Latest news with #SenateJointResolution9
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State Rep. Bobby Levy weighs in on bills close to family business while lawmakers weigh regulations
Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo, works on the House floor at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) On Feb. 5, state Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo, urged legislators at a hearing in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire to oppose a bill that would have required large farm owners to report their fertilizer use to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The goal of the bill, which died in the committee after the hearing, was to help curb groundwater pollution that's become a growing issue in Levy's district in northeast Oregon. 'Making the suggestion that over application (of fertilizer) is widespread is both inaccurate and unfair,' she told the senators. A month later, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality identified 'the Levy farm' in a citation as having over-applied fertilizer on corn fields owned by the family's business throughout 2023, causing pollution to waters of the state, in an already contaminated aquifer. Levy's opposition to the fertilizer reporting bill — Senate Bill 747 — did not include any mention of her own farmland holdings or the income she gets from her family business, Windy River, proprietor of those fields of corn. 'Workers and families with polluted drinking water need good representation on this issue and aren't getting it,' Kaleb Lay, policy director at Oregon Rural Action, said via text. 'We're going to need leadership from the legislature to hold polluters accountable in the Lower Umatilla Basin.' Although Levy has named seven businesses in the statement of economic interest she submits annually to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, Levy isn't barred from sponsoring, testifying on or voting on bills that would directly benefit the family businesses that she receives income from. In fact, by Oregon law, she said she and other legislators are required to vote on bills even when they've declared a conflict of interest. 'As a member of the House of Representatives, it is my honor and obligation to comply with the rules of the House, state law and the Oregon Constitution,' Levy said in an email. 'House rules require me to attend all committee meetings unless I am excused. House rules require me to vote and prohibit me from abstaining from voting. If I am faced with an actual or potential conflict of interest, House rules require me to announce the nature of the conflict prior to voting on the issue that is creating the conflict.' Kate Titus, executive director of Common Cause Oregon, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group focused on public policy in the state, said many other states have laws that recommend or require lawmakers to abstain from voting on bills where they've declared a financial conflict of interest. 'Oregon is behind on these ethics laws,' Titus said. Two bills currently being considered by legislators would change that and offer more transparency. Senate Joint Resolution 9, sponsored by state Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, would refer a ballot measure to Oregon voters in November to decide whether to amend the state constitution to prohibit legislators from voting on bills when they've declared a conflict of interest. Little action has been taken on the proposal, which has been sitting in the Senate Rules Committee since January. Another proposal, made at the request of Gov. Tina Kotek for the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, would expand Oregon's conflict of interest laws to apply to other members of a public figure's household. This means officials would need to declare conflicts of interest not only if they or their business would materially benefit or suffer from a bill, but if it would benefit or damage a relative or a member of the official's household, or any businesses associated with relatives or members of the household. The proposal — House Bill 2930 — unanimously passed the House in April and is awaiting a final vote in the Senate. The interests of Levy's family businesses also hew closely to a bill she's sponsoring and another she's opposed, related to power and data centers. Levy is sponsoring a bill that would exempt Umatilla County from Oregon's 45-year-old statewide nuclear ban — an exemption that would favor tech companies already investing billions in small nuclear reactors in the region to power their growing number of energy-hungry data centers and AI processing servers. She also opposed a bill that would create a separate rate class for data centers to ensure costs of grid and infrastructure expansion needed to power them aren't passed onto utilities' residential customers. Demand for power from the Umatilla Electric Cooperative, which supplies electricity to much of Levy's district, has grown 556% in the last decade, according to recent analysis by the nonprofit research organization Sightline Institute. Nearly all of that is from Amazon data centers in the county. Levy did not disclose while she lobbied for and against these bills that the family business Windy River has made deals with Amazon, including selling the company more than 100 acres of its land in 2021 for nearly $3.7 million, to build a new data center that is nearing completion. Windy River still holds the water rights to that land. Levy also did not share that Windy River's farm acres get wastewater to use for irrigation from another Amazon data center, according to the Port of Morrow's most recent wastewater permit. Oregon law does require disclosures of donations to public officials' campaigns, which show Levy accepted a $2,000 donation from Amazon in November. The company gave similarly sized donations to a number of lawmakers from both parties in 2024. Levy contends she did not need to declare a conflict of interest related to the Senate bill that would have required fertilizer reporting because it never went to a vote. The only reason the environmental quality department knows about the overfertilized fields at the Levy farm is because the farm gets wastewater from J.R. Simplot Company and the Hermiston Power Plant. J.R. Simplot has a state-regulated wastewater permit that allows it to supply the Levy farm with wastewater, and in return Simplot is required to report how much fertilizer farmers are laying down on those wastewater-irrigated fields, and to allow DEQ to test wells nearby the farm fields for contaminants. Windy River, the Levy family's company, is now trying to stop receiving water from Simplot, meaning their fields would no longer be monitored under Simplot's state-regulated wastewater permit, and DEQ would no longer be able to monitor Windy River's fertilizer use. Levy said the other bills currently being considered do not require disclosures because they do not and will not directly financially benefit her or her family's businesses, and that she is following all of Oregon's ethics laws. 'The founders of this great state had the wisdom to enshrine in our constitution protections to ensure that legislators have the freedom to engage in robust debate in determining what laws to enact, without fear of being questioned by others outside of the legislature about what is said in that debate,' she said. 'This protection enables me to advocate for the interests of my constituents to the best of my abilities, without fear of malicious prosecution by those who do not hold my constituents' best interests to heart.' Titus said regardless of Oregon's ethics laws being behind the times, public officials should strive for a high degree of transparency and disclosure. 'At some level, you can't fault legislators for playing by the rules, but it's important that elected officials uphold the highest standards of transparency,' she said. 'We elect legislators because they have expertise that represents our community, or certain experiences in our communities. We don't want to prevent them from voting on things that broadly affect them, too. But at some point, when it's related to a very specific private, economic interest, they should need to recuse themselves.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crime victims may know nothing about an abuser's case. Marsy's Law changes that.
