A political clash over a cap-and-trade proposal that prompted Oregon Republicans to walk out could tie up $12 million in Umatilla flood recovery funds introduced by Gov. Kate Brown last week.

The majority of House and Senate Republicans exited the 2020 legislative short session in protest of the contentious bill, stalling the legislative session and potentially waylaying a multitude of bills until the 2021 session.

The delay could have serious impacts in Umatilla County, which is still recovering from severe flooding in early February. Communities along the Umatilla River were thrown into turmoil Feb. 6 when rapid flooding consumed hundreds of homes, damaged businesses and infrastructure, and killed one woman.

The governor declared a state of emergency Feb. 7, in the expectation that it would spur the Legislature to award recovery funds for Umatilla, Wallowa and Union counties and clear the way for the eventual release of federal funds.

The proposed funding bill would funnel $11.65 million to affected communities, including aid in much-needed housing recovery efforts. In light of the walkout, Brown facilitated a $1.8 million loan from Business Oregon to the city of Pendleton to offset costly levee repairs needed after the flood -- the only relief money that can be fast-tracked. The city is not expected to repay the loan or pay any interest, Brown’s office said. Rather, she will ask the 2021 Legislature to come up with the funds.

“This levee funding is a stopgap measure to make sure that residents in the Umatilla Basin don't have to worry that the coming spring will add insult to injury," Brown said in a news release.

This new release of funds followed previous statements from Brown’s office that she needed legislative approval to release funds for flood victims.

Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger criticized the delay in providing funds in a statement. “I’m not sure why the governor withheld this funding for two weeks. But no matter what the politics are in the building, it’s the right thing to do.”

The remaining $9.85 million would have to come from general fund or lottery dollars, which require legislative approval.

“The next issue is housing relief, and we don’t have a solution for that,” said Pendleton Mayor John Turner – who doesn’t know how the city will address the hundreds of displaced flood evacuees. The walkout could leave the city in difficulty while it waits for Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, funds unlikely to come soon.

“Relying on FEMA funding is not an immediate solution,” Turner said. “We’re still waiting on FEMA funds for expenses from the flood of April of last year, so it could be at least a year.”

If walkouts continue through the rest of the session remaining bills will likely be stalled until the 2021 legislative session.

Brown reiterated her commitment to provide aid to flood victims and heaved blame on Republicans for their role in delaying funds.

"That commitment doesn't change with Republican lawmakers' decision to walk away from their jobs and from the needs of this community, which is struggling to move forward after a devastating disaster,” Brown said in a news release.

In a repeat of a walkout last year, Republicans are protesting Senate Bill 1530 over concerns the bill would harm businesses and drive up fuel costs. The bill would impose a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and require emissions allowances for heavy polluters such as the transportation, fuels, utility and industrial sectors.

In a statement decrying the bill as a “cap-and-trade scam," the Oregon Republican Party came out in support of Republican senators.

“Ultimately, if the Salem elitists believe so strongly in how wonderful and necessary their so-called emergency cap and trade legislation is, they should enthusiastically permit the voters of Oregon to decide its fate,” the GOP said in a news release.

-- Piper McDaniel; amcdaniel@oregonian.com; 503-221-4307; @piperamcdaniel

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