Lawmakers back disaster aid legislation
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:22 PM PST
SALEM (AP) — Spurred by December storms that caused millions of dollars in flood and wind damage, Oregon lawmakers are expediting a package of disaster aid bills in this special session, including one to get jobless benefits more quickly to storm victims.
Other bills would restrict insurance companies from canceling policies of people who haven’t paid premiums because their lives have been disrupted by a disaster, and to make loans or grants available to local governments to repair damage to public property. Those bills were put on a fast track by House and Senate leaders, who agreed to allow them to be introduced well after the filing deadline for most other bills that are being taken up in the February session.
