Cascadia today: Say no to Oregon austerity budget + Cascadia prepares for ICE + BC film on climate emergency
OR & WA seek to balance budgets
OPB looks at the the ongoing battle over the state budget in Salem – which has the usual threats of inadequate funding for education in Oregon. Many school districts are preparing for cuts, the article notes. Meanwhile, Democrats in the Washington house and senate proposed their budgets – which include 3% cuts to all agencies with over 100 staff. Neither budgets included the full raid of the carbon tax the Ferguson had previously proposed.
Want to help avoid another austerity budget in Oregon? If you're an Oregon resident, take a moment NOW and submit testimony in favor of three bills are still alive in the short session that would boost revenue and increase Oregon's autonomy from federal cuts:
SB 1507, which would temporarily disconnect Oregon's tax code from the federal code, saving $300 million in lost revenue. Contact your Oregon state rep here.
HB 4125, which would change how Oregon allocates the "kicker" tax refund. Contact your legislators here.
HB 4143, allowing the governor to withhold some funds owed to the feds. Submit online testimony here.
Meanwhile, the US Pentagon has struggled with how to spend more than $500 billion of our tax dollars. It's time for Cascadia to disconnect from the federal tax system and begin spending our hard-earned dollars here in the Pacific Northwest on health care, education, and food assistance.
Andrew Engelson
Cascadia prepares for potential ICE surge
After ICE is apparently scaling back its operations in Minneapolis after effective resistance from residents, activists in Oregon and Washington are getting ready to respond if a similar surge occurs here, Oregon Capital Chronicle reports. Churches in Wenatchee and central Washington are preparing to respond to ICE raids and help immigrants who feel threatened, Washington State Standard reports. Want to join rapid response and mutual aid efforts across our region? Sign up for email alerts from Cascadia Democratic Action.
Portland councilor backs off plan to bring guns to meetings
After a noisy protest that demanded the Portland city council revoke permits for the ICE facility in Portland, city councilor Loretta Smith announced a controversial plan that would allow city councilor to open carry firearms during meetings! Her proposal to pack heat while her constituents were giving public testimony didn't go over well and now she's walking back the proposal according to the Portland Mercury. To learn more about how you can help Portland revoke ICE's permit visit Revoke the ICE Permit PDX.
Prince Rupert in talks with Alaska Marine Highway
The Alaska Marine Highway, which provides key ferry service between Bellingham and southeast Alaska, hasn't stopped in British Columbia since 2019, but the city of Prince Rupert is now in talks to meet increased police requirements for a stop, CBC reports. The ferry system is struggling to stay running after federal cuts last year.
New documentary on response to climate emergency
The Narwhal reports on a new documentary, EMERGENCE: Women in the Storm by Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper, which looks at how the climate crisis is impacting women in British Columbia – especially focusing on the devastating wildfire in Lytton, BC in 2021.
"These climate events are going to be affecting more and more of us. I think we will survive it because we feel connection, community, love and support,” --Meghan Fandrich, Lytton resident
Thanks for reading! --Andrew
