A Contradiction in HB 4134

HB 4134 passed the House this week. That bill would raise hotel taxes, that is to say, raise housing costs, to fund wildlife programs.

Section 2 of the bill allocates the funds. Did anyone notice this contradiction? Section 2(3)(C) allocates “0.050 percent to the State Department of Agriculture for deposit in the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund”. Yet Section 2(3)(G) allocates “0.015 percent to the State Department of Agriculture for deposit in the Invasive Species Control Account”.

The wolf is an invasive species. Thirty years ago, humans intentionally released the grey wolf into Yellowstone and have been trying to spread a non native breed across the west.

Eric Shierman lives in Salem and is the author of We were winning when I was there.