Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Oregon water

State Senate Republicans have come up with a plan to fund education by selling what they believe to be one of the Beaver State’s most renewable resources: water.

“The Columbia River represents a renewable resource that has the potential to keep taxes low and give our children a world-class education,” said Sen. David Nelson (R-Pendleton). “Every day, millions of gallons of water pour into the ocean that could be sold to other states that desperately need our abundant water supply. The state revenue generated from utilizing this wasted resource could be used to lower Oregon’s class sizes, improve pay for teachers and create more opportunity at Oregon’s community colleges and universities.”

Republicans say that below the Bonneville Dam the Columbia River has an excess of 70 million acre feet of water per year that could be diverted without affecting the salmon flow, tribal rights, or irrigation rights.
By selling that water, Republicans say they could raise enough to give Oregon’s kids a shot at a better future.

“Selling this water will allow us to raise money to educate our kids,” senate Republican spokesman Michael Gay said.

Democrats opposing the plan say that, with of areas in eastern Oregon that are bone dry, water might be too precious a resource for Oregon to sell.

“What will these Republican legislators think of next? Bottle our air and sell it to Beijing?” House Majority Leader Dave Hunt (D-Gladstone) asked. “We need that water for irrigation. We need that water for salmon. We need that water to drink. If this Republican plan ever passed the legislature, the price for water would skyrocket, and the competition for that water would lead to strife and turmoil in every corner of Oregon."