From: "Representative Denyc Boles" <Rep.DenycBoles@public.govdelivery.com>
Subject: House District 19 Update April 19, 2019
Date: April 19, 2019 at 11:22:37 AM PDT
To: 2ndvicepresidentbhrw@gmail.com
Reply-To: Rep.DenycBoles@public.govdelivery.com

Capitol Connections....Education, Cap & Trade and More! 	

 
Dear Friends,
This week floor sessions have transitioned to twice a day most days of the week, as legislation is moving after floor votes to the Senate side of the legislature. In addition, we are beginning to see bills that have passed House or Senate Committees in standing Committees, like House Rules Committee, and Joint Committees like Capitol Culture or Ways and Means.
Revenue increases on the Horizon....
This is the time in session when education funding becomes more prominent. Currently there are over $5.7 billion in new revenue increases being proposed in several pieces of legislation.  This past week the Joint Committee on Student Success proposed HB 2019.   This bill is $2 billion in new taxes for schools. It spans early childhood education ($400 million) school improvement ($1 billion) and statewide investment ($600 million). To fund the proposal, it proposes a “corporate activity tax,” calculated by the Department of Revenue, based on a corporation’s gross sales receipts.  Education funding is important, but we also need to be sure that money is actually getting into the classrooms and doing the work we need to improve our schools. I’ll revisit this in more detail later in session as the legislation moves out of committee. 
Cap & Trade and your fuel costs........
In the meantime, there’s plenty moving forward like a bullet train around cap and trade legislation. Now there are at least 60 amendments to sort through, making it one of the most complex policies and sweeping legislation in the building. Representative Boshart Davis (R-15) serves on the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction summarized it in one word this week during her floor remonstrance, “EXPENSIVE. “
She began by highlighting the exciting news that TriMet has its first electric bus. Each electric bus purchased by TriMet is an average cost of $662,500 and paid for by the $53 million dedication of funds from the 2017 Legislature and some federal funds. TriMet plans to purchase 80 additional buses over the next 5-6 years. Quoting her information Boshart Davis noted, “Planners estimated TriMet’s plan to ditch diesel would cost roughly $500 million.” Hence her one-word summary, expensive!
The move towards electric vehicles and other carbon reduction practices has a high price tag.  Many argue that cost is irrelevant because so much is at stake.  But we need to be thoughtful in our approach.  One of the major issues with HB 2020 is in its aggressive approach to carbon reduction, it fails to take into account infrastructure and costs.  While TriMet has its first electric bus at a $662,500 cost to the taxpayer, private industry does not have the same taxpayer resources to purchase these vehicles.  Even if they exist, which at this point they don’t in the heavy trucking industry.
Some of the many amendments being introduced is trying to bring real life solutions and ideas to the concepts in HB 2020. The legislation forces everyone to change fuel practices, not just public buses purchased with your tax dollars. Cap and Trade will increase your fuel costs, your heating costs, and impact our trucking industry that delivers many of the day to day goods we rely on including food, clothing, and necessities. The estimated 16 cent/gallon fuel costs will affect all of us in many ways.  As I’ve stated before, the cumulative effect of this legislation and others moving through the Capitol causes me significant concern on how it impacts the working families in our community. 
You can follow this conversation in the Joint Committee for Carbon Reduction, Co-Chaired by Senator Dembrow (D-23) Senator Bentz (R-30) Rep. Power (D-41), and Rep. Brock Smith (R-01).
Happy Easter......
 		Easter is my favorite holiday.  It represents hope and comes amidst spring when the sun peeks out and flowers bloom and all of nature reminds us that winter is over and life begins anew. 	
 	
email: Rep.DenycBoles@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1419 address: 900 Court St NE, H-385, Salem, OR 97301 website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boles	

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