Legislature

One of the Oregon Conservation Network's Priorities for a Healthy Oregon passed out of committee this morning and will soon be up for a vote on the House Floor.

As amended, House Bill 3613 would implement a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in Oregon's territorial sea. If the bill becomes law, it would help to provide certainty and stability in coastal communities who depend on our state's robust fishing and tourism industries.

A story in Saturday's Salem Statesman Journal lays out environmental priorities for Oregon's special legislative session, which started today and last only four short weeks.

Voters will face many tough decisions in city, county and state races throughout Marion County next year.

Fortunately, a strong team of local community leaders have joined forces on OLCV’s newly re-formed Marion County Steering Committee to make sure the public is informed when they cast their votes next May and November. Over the next few months, the steering committee will be identifying pro-environment candidates in several races in Marion County and talking to voters about those candidates.

The community of St Helens. Oregon will gain 50 stable family-wage jobs next year when the construction of a plastic-bottle recycling plant is completed. Those jobs can be linked to the work OLCV and the Oregon Conservation Network did in the 2007 Legislative Session to expand Oregon's landmark bottle bill to include bottled water.