Rep. Diehl: Billion asset turned into billion loss

Rep. Ed Diehl issues statement on Passage of Wildfire Funding
By Oregon State Representative Ed Diehl,

Salem, OR – The Oregon Legislature has approved Senate Bill 5801, allocating $218 million from the General Fund to cover the costs of the 2024 wildfire season. This funding will reimburse the many small businesses that contracted with the state to fight wildfires, ensuring they are paid in a timely manner after months of waiting.
Representative Ed Diehl, a supporter of the bill, stated, “The state needs to pay its debts. I am fully prepared to reimburse the many small businesses that contracted with the state to fight wildfire; they have bills to pay and entered a contract with the state expecting to be paid in a timely fashion. Many of these businesses have yet to be paid after months of waiting; some of them are in my district. Many of them have taken out loans to pay their own employees and are now paying interest on those loans. This is simply unacceptable and embarrassing.”

Representative Ed Diehl also raised critical questions about the state’s forest management policies, emphasizing the need for active management and stewardship of Oregon’s forests. “Oregon has some of the most beautiful and productive forests in the world. Our forests can provide recreation opportunities in addition to jobs, small business opportunities, and tax revenue for our schools and emergency responders. They should be a model of stewardship, management, and productivity,” Representative Diehl said.

Representative Ed Diehl criticized current leadership for neglecting forest management, leading to increased wildfire risks and financial burdens on taxpayers. “Oregon leadership has shut down our forests, denying Oregonians of their livelihoods and creating tinderboxes in the process. What were once prosperous, self-sufficient, rural communities must now beg the state and feds to fund essential services. The result is our forests are neglected and left to burn, and Oregon taxpayers are expected to foot the bill. Oregon leadership has turned a billion-dollar asset into a billion-dollar liability.”

— Representative Diehl represents House District 17, which includes Marion and Linn counties.