OLCV e-bulletin: Summing up the session
As you know, the 75th Legislative Assembly ended on June 29th. How did the environment fare this session? In short, Oregon’s environmental legacy is stronger thanks to the actions of the 75th Legislature, the work of the Oregon Conservation Network, and the voices of citizens like you.
Lawmakers passed bills to:
- protect the Metolius River basin
- better manage our water resources
- fight invasive species
- create marine reserves
- cut energy waste
- cut pollution from fuel
- phase out the toxic flame retardant decaBDE
- cut river-killing phosphorus from household dishwasher soap
- limit field burning
… and the list goes on. Overall, the legislature passed more than 30 pro-environment bills, almost all of which have been signed or will be signed by the Governor. Many of these bills had bi-partisan support, and many were pushed forward by legislators that OLCV helped to elect.
Unfortunately, legislators also took steps back on Oregon’s dedication to a clean energy future, cutting energy standards and incentives, and passed a pork-filled transportation package.
Check out our full wrap-up of the session and a list of environmental bills and their fates.
You can also find details on what happened with many of the bills, as well as links to recent news stories, including one on the graywater bill, on the OCLV blog. (Sign up for blog updates here.)
Thank you to all of you who spoke up this session, letting your voice be heard. Citizen voices are one of the most powerful forces in the state capitol, and led to several hard-fought victories.
The Governor has until August 7 to sign or veto bills.
Find out how your legislator scored on the environment
The work is now underway to publish OLCV's 2009 Environmental Scorecard for the Oregon Legislature. (See the 2007 Scorecard.)
Look for the 2009 Scorecard in September!
As you may have heard by now, Vicki Walker has vacated her Senate Seat after being appointed by the governor to chair the Oregon Board of Parole. Click here to read about it in the Eugene Register-Guard.
OLCV thanks Walker for her years of dedicated service to protecting Oregon’s natural legacy. In 2003, 2005, and 2007 Walker scored 100%, 92%, and 95% respectively on the OLCV Environmental Scorecard.
Among her many accomplishments over her 11 years in the legislature: In 1999, she was one of the lead sponsors of Oregon’s pesticide use reporting system, and in 2007 she was the prime mover of Senate Bill 737, an OCN Priority bill that is now cleaning up Oregon’s rivers. This session, she was a particularly passionate advocate for key invasive species legislation.
OLCV wishes her well.
OLCV's county chapters are busy this summer offering local communities fun ways celebrate the work we all do to preserve Oregon's environmental legacy.
Coming up in August:
Saturday, August 1, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The OLCV Clackamas County Chapter is throwing their annual Hootenany.
Sunday, August 30, 4 p.m.
The OLCV Marion County Chapter is hosting a BBQ.
Stay tuned for more details.
In the last month:
The OLCV Multnomah County Chapter hosted a wine, bourbon and beer tasting event in North Portland.
The OLCV Lincoln County Chapter hosted a Sustainable Seafood Bake and Silent Auction in Newport.
The OLCV Washington County Chapter threw their 4th Annual Ice Cream Social, with special guests Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, as well as a host of local elected leaders. The event was MC-ed by Steve Novick.
The OLCV Lane County Chapter put on a "Backyard Farmyard" Summer House Party in Eugene.
OLCV has had a couple of fresh faces around the office and a third helping us out from afar... well, from Eugene.
In the office, two interns from Duke University, Katie Barzee (left) and Suedi Walker (right) have been putting in full work weeks helping OLCV, county chapters and the Oregon Conservation Network with assorted communications, web and fundraising tasks.
David H. Gerber, a graduate student studying public policy at the University of Oregon, is spending a lot of his internship helping OLCV with the 2009 OLCV Environmental Scorecard.
Read more about our awesome interns!
Photo Contest: Deadline August 10
If you read OLCV's last E-bulletin, then you know that OLCV wants your photographs. We will select the best eligible photo for the cover of OLCV's 2009 Legislative Scorecard, published in September.
Do you have photos of your favorite places in the state? Your kids on a riverside trail? Mountain views? Your sweetie playing in tide pools or strolling on a long, deserted beach? Sunset in Eastern Oregon?
No? Well, grab your camera and get out there!
Find out how to submit your photos.
E-bulletin survey: We want your input!
OLCV is conducting a short survey right now to find out how you like the e-bulletin and what kind of changes you might like to see. The survey is only one page long.
This is your chance to tell us what you want! Your feedback is critical to ensuring that we are producing the most readable and useful E-bulletin possible.
Take the survey. And remember: if you need to return to the survey at a later time to finish it, or even to change an answer, you can go back to it at any time until we close the survey in early August.
Thanks in advance for your input!
The E-bulletin may only be published once a month this summer, but there are many other ways to stay informed on OLCV and the Oregon Conservation Network's activities.
Sign up for SalemWatch, our guide to legislative and state agency actions, as well as events and other news. Between legislative sessions, SalemWatch is published monthly.
You can also subscribe to the OLCV Blog.
For up-to-the-minute updates on environmental news and action alerts, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! Click on the icons below.
The solemn expression on her young face, gazing out over the vast ocean before her, speaks volumes to me. This experience must be protected and provided for all generations to come.