A recent poll revealed that Oregonians—like Washingtonians—do not approve of an expensive fuel mandate bring pushed by a Democrat governor. The poll asked respondents whether they would “support or oppose the implementation of the Oregon Clean Fuels program if you knew that the cost of gasoline in Oregon would go up between 6 cents and 19 cents per gallon.” A whopping 56% of respondents—mostly Democrats—oppose a fuel mandate under those circumstances.
Yet, as the Oregonian points out, Gov. John Kitzhaber considers a fuel mandate a top priority. With Democrats in control of the Legislature, a fuel mandate is likely in the works for Oregon—despite the fact that a clear majority of Oregonians does not want a fuel mandate. The Oregonian writes,
“If the rest of Oregon agrees with those surveyed last month, lawmakers would be bold, indeed, to resuscitate the low-carbon fuel standard. To do so while also pushing for a transportation funding package, including possibly a gas tax, would be brazen, yet that’s what many lawmakers, including House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, are considering. This seems like a funny way to help low-income Oregonians and those who live in wide-open rural areas, to whose well-being lawmakers at least give lip service.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Oregon “accounts for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s population” and was “responsible for less than seven tenths of 1 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide in 2011.” Realistically, Oregon is a “rounding error” in the “global-warming universe.” As the Oregonian points out, it is not that Oregon residents are indifferent to global warming. It is that most of them reasonably believe that “19 cents a gallon is a high price to pay merely to burnish the state’s brand.”
The Oregonian concludes by urging readers to fight back against the ridiculous policy of their green governor by contacting their legislators. The paper writes,
“If you don’t want to be saddled with a global warming gas tax in addition to whatever – possibly justified – transportation funding package lawmakers will consider this year, let your representative and senator know about it. But don’t dawdle. The legislative session will begin in a matter of weeks.”
Washingtonians would be wise to do likewise. Our legislative session begins today.
Oregonians should be glad that their governor only wants to screw them out of 19 CENTS a gallon, while Inslee the Impaler wants to screw us with more than a DOLLAR a gallon. I think we’re in the same “rounding error” as Oregon, okay we might have a couple more people than they do, but we would be willing to trade them a truckload of their conservatives for a boat load of our liberals, including the governor.