Issues

Archives: 2007 | 2008

2009 Session Accomplishments

This session, we tackled tough issues which were complicated by a massive revenue shortfall.  I worked hard to protect working families and our most vulnerable citizens, preserve a quality public educational system, keep our promise to Oregon veterans (including current era soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan), and create new job opportunities.

The budget situation required us to tighten our belts.  We accepted the challenge of making state tax dollars go further by first making over $2 billion in cuts.  Finally, in order to protect vital state services like education, health care, and public safety, we ensured that corporations pay their fair share by increasing the $10 corporate minimum tax and implemented modest tax increases for wealthier Oregonians.

Here are some highlights of what we accomplished:

ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THE CENTRAL COAST

• NOAA: When the Port of Newprot was a finalist for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Pacific Marine Operations Center (NOAA MOC-P), I worked hard to secure nearly $20 million in state funding for the project. The MOC-P will be a huge economic boost to the region, bringing 185 jobs and creating important research partnership opportunities for our universities and community colleges throughout the state.
• OCCC: Oregon Coast Community College will receive $2 million in state capital construction funds to complete a marine sciences building and advance OCCC’s leadership in aquarium science.
• Marine Reserves: I have stood by firmly with the fishing community on the issue of marine reserves.  Working collaboratively with coastal residents, fishermen, and coastal legislators, we developed House Bill 3013 which uses remaining money from the New Carissa settlement to implement the recommendation of the Ocean Policy Advisory Committee (OPAC) to establish two pilot marine reserves.  One of the reserves will be in Depoe Bay at Otter Rock, an effort that has been led by area fishermen through a group called the Near Shore Action Team (NSAT).  The legislation also codifies the intention to adequately research the potential of additional sites which can be collaboratively designed.
• Seafloor Mapping: Representative Debbie Boone from Cannon Beach and I successfully acquired $1.289 million for seafloor mapping, which will match with $4 million in new grant funding.  This is a huge development for studying ocean geology and helping us be more prepared for natural disasters.  I also believe this is an essential step before we can consider any additional marine reserves.
• Senior Services:   My insistence that, despite our significant revenue challenges this session, a basic level of services for seniors and people with disabilities be maintained resulted in a total of $13 million to continue the Oregon Project Independence program.  Additional in-home assistance for eligible individuals was also added back to the Department of Human Services budget. 
• Newberg-Dundee Bypass: Through HB 2001, the bipartisan Jobs & Transportation Act, funding was dedicated to completing the first phase of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass.  This will improve the gateway to and from the coast, expanding our economic outreach and availability of services.
• Dungeness Crab: Representative Scott Bruun from West Linn and I pushed House Joint Resolution 37, designating the Dungeness crab as the official state crustacean.  This will give our crabbing industry recognition as an economic driver in Oregon.

KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO OREGON VETERANS

As Chair of the House Committee on Veterans & Emergency Services, I helped lead passage of a legislation package to support veterans and their families in Oregon.

• HB 2571 allows returning veterans to pay in-state tuition at Oregon’s universities and community colleges.  Under HB 2571, honorably discharged service men and women will be able to maximize the benefits of the new GI Bill by earning a degree from one of Oregon’s many accredited colleges and universities.
• HB 2178 creates a Campus Veterans Service Officer (VSO) program, bringing federally accredited VSO’s to Oregon university and community college campuses to provide benefits outreach to student veterans.
• HB 3097 allows US military combat medics exiting the service to seamlessly acquire reciprocity in Oregon to become emergency responders by requiring the Department of Human Services to take into account experience, in lieu of current associate degree education requirements.
• HB 2718 creates an eight-member Task Force on Women Veterans Health Care to study the specific health needs of women veterans, including the identification and treatment of military sexual trauma, mental health, and substance abuse. 
• HJM 3, HJM 4, HJM 12, & HJM 21 develop, in partnership with our federal partners, additional efforts to improve reintegration programs and to study and improve healthcare eligibility and transportation systems for the support of all of our respected veterans.

CREATING & SAVING JOBS

• HB 2116 will allow Oregon to utilize $2 billion in federal matching funds over the next four years by creating 3,000 ongoing jobs in the thriving health care sector and provide health coverage to 95% of Oregon kids and tens of thousands additional adults.
• HB 2001, the bipartisan Jobs & Transportation Act, will create thousands of jobs every year for the next decade while reducing congestion on Oregon’s roads, which in turn will improve air quality and modernize our out-of-date transportation system.  The bill also provides House District 10 counties (Lincoln, Lane, Yamhill, Polk, and Tillamook) $12.5 million per year and, in addition, cities in our district will receive a total of some $983,000 annually to fund local road repairs.
• SB 338 was passed early in the session; it will create nearly 3,000 jobs.  This $174 million job stimulus and investment package makes long-term investments in Oregon’s future by supplying funds for much needed upgrades at the state’s centers of higher learning and other public spaces, including Oregon Coast Community College and Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

Just like the rest of the country, Oregon is hurting.  And just like Oregon families are doing, we in state government tightened our belts, making tax dollars go further and streamlining government to make it more efficient.

• HB 2500 creates a website that will allow Oregonians to access information about state government finances online, including revenue, expenditure, audit, and agency program information from each state agency.
• HB 2073 diverts some corporate tax revenue into Oregon’s Rainy Day Fund.  Starting in 2013, the bill directs revenue collected from corporate income and excise tax rates above 6.6% to the Oregon Rainy Day Fund.
• HB 2867 requires a contracting agency to demonstrate that contracting out for goods and services will be less expensive than completing the work in-house.

HEALTH CARE ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY

• HB 2009 establishes the Oregon Health Policy Board, which will streamline certain health and health insurance functions.
• HB 2535 creates the Oregon Charitable Prescription Drug Program which allows Oregonians to donate some types of unused medications for use by those who could otherwise not afford it.
• HB 2433 helps Oregonians who lose their jobs keep their health coverage by providing up to 65% of the costs of staying on their former employer’s work plan, with assistance provided under the federal stimulus package.