Supporting survivors of domestic violence is a critical responsibility for our communities, and there is still much work to be done to protect victims, their families, and their rights. Strengthening laws that safeguard those impacted by domestic violence is essential to ensuring they receive the protection and justice they deserve. Marsy's Law, a proposed constitutional amendment, is a crucial step in guaranteeing that survivors have a voice and are treated fairly within the legal system. In Tennessee, roughly 40% of women and 37% of men will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime, affecting millions of individuals each year. For survivors, the suffering doesn't end with the abuse. The legal system can often become an additional source of trauma by overlooking their needs and silencing and their voices. Marsy's Law aims to change that by giving crime victims fundamental rights in legal proceedings, something that many assume already exists. In 1983, Marsy Nicholas, a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was stalked and tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend. Her family, unaware of her murderer's release from custody, had a shocking and unexpected run-in with him at the grocery store only a week after her death. Had Marsy's Law been in place then, the Nicholas family would have been notified of any transfer or release of her murderer. Strengthened constitutional protections would have shielded the Nicholas family from the additional trauma. Without adequate legal protections, survivors may be forced to live in constant fear of encountering their abuser in public, or not being informed of crucial stages of their abuser's case. Marsy's Law, however, will give victims the right to be notified of any significant changes, such as the release or transfer of the offender, while also protecting their right to be heard during sentencing and parole hearings. This empowerment is critical to the healing of survivors and their families. Passing Marsy's Law is not just about legislative action — it's about sending a message that Tennessee is committed to prioritizing the rights of victims over criminals. While everyone deserves a fair trial, innocent victims deserve fairness and protections, as well as the right to be treated with dignity and respect by the legal system. Earlier this session, the Tennessee State Senate (Senate Joint Resolution 9) passed Marsy's Law 28-4. Companion House Join Resolution 48 is moving its way through House this week, it will be back in front of the House Finance Subcommittee. I am proud to be the new bill sponsor for this monumental legislation, and I am grateful to Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, for carrying it this far through the House committee process. Real, meaningful changes to the lives of victims in Tennessee start with the passage of meaningful legislation, like Marsy's Law. In doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to building a society where survivors are empowered, their rights are protected, and their voices are heard. Call your legislator and encourage them to stand with domestic violence victims and support Marsy's Law. Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, represents Cumberland and part of Putnam Counties. He was elected Speaker of the Tennessee State House in 2019. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Marsy's Law puts TN crime victims ahead of their abusers | Opinion
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa Senate advances constitutional amendment on remote testimony
Iowa senators unanimously advanced a resolution to start the process of amending Iowa's constitution to allow remote testimony by child victims and those with certain disabilities. (Photo by simpson33 via iStock / Getty Images Plus) The Iowa Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday to start the process of amending the state constitution to allow child victims to testify remotely against their alleged abusers. Senate Joint Resolution 9 is a proposed constitutional amendment stating that the right of an accused party to confront their accuser can be limited by law in situations where a witness is a minor or has a mental illness, intellectual or other development disability. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird called for the amendment in response to a 2024 Iowa Supreme Court ruling. In State v. White, the state Supreme Court found that Derek White's constitutional right to confront his accuser was violated when two child witnesses were allowed to testify against him using a closed-circuit television system. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In subcommittee meetings on the proposed amendment, speakers with the Iowa Attorney General's office said the use of remote testimony through closed-circuit television systems had been in place in Iowa courts for decades, limited to cases where prosecution provided sufficient evidence that testifying in person would cause the child further trauma. With the Supreme Court decision barring this practice, attorney general's office staff said Iowa is the only state in the country does not allow exceptions to the right of a defendant to confront witnesses in cases involving children and people with disabilities. Sen. Matt Blake, D-Urbandale, spoke in support of the measure, calling it an ' essential fix' for Iowa's judicial system. However, he argued that this constitutional amendment, as well as other bills like a measure on disputed land boundaries passed by Iowa lawmakers earlier Wednesday to counteract decisions from the Iowa Supreme Court, are caused by a politicized court system. He linked the measure to Senate File 407, a bill passed by the Senate Monday that gives the governor the power to appoint an additional member to district judicial nominating commissions in the state, that he said moves the state's judicial system from a 'merit-based system to more an ideological-based system.' 