Oregon lawmakers will hear today about a proposal to ban plastic grocery bags in the state. The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will hear arguments on the Bill. The Measure would outlaw plastic checkout bags. Shoppers instead would need to bring their own bags or pay 5 cents for paper bags.

State Representative Jason Conger isn't thrilled with the legislation: “I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other on the merits of the Bill itself. I think is timing is incredibly bad when we have much bigger problems to solve. I’m not sure that there is any real need, especially right now, for a plastic bag ban. The bottom line is: I just think this is not the time to be dealing with that.” If eventually approved, Oregon would be the first State in the nation to ban plastic bags.