instead, let your legislator know the depth of your engagement. Let them know the importance Oregonians feel about Oregon being a part of the climate change solution. The Action of the Week is to work with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon partner as they put together Capitol actions: Over the next two weeks EMO wants people to come to Salem to talk with legislators about their commitment to the Green Energy Jobs Bill. They believe this bill needs a continuous presence of Interfaith partners. EMO will coach and provide support. Can you go to Salem? Click here. They are also looking for faith leaders to do walk-throughs in the Capitol, stopping by key legislative offices to let them know that people of faith are behind the Clean Energy Jobs bill. Faith leaders could come any time between now and Friday, March 2nd. Can you go to Salem? Click here.In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell
1 Comment
Action of the Week!
Climate Change is a big, terrifying problem. Don't you want to DO something about it? Sometimes I want to run away from a problem if it seems too big. But with climate change, I want to run toward it and make a difference. Our President withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord, saying that climate change is not our problem. When he did that many states including California, Washington and Oregon, signed on to theUnited States Climate Alliance. They were saying - President Trump - you are not going to stop us. This effort will go on without you. Oregon has the opportunity to live up to that commitment and pass historic climate legislation. The Clean Energy Jobs Bill, coming before the legislature in this session, will cap and price climate pollution from the largest emitters in the state, and reinvest the proceeds in our communities. However, the Clean Energy Jobs Bill has been received with mixed signals from various legislators. The general message seems to be, "this is a short session, what's the hurry, let's wait until next year!" I don't know about you, I DONT WANT TO WAIT. Climate change is happening now. I feel it this month when I walk out the door. It just doesn't feel like winter. The Action of the Week is to sign up for the Rally and Lobby Day for the Clean Energy Jobs Bill on Monday, February 12. We need everyone to sign up NOW. The deadline for signing up, is this Wednesday, February 7th (tomorrow). Signing up gets you a meeting with your legislators -- and lunch. This is the one rally and lobby day you should come to -- even if you have to travel across the state. We need to tell the legislature that we don't want to wait. The time is now. If you have a legislator who is on the fence, we need you. If your legislator is a Republican, wonderful, we need you. If your legislator is an unenthusiastic Democrat, then of course, we need you. EVEN if your legislator is an enthusiastic Democrat, come, get some training, march and attend the hearing. We need everyone there to show the strength of support! Unitarian Universalists who attend -- Let's do a meet-up at lunch and all march together to the capital. The schedule and location are below. In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell Clean Energy Jobs Lobby Day Information: When: February 12th, check in – 9:00 am - 9:45 am Program starts at 9:45 am with our kickoff speaker House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson. Where: Salem, OR –Micah Building at 680 State Street, 680 State St, Salem, OR 97301, (2nd Floor) from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Then, we will march over to the Oregon Capitol Building for a rally on Capitol steps and meetings with our legislators and other activities, which will last until about 4:00 pm. Lunch included! We will have a Clean Energy Jobs shirts and buttons for you to put on! Here's a little more of a detailed schedule of the day. • 9:00 - 9:40 AM Check-In at MICAH Building, 680 State St, Salem, OR 97301, (2nd Floor) Continental Breakfast, Coffee, and Tea will be served. • 9:45 - 9:55 AM Program begins • 10:00 - 11:30 AM Program • 11:30 - 11:50 AM Grab Lunch and Eat in the Micah building - (Lunch Provided to all RSVPs) • 12:00 - 12:30 PM March on the Capitol and Rally • 12:45 PM Meetings Begin • 12:45 – 4:00 PM Legislator Meetings and More • 1:30 - 4:00 PM Art & Advocacy projects at the Montag Den at Willamette University |
Printable PDFs of
Action of the Week here. Archives
August 2019
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
