Protesters gather in Salem, seek cap on greenhouse gases

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Hundreds of protesters converged on the Oregon Capitol to push lawmakers to adopt legislation that would place a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and impose a fee on companies that exceed maximum levels.

Some lawmakers have said the current short session that lasts only 35 days should be just for budget issues and fine-tuning legislation. But two greenhouse-gas bills in the House and Senate, sponsored by 31 lawmakers and weighing in at up to 34 pages apiece, were taking center stage on Monday.

Committee hearings were to be held in the afternoon. At midday, protesters gathered outside the Capitol in sunny, chilly weather, carrying signs, including ones that said “climate justice.” One inflatable sign asked Senate President Peter Courtney to “be a climate hero.”