SB 1541 punishes energy companies with new tax power

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

No on SB 1541 was passed out of the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire today. SB 1541 punishes energy companies and will only drive-up energy costs.  We are already paying too much compared to the rest of America while being hit with a 50% hike in costs.

SB 1541 is more outsourcing taxing power by lawmakers to other entities that are not elected.  SB 1541 wants the state to issue “demand” orders that targeted energy companies must pay into a slush fund. This is a recipe for government dysfunction. For instance, under this model, if applied to other agencies, it would allow the Health Department to fine candy stores for their perceived cost of obesity, or the OLCC fine farmers for daring to grow grapes which the agencies might say contributes to drunken driving.

Here is the bill description, “Establishes the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program as an interagency response to the effects of climate change. Directs the Department of Land Conservation and Development to serve as the lead agency of an interagency team. Requires the department to conduct an assessment on the costs of greenhouse gas emissions. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to issue cost recovery demand notices to entities determined to be responsible for the costs of climate change.”