In response to the Governor’s announcement of a special session on December 12th to address a funding deficit at the Oregon Department of Forestry, Representative Vikki Breese Iverson (R-Prineville) and Representative Mark Owens (R-Crane) issued the following statement:
“This past wildfire season was particularly devastating for Central and Eastern Oregon. Fire departments across the state, and especially rural fire protection districts, volunteers, and private contractors put their own safety on the line to save lives, private property and livestock.
Now the Oregon Department of Forestry appears to be out of options to repay significant costs. This includes many Oregon-owned businesses who have not been paid in months. The Legislature must step up to ensure we keep our commitments to these brave men and women. We stand ready take steps to address this funding challenge in a reasonable, bipartisan way.
We cannot continue to suppress our way out of fire danger. We will continue to push hard for active forest management. Only with the help of state and federal forest partners can we implement policies that will begin to end this existential threat to our communities.”