OTA Dispatch Issue 1 2020

Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Waylon Buchan OTA Director of Government Affairs LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 6 THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION feels like a powder keg waiting to go off. Tensions are high as Republicans and Democrats struggle to find common ground on a number of contentious issues. In fact, it is generally understood that a handful of issues could result in another dramatic walkout similar to what took place during the 2019 session. These include bills dealing with gun regulation, mandatory vaccinations, adjustments to legislative quorum rules, or of course cap and trade. Cap and trade appears most likely to cause a walkout based on negotiations so far. While we have continued to negotiate with proponents of the bill, they have shown little willingness to compromise on any key features of the legislation. It would still impose a dramatic increase to the cost of motor fuels, with the intention to make it so expensive through “carbon signaling” that motorists and trucking companies will adopt zero- emission alternatives. Despite repeated attempts to educate lawmakers about the lack of commercially viable alternatives for freight trucking, they continue to push for expensive regulations which will negatively impact our industry. Any way you slice it, the current cap and trade bill (SB 1530) is all stick and no carrot, all pain and no gain for the trucking industry and the larger economy as a whole. Certain features of the bill have changed to allow for a regional implementation of fuel cost increases. They intend to start in the Portland tri- county area in 2022, then expand to additional counties west of the Cascades starting in 2025. This change is likely intended to soften opposition to the measure from lawmakers representing rural districts. However, this new concept is complex, costly to implement, and places our members at a competitive disadvantage based on where they are located. The mere fact that Democrats are making such significant late-game changes to the bill during a short session makes it clear they are attempting to “build the plane as they are flying it.” Rarely does this approach work with such a complex measure and so little time—especially when the specter of a Republican walkout looms over the issue. Nothing emphasized the growing public dissatisfaction with cap and trade more clearly than the Timber Unity rally which took place during the first week of session. Thousands of people descended on the capitol to express their concerns with the disastrous impact cap and trade would have on trucking, logging, agriculture, and working families all over Oregon. They were joined by an impressive convoy containing well over a thousand heavy trucks and tractors. We were encouraged by the strong turnout of OTA members who sent trucks to join the convoys from all over the state, and we are grateful for those that submitted testimony opposing the bill and sharing your stories. Ultimately, Democrats will choose what happens next. They can decide to push cap and trade to the forefront and risk a costly Republican walkout, or they can use the short session to pass budgetary fixes and technical amendments as Oregon voters intended when they passed the short session into law. For now, we will continue to oppose cap and trade using every tool available to us in order to prevent disastrous impacts to the trucking industry and the Oregon economy.  Tensions are high as Republicans and Democrats struggle to find common ground on a number of contentious issues. Legislative Update 2020