Kotek Tacks 'Stop The Pop' Legislation Onto Special Session

By Darke Twain

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has introduced a plan she calls "Stop the Pop" to the agenda of the August 29 special session. The potential legislation is intended to prevent the blast of the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano off the Oregon coast showing signs of impending eruption. The last time the Axial Seamount erupted was in 2015.

"We have to fight climate change, which means we have to fight the normal patterns of nature," said Kotek in a recent interview.

An eruption would have little effect on humans ashore, or even ships on the water — the volcano is too deep. However, a plethora of information due to instruments on the seafloor that capture rare real-time data about tectonics, magma movement, and hydrothermal life could be of scientific benefit.

Legislative leaders expressed mixed feelings about the governor’s proposal. Senate Republicans argued the bill represents “big government lava overreach,” while House Democrats insisted the eruption should be taxed to fund green energy credits.

Meanwhile, marine scientists urged lawmakers to stand down. “This is one of the most valuable natural laboratories on the planet,” said Dr. Erin Chow of Oregon State University. “We could learn incredible things.” Chow was then interrupted by a legislative aide asking whether the seamount could be annexed for free housing for the currently homeless.

Governor Kotek remains firm. “We were elected to solve problems,” she told reporters. “And if that means taking on the Earth’s mantle itself, then so be it. Oregon leads.”

The bill is expected to pass narrowly, assuming lawmakers can resist amending it with unrelated pet projects such as $1.5 million to put trails in random forests and another $2 million to promote a new state dessert for Oregon.