SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Republican lawmakers on Monday boycotted the Oregon Senate in an effort to deny Democrats a quorum and doom a contentious climate change bill.
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A legislative panel approved the legislation after a proposed GOP amendment that would put the issue on the ballot in November was rejected.
The so-called cap-and-trade bill calls for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 45% below 1990 emissions levels by 2035 and to at least 80% below by 2050.
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The bill would force big greenhouse gas emitters to obtain credits for each metric ton of carbon dioxide they emit.