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image of the Oregon senate chamber with no one present
credit to Wayne Hsieh
Oregon GOP Walkout Threatens Climate Progress AGAIN

Outraged. Furious. Frustrated.

These are some of the emotions being expressed by all of us Climate Solutions staff as well as the broader climate community across the state as most Senate Republicans continue their walkout for a third week. By denying quorum for the state Senate to do business, they have ground all progress in the Oregon legislature - and even the state budget - to a halt. Among many other critical priorities, the state’s climate agenda hangs in the balance. 

Click here to tell walkout Senators to get back to work!

This climate agenda includes providing drought and wildfire relief for communities; reducing energy bills and increasing climate resilience by making life-saving heat pumps, energy efficiency upgrades for homes and businesses, solar and storage, and electric cars and trucks more available and affordable for all Oregonians; and importantly, the ability for Oregon to draw down hundreds of millions of federal dollars from Congress’ Inflation Reduction Act for climate and clean energy investments. This is a once-in-a-generation level of money that Oregon may now leave on the table because the state legislature cannot move forward with the Building Resilience policy package and other key legislation designed to bring that needed funding into Oregon’s communities. 

The Senate Republicans who continue to obstruct the state legislature from doing the business of the people are ostensibly protesting bills about reproductive rights, gender-affirming care, and gun safety. In recent years, Republicans in the Oregon House and Senate have walked off the job and denied quorum several times to block everything from climate legislation to funding for schools and COVID restrictions. No matter the topic, these extreme tactics by a minority of elected officials to obstruct the entire state legislative process when they don’t get their way undermines Oregon’s ability to have a functioning democracy. 

Record temperatures are already here and wildfire season is just around the corner. Oregonians need improved resilience and climate progress — and we need it now. We all deserve to be safe from the climate crisis. We can’t afford for Oregon to take a year off. Climate action depends on a healthy, functioning democratic process and norms.

I know we’ve asked you to chime in support of the climate agenda many times this session. Now we need you to do it once more. If you have a Senator that has walked off the job, send them a message that it is irresponsible to walk off the job and they must return to work. If you have a Senator who has stayed to do the people’s business, send them a message thanking them and remind them that needed climate progress is also on the line.

Oregon Legislative Budget 2023-25:Leveraging Federal Funding For Building Resilience Package

Memo-Will Oregon leave $8B in federal funding on the table?

 

Thank you for all you do,

Author Bio

Meredith Connolly

Director of Policy and Strategy, Climate Solutions

Meredith brings over a decade of climate policy experience to her work to help secure needed climate progress. She advocates for innovative and equitable policy solutions to reduce climate and air pollution and create a thriving clean energy economy across the Northwest.

Meredith previously served as Climate Solutions’ Oregon Director until 2024, where she helped pass key climate laws to transition Oregon’s electric grid to 100% clean energy and electrify the buildings and transportation sectors. Prior to joining Climate Solutions, Meredith was a Climate and Energy Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. At NRDC, she advanced renewable energy policies in the U.S. and internationally. She also implemented programs to protect public health and improve climate resilience to heat waves and air pollution in India’s growing cities. Before NRDC, Meredith practiced law in the private sector.

Meredith is a member of the Oregon and California State Bar Associations. She holds a JD from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and French from Santa Clara University. In her free time, Meredith enjoys exploring her incredible home state of Oregon with her family and rooting too loudly for the Portland Thorns and Timbers.