DPO Caucuses
Environmental Caucus
The Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Oregon has a passion to meld climate and environmental action with justice. We help elect candidates and work on policy. We have strong environmental principles expressed in Article 3 of the Platform.
We NEED you, so sign up using the form on this page!
- Provide input for the Platform Convention and legislative agendas
- Write letters or lobby with us
- Receiving our email newsletter and bulletins
Help improve House Bill 2379
Timber dependent counties used to be supported by a property tax on the timber when it was cut, called the severance tax which started in 1929. But the tax was phased out in the 1990’s.
The Severance tax was supposed to be replaced by increased yearly property taxes, but in fact, property taxes were capped.
This led to significant reduction of services in more rural counties with loss of revenue to pay for libraries, schools, roads, law enforcement, water protection, etc.
In addition, much of the private industrial timber land in Oregon is owned by REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and TIMOs (Timber Investment Management Organizations).
- REITs and TIMOs and most other industrial companies clearcut timber on a short harvest rotation cycle which is bad for forest health, carbon storage, and water quality.
- REITs and TIMOs earn profits for investment shareholders (primarily outside of Oregon) at the expense of communities where the logging occurs.
- They have no limitations on exporting raw logs further suppressing mill jobs.
TAKE ACTION HERE — Contact your legislator.
Tell Gov. Brown: Use Stimulus for Climate and Equity
Check out our letter to the Governor calling for job stimulus dollars for climate and equity, and read more about our call to action here.
Learning from COVID to Address Climate Change
If there is one thing we can learn from the COVID19 pandemic, it is that listening to scientists saves lives. The Governor is listening to climate scientists. Her recent Executive Order directing state agencies to take actions to reduce and regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will save lives. Read our blog post about Governor Brown’s Executive Order.
Read the Environmental Caucus Bylaws
DPO Environmental Caucus Officers
Chair: Catherine Thomasson | [email protected]
Vice Chair: Doyle Canning | [email protected]
Treasurer: Jaiden Oquendo
Secretary: Alexis Biddle
SCC Delegate: Heather Bishop
SCC Alternate: Michael Calhoun
Membership Standing Committee Chair: Sally DeSipio | [email protected]
Oregon Green New Deal Chair: Xanthia Wolland | [email protected]
Contact the DPO Environmental Caucus at [email protected].
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