'These are the results that we get, and we have to pass constitutional amendments to make sure that children don't have to face a sexual abuser in court,' Blake said. 'This is what political ideology in our judicial system gets.' Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, said he didn't want to 'dignify' Blake's comments with a response and said the focus should instead be on working to 'correct a decision and bring relief to people aforementioned here.' 'I'm not going to take the bait to fall into some petty politics,' he said. The resolution moves to the House for further consideration. House Joint Resolution 9 is also available for consideration. There are still several steps before the change could be made to Iowa's state constitution. If the resolution is passed by both chambers this year, it must be approved by the Iowa Legislature again in 2027 or 2028 before voters would consider it on the 2028 general election ballot. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska lawmakers advance resolution defending Canada and opposing trade restrictions
The road into Hyder, Alaska, from Stewart, British Columbia, is seen in this undated photo. Hyder is a tiny Southeast town on the Canadian border that is isolated from the rest of Alaska. Hyder residents regularly spend time in Stewart, and Hyder children attend school in the next-door Canadian town. The Hyder-Stewart relationship is an example of the close ties between Alaska and Canada. (PhotoPlus) Amid pending tariffs, verbal attacks and insults lobbed against Canada by President Donald Trump and his team, several Alaska lawmakers want to present a contrary message. They are working on a resolution affirming friendship with and appreciation of Alaska's neighbor to the east and opposing punitive trade policies against that nation. The measure, Senate Joint Resolution 9, 'honors Alaska's alliance with Canada and looks forward to many more years of cooperation, friendship, trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and good will,' according to its wording. On Thursday, it cleared its only assigned committee, the Senate Special Committee on Arctic Affairs. Resolutions are not laws or regulations, and they do not set policy. Rather, they express lawmakers' sentiments, with the intention of influencing policies. In this case, senators are expressing opposition to Trump antagonism directed toward Canada. That includes the 25% tariff on Canadian goods that Trump has vowed will go into effect on Tuesday. This resolution proclaims that the Alaska Legislature 'opposes any restrictive trade measures that would harm the unique relationship between Canada and Alaska or negatively affect our integrated economies.' IntiMayo Harbison, a staffer to Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, Said the resolution gives historical context to the close and multifaceted relationship between Alaska and Canada 'and humbly implores the United States federal government to not impose measures that would jeopardize the best interests of Alaska.' Harbison, who outlined the resolution at Thursday's hearing, spoke about the many ties between Alaska and Canada. 'As Arctic neighbors, we share a common bond and rely on one another to effectively manage our resources, trade, defense, tourism and many other aspects of our daily lives,' he told committee members. Some of Alaska's economic dependence on Canada is quantified in the resolution's working. It cites 20,300 jobs in Alaska that rely on Canadian trade and investment and more than 47 Canadian-owned companies that operate in Alaska and employ 4,350 state residents. Among the possible Alaska victims of tariffs imposed against Canada is the Red Dog mine, an economic powerhouse in Arctic northwestern Alaska. It is owned and operated by a Canadian company, Teck Resources, and it ships its ore to Canada for refining. Two leading state senators cited another kind of reliance: defense. 'The United States and Canada have fought wars together, and they've been our allies,' said Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak. Some of the highest death rates during World War II's Normandy invasion were sustained by Canadian soldiers, he said. Giessel said the alliance endures, and it is notable in Alaska. 'If we need to rally the military defense, it's the Canadians that join us. The Chinese and Russian vessels and aircraft that have bumped along our borders, the Canadians have responded as well, even this year,' she said. Members of the committee, which Giessel chairs, advanced the resolution toward a floor vote in the Senate. A similar measure, House Joint Resolution 11, is now pending in the state House. House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, introduced it on Wednesday, and it is set to be heard in that body's resources committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
