On Jan. 31, The Oregonian published an article titled “Gov. Tina Kotek brings business leaders to the table to jump-start Oregon’s economy,” about Tina Kotek’s efforts to boost Oregon’s economy through her new Prosperity Council. In response, we are sharing a Letter to the Editor submitted by Colin Reynolds, senior advisor for Northwest programs at Defenders of Wildlife.
Last month, Gov. Tina Kotek’s Prosperity Council kicked off its efforts to jumpstart Oregon’s economy. This follows the December release of the governor’s “prosperity roadmap,” where she touted that “our exceptional quality of life, marked by clean air, abundant fresh water and a stunning natural environment, makes it not only a smart place to do business but also a desirable place to live, work and raise a family.”
Unfortunately for the governor’s plans, Oregon’s environment is suffering. For example, in September, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife identified over 300 imperiled species in our state. And an unhealthy environment spells trouble for Oregon’s tourist economy, which generated over $14 billion in direct travel spending and supported 121,000 jobs statewide in 2024. Take, for example, the gray whale and the tufted puffin, both of which attract visitors to Oregon, and are on that imperiled species list. What’s more, there is little state investment in preserving our imperiled wildlife and the wild places they call home.
To reinvigorate our economy, we must have a plan to meaningfully invest in our environment. House Bill 4134, a bipartisan bill just introduced in the Oregon Legislature, will do just that. By raising our already low transient lodging tax by just 1.25 percentage points, this bill would establish dedicated and sustained funding to recover our beloved wildlife. Oregon would remain as the state with the third lowest tax on lodging nationwide. HB 4134 is a smart bill that would complement the governor’s efforts to make Oregon an attractive place to live and visit and should be prioritized by legislators.
Colin Reynolds, Portland
Reynolds is senior advisor to Defenders of Wildlife’s Northwest programs.
Author
