Speaker Tina Kotek writes a letter insisting the program will move to the House floor despite Republicans’ protests.
BY JACOB PALMER | OB DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program could be passed by the state House and on new Gov. Kate Brown’s desk by next week, a letter from Speaker Tina Kotek to Minority Leader Mike McLane indicates.
In the letter, Kotek disregarded Republicans’ stated concerns about the bill on the grounds that it is tied to the ethical scandal that cost ex-Gov. John Kitzhaber his job.
OregonLive.com’s Ian K. Kullgren reports:
“I believe the Legislature can evaluate Senate Bill 324 on its merits,” wrote Kotek, D-Portland. “The House will continue the public and transparent consideration of the bill, and as always, I encourage Oregonians — wherever they stand on the bill — to let their representative know what they think.”
McLane had previously asked Kotek to delay the vote:
“House Republicans request any vote in the House of Representatives on SB 324 be postponed until all investigations are complete and the information derived therefrom made public,” McLane, D-Powell Butte, wrote in the letter dated Feb. 18. “That is the only way that House members can evaluate SB 324 based on its merits.”
