CUB Members and Supporters Working to Protect Oregon Ratepayers
News at the Speed of Light
From Jeff Bissonnette, CUB's Organizing Director: Today there was a hearing on Senate Bill 80, the centerpiece of the 2009 Climate Package. The bill would authorize the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to undertake a broad-based public rulemaking process to establish a cap-and-trade system for Oregon as the state's part of the regional Western Climate Initiative.
We'll have more information next week on the CUB website about the details of the hearing but I wanted to relay a small piece of it to underscore the environment we're operating in and how important a grassroots "rapid response" team like the CUB Action Network is.
The hearing opened with testimony from Gov. Ted Kulongoski. About an hour into the hearing and about 45 minutes after the Governor concluded his remarks and left the room, I decided to check news updates from my phone to see what was going on in the world. The top headline was about the Governor's remarks, complete with a picture taken less than an hour before with the article noting that the hearing "was still going on." It was surreal to be reading the "news" about a hearing that I was still sitting in.
But that is the nature of the times in which we find ourselves. Things happen so fast that we can literally read about them as they are happening. And it shows why a network like this is needed: when an issue needs a response, it needs a response right now. So we need to get ready for the day when a legislator starts to get e-mails and messages about phone calls from constituents during the discussion on a bill because an alert went out in the middle of the hearing. So stay tuned and stay involved!
We'll have more information next week on the CUB website about the details of the hearing but I wanted to relay a small piece of it to underscore the environment we're operating in and how important a grassroots "rapid response" team like the CUB Action Network is.
The hearing opened with testimony from Gov. Ted Kulongoski. About an hour into the hearing and about 45 minutes after the Governor concluded his remarks and left the room, I decided to check news updates from my phone to see what was going on in the world. The top headline was about the Governor's remarks, complete with a picture taken less than an hour before with the article noting that the hearing "was still going on." It was surreal to be reading the "news" about a hearing that I was still sitting in.
But that is the nature of the times in which we find ourselves. Things happen so fast that we can literally read about them as they are happening. And it shows why a network like this is needed: when an issue needs a response, it needs a response right now. So we need to get ready for the day when a legislator starts to get e-mails and messages about phone calls from constituents during the discussion on a bill because an alert went out in the middle of the hearing. So stay tuned and stay involved!
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About
What is the CUB Action Network?
This networking site is designed to help CUB members and supporters get involved in advocacy efforts to protect Oregon ratepayers. Sign up to become a member at the top of this column and you'll receive special updates and action alerts at times when grassroots action will be especially important. When the Oregon legislature is in session, this site will be your main source of information for CUB's legislative activity. Invite your friends to get involved too!
Go to CUB's main website to find out about our overall programs.
Go to CUB's main website to find out about our overall programs.
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