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Hello Friends,
Decisions within the marble walls of our state capitol continue to defy logic on several fronts including the environment and our individual freedom regarding medical decisions.
Earlier this month many of you participated in our survey regarding paper or plastic when it came to decisions at the check out lane of grocery stores. We had some great comments and conversation on this issue, with conversation ranging from a desire for freedom to make choices in this area, to “We owe it to our children and must find non-plastic alternatives.” While I have been a little irritated about needing to change some of my habits, with the implementation of the City of Salem’s plastic bag ban already in place in our community as well as many other communities, it seemed prudent to support HB 2509 primarily because the plastic bags are one of the biggest issues causing glitches in our recycling waste management efforts. HB 2509 passed the house floor Thursday with a solid majority support at 42-18.
On Monday, HB 2883 failed on the floor on Earth Day with a vote 29-29. It was resurrected by Chief Sponsor Rep Schouten (D-27) on Tuesday and passed 32-28 primarily along party lines. The bill received two public hearings and three work sessions in the Committee on Energy and Environment. Much of the testimony for this bill, which bans food vendors from using polystyrene containers in selling, offering for serving or dispensing food prepared for the public.
I appreciated the testimony from the American Chemical Society. Their logical points for opposing this legislation included, “1) Polystyrene cups weigh anywhere from two to five times less than comparable paper packaging products which means fewer air emissions when transporting products, 2) A polystyrene hot beverage cup requires about 50% LESS energy to produce than a similar plastic-coated paperboard cup with a corrugated cup sleeve, and creates significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a similar coated paper-based cup with its corrugated sleeve; 3) Studies conducted for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) showed that banning polystyrene foam food take-out containers would dramatically increase environmental impacts by doubling the greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and waste associated with the use of alternative products.”
Oregon’s innovation has led to multiple ways to mitigate and dispose of polystyrene containers with many counties having facilities that employ Oregonians to address the end waste created by these containers if they are properly recycled. We have businesses operating and developing that recycle polystyrene. These are exactly the type of creative solutions in our state that I want to see happen.
Undoubtedly the most emotionally charged legislation this session has not been the battle cry for education funds or cap and trade, but that from tearful parents who will lose their right to make medical decisions for their children regarding vaccinations if they desire to attend public or private schools.
Initially the legislation had a cost neutral price tag, but the inclusion of the -50 Amendment which has been added to the bill puts another $100,000 dollars into Oregon Health Authority’s budget for implementation and includes increased scrutiny of medical providers approving medical waivers for these vaccines.
While the Center of Disease Control’s one size fits all on public health policy makes sense most of the time, the biology of an individual’s immune response is variable. There should be leeway for medical provider discretion regarding vaccination schedule. Especially in light of the dramatically increased number of vaccinations required by students to attend school today compared to the 1960s and 1970s when most of my colleagues received their shots, and the 1980s & 1990s when their children received shots.
Again, instead of looking in depth and at a variety at expert opinions to determine their vote, legislators in Joint Ways and Means voted primarily along party line to advance HB 3063 to the floor for it’s vote.
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This week I had the honor of introducing two honorary Pages from South Salem on the floor. Kevin Hunt attends South Salem High School, and Ellisynn Gerber is a student at Battlecreek Elementary School. If you are interested in the Honorary Page program please contact our office.
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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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