Oregon Republicans look for tobacco plan votes
07/21/99
Republican lawmakers in the Oregon House scrambled Wednesday for votes needed to place a plan on the November 2000 ballot that would put the state's share of the tobacco settlement into a trust fund for health care.
The Republican-controlled House rejected the measure Tuesday after five Republicans joined Democrats to oppose the bill, saying they wanted more money added to the $4.811 billion school budget approved last week.
Under procedural rules, Republican leaders were able to bring the bill back to the floor Wednesday. But if it is rejected again, the tobacco money would go to the state treasury unspent, House Democratic spokesman Jay Remy explained in a telephone interview.