The Blue Mountain Eagle

State legislators heard a parade of woes ranging from ruined businesses to crippled conservation education programs to the likelihood of devastating wildfires, all during a fast-paced hearing on Thursday.

The House Interim Committee on Natural Resources held a teleconference that included spoken or written testimony from nearly 30 people on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were representatives of state agencies, businesses, unions and advocacy groups involved with Oregon’s forests, oceans, rivers and other natural places.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a financial feedback loop: Shuttered businesses, skyrocketing unemployment and limits on recreation result in a sharp drop in state taxes and fees. Without the money, state agencies cut back on staff, programs and grants. That in turn further cripples businesses, workers and groups, leading to even less revenue for Oregon’s treasury.

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