SALEM, Ore. – 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, House Democrats today moved to block its progress—sending it to the House Committee on Rules instead of advancing it to the House floor for a vote.
“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.
“Senate Bill 83 is an urgent bill the House needs to pass immediately,” said Senator Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction). “It is unacceptable to use it as a negotiating item.”
“House Democrats are now doing the exact opposite of what their Senate colleagues claimed to support just months ago,” said Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford). “This is a stunning reversal and a clear betrayal of the bipartisan effort to repeal these harmful wildfire maps. Holding rural Oregonians hostage over votes for future wildfire funding is not only obscene, but disgraceful. Put the damn bill on the floor for a vote!”
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 (RThe Dalles). “It’s political gamesmanship at its worst—and it’s coming at the expense of rural property owners and families across the state.”
Senate Republicans urge House leadership to stop playing politics with wildfire relief and bring SB 83 to the House floor for an immediate vote. ###