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We don't stop at electing good candidates. When the Oregon Legislature is in session, OLCV is there, vigorously promoting commonsense environmental bills and fighting major threats to existing protections.
First, we bring together conservationists of different stripes through the Oregon Conservation Network, a coalition of 48 conservation groups who work together to pass laws and advocate for the environment to our state Capitol.
Together, the OCN identifies shared environmental priorities for the Legislature. Then, during the session, OLCV is in the Capitol every single day, promoting these "Priorities for a Healthy Oregon" and defending existing protections.
On Environmental Lobby Day, hundreds of pro-environment voters descend on Salem, learn about key issues before the Legislature and how to lobby elected officials, and attend meetings with their legislators. In turn, legislators hear directly from their constituents that issues like cleaning up our rivers and taking steps to combat global warming are priorities for Oregonians.
In 2007, all five of our Priorities passed, including a strong renewable energy standard and bills to establish a statewide electronic recycling program and protect Oregon's rivers and streams from toxic pollution. This is terrific progress: just two years before, Oregon's House had voted to forbid state agencies from fighting global warming.
But greater challenges await us in the 2009 legislative session. To truly tackle difficult issues like global warming, the energy crisis, and safeguarding our water resources, we must elect leaders who understand how important these challenges are, and are prepared to confront them.
