Q for Blumenauer: What are strengths and weaknesses of Cap-and-Trade legislation?

Ans: The current bill (McCain/Lieberman) gets us 75% of the way to where we need to be. The President declared that he’ll veto a tax increase, and this bill would create up to $200bn in value savings that should make it acceptable to business in spite of the immediate costs.

Q for Gov. K: What is the future of the Western Climate Initiative which Oregon helped found?

Ans: Seven states and two provinces are pushing real hard for a cap and trade system. I will introduce to the 2009 legislature a bill for that, and Oregon will be the lead in the initiative of the WCI.

Q for Dingfeld: How will the legislature ensure that we decrease pollution by 25% by 2020?

Ans: When we meet next month in special session, I will ask the state departments for their plans to coordinate an overall progress. However, I need the help of all students to communicate to their reps and lawmakers just how important this is.

Q for Westlund: How will the legislature make it less necessary for cars, which contribute 40% of greenhouse gases?

Ans: We’re working by funding light rail and other mass-transit systems, but we’re always going to drive, so we need to also be looking at future developments in hybrid techs and sustainable fuels. I’m going to buy the first car (developed by a Oregonian) that gets 100 +mpg.

Blumenauer: We also need to address land-use issues so that folks won’t have to drive.

Westlund: This is America. As we move forward, we will always drive - but its what comes out of the tailpipe that is important. (Crowd yell- out: “Where’s the sacrifice?”)