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Republicans Ran, But a Democrat Sank Oregon's Climate Bill

Steve Baragona

   In the end, the death of Oregon's climate bill was an inside job.

   The Democrat-controlled state Senate was expected to pass a bill last
   week that would have charged industries for their carbon pollution. The
   measure aimed to cut the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global
   warming.

   Republicans fled the state rather than vote, bringing the Legislature
   to a standstill.

   But it was one Democratic holdout with an energy-hungry industry in her
   district who ultimately killed the bill, according to local media.

   Confronting the climate crisis comes with costs. By some estimates, the
   bill would add at least 16 cents per gallon to the price of gasoline.
   The Oregon incident is the latest demonstration of how toxic those
   costs can be to voters and elected officials, even those from the party
   that champions action on climate change.

   But the bill will come due one way or another, experts say, and other
   tools to lower emissions carry an even heftier price tag.

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