SALEM, Ore. — Loggers, truckers and farmers from across Oregon rallied outside the Capitol Thursday morning in protest of an energy conservation bill that has led to an 8-day walkout by Republican senators.
They said they came to Salem to make sure rural Oregon's collective voice is heard loud and clear.
“I think it's pretty important for us to show up in numbers and this is pretty awesome this event right here,” said Mike Bentley, a third-generation logger from Tillamook.
He and other protesters displayed their support for Republican senators who have been a no-show since June 20. They walked out to avoid a vote on the controversial climate change bill, House Bill 2020, also known as cap and trade.
Learn more: What is cap and trade?
They also wanted to make clear to the legislators who are at the Capitol they oppose the bill.
“It's going to be a loss of jobs, families, communities,” said Bentley.
“It's really going to affect not just us rural businesses, but the consumers of these products that are freighted in,” said Mickie Meng.
Meng, her mother and her daughters attended the rally. Meng’s family owns a timber harvesting company out of Molalla. If the company continues, her daughter would possibly be the fourth generation to run the business.
Earlier this week, Senate President Peter Courtney said the bill doesn't have enough votes to pass. But Republicans are suspicious Democrats could flip their vote if they come back to the Senate chamber.
Those at the rally supported Republicans staying away.
“We don't believe it. We don't want the Republicans coming back. If this passes, rural Oregon is basically dead. We understand the climate change ordeal, but this is not the proper way to take care of it,” said Mike Pihl, one of the rally organizers.
Because Republicans haven't shown up to the Senate for more than a week, more than 100 bills are still up in the air and the legislative sessions ends Sunday.
To Republican supporters at Thursday's rally, those bills are an unintended casualty.
“Yes, it's a bummer situation and there's really no other way to put it. This isn't what we wanted to happen for sure. We just feel backed against a wall,” Meng said.
“[We’re] thankful that we’ve been listened to by those Republican senators but also very sad. We don’t want it to come to this. We don’t want anyone to be hurt or damaged by this senate session not being able to be completed and those bills to be voted on. But here we stand,” she said.
Meng said she considers herself an environmentalist and a number of of the people at the rally said they supported a cleaner environment. But they said the cap and trade bill goes too far.
Bentley said he and other loggers do a lot to help communities and the environment.
“We have strict policies. We don’t just drop people off and start cutting trees down. There’s a method to the madness all the way around. I think the public is very uneducated about it,” he said.