Dear Friends,

I hope this missive finds you in good health and even better spirits. Before I recount my activities over the past several weeks, I just want to encourage you to get the H1N1 flu vaccine as soon as possible. Since September 1, there have been 128 hospitalizations in Oregon from the flu and five deaths. Most, but not all, are attributable to the H1N1 flu. (My youngest son was already missed four days of school because of the flu, though thankfully, not of the H1N1 variety.) As of the publication of this newsletter, a total of 80,000 doses of both nasal and injectable doses are expected in Oregon, with additional doses arriving each week through November. Adults need one shot or spray, while children under ten need two doses about four weeks apart. For more information, please visit www.flu.oregon.gov or call the hotline at 1-800-978-3040.

Despite the bout of flu in my household, I’ve been busy with a variety of new and longstanding legislative assignments. In early-September I accepted an appointment to join the Cultural Trust Board. As you may know, the Board supports arts and culture programs throughout the state. I’m honored to play an active role in improving access to local arts and culture programs. These programs make important contributions to our economy and quality of life, and it’s imperative that we preserve and strengthen them.

In late-September, I was assigned to the House Rules Committee. This vital committee has jurisdiction over the rules of the House of Representatives. In part, the committee’s tasks include determining under what rule other bills will come to the House floor. Additionally, the committee often handles issues related to the election process and legislative referendums.

A number of my interim committees, including the Joint Ways & Means Committee, the Emergency Board, and the Transportation Policy committees, met recently in Salem in preparation for the upcoming supplemental session in February 2010. In general, we adopted rules, received testimony from various agencies and stakeholders on the status of various projects we approved in the latest regular session, and asked pointed questions of our presenters. In the Emergency Board meeting, we approved some fund transfers within the Department of Human Services to better ensure it can maintain programs struggling under the weight of increasing caseloads.

As you may recall, during this last legislative session, I successfully led the effort to create a Green Jobs Initiative with House Bill (HB) 3300. In early-October, I was asked by the Governor to take part in the new Green Jobs Council. The Council will act as Oregon’s State Energy Sector Partnership, directing workforce-training efforts to support the development of Oregon’s renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, which in turn, help fuel strong economic growth. Currently, green jobs account for about three percent of Oregon’s private, state, government and local government employment—one of the highest percentages in the country. The Green Jobs Council will provide guidance for a sought after workforce-training component. A component that is essential for continued job growth in our state.

I was honored by the Oregon Opportunity Network, a coalition of affordable housing advocates, on October 7 for my leadership in passing the Housing Opportunity Act. This Act establishes the first dedicated, on-going revenue stream for affordable housing. Sadly, Oregon is among the top states with the highest rates of homelessness in the nation. In the last year, we have seen a 37% increase in the people identified as experiencing homelessness in our state, many of them children. The new account created by this bill is funded by a $15 increase to the document recording fee pertaining to deeds and mortgage records filed with county clerks. The new fee took effect just last week and is estimated to generate total collections of $15 million in the 2009-2011 biennium and $26.5 million in 2011-2013. The marginal increase in the cost per transaction will have a profound impact on the lives of low-income Oregonians.

On October 11, I joined representatives from the City of Hillsboro, Washington County, and the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, among others, in a meeting with Sen. Merkley to advocate for federal dollars for the Helvetia/Brookwood (formerly Shute Road) interchange on Highway 26. We came away from the meeting with the Senator‘s commitment to help secure federal aid, which will supplement the $45 million I helped secure in the last legislative session. Improvements to this interchange are essential to reducing congestion, improving freight mobility and most importantly, ensuring we have the necessary infrastructure to support an estimated 10,000 jobs across neighboring industrial parks.

Finally, in mid-November, I’ll be participating in the kick-off meeting for creating an applied baccalaureate program in Oregon. This meeting marks the beginning of the work mandated by one of my bills from the last legislative session (HB 3093). It’s designed to provide one or more alternative four-year degrees designed for working adults, displaced workers and/or those seeking mid-career changes. As part of this meeting, the Chancellor’s office at the Oregon University System will be bringing together leadership from community colleges and universities to discuss the opportunities presented by my bill. The meeting will start planning efforts that will occur over the next year. I’m thrilled by the prospect of seeing our higher educational system offer new approaches to obtaining a four-year degree that fit today’s job market. In the coming months, I’ll keep you informed of the progress on this, and other legislative issues.

As always, I’ve been sustained by your community spirit and regular feedback. It’s an honor and a privilege to represent my hometown in Salem. I hope you’re having a pleasant fall and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure progress and prosperity for every generation.

Regards,
Rep. David Edwards

Dear Friends,

Now that the hot and lazy days of summer are largely a memory, various legislative committees are beginning to reconvene. During the summer, I’ve continued to serve as an ex-officio member of the commission that oversees the Oregon Business Development Department (formerly, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department), the chief agency responsible for advancing the state’s economy. I also joined the Ports Authority Group as a legislative liaison to help strategize ways to make our ports centers of economic growth.

In the interim period, I’ll continue to serve on the state’s chief budget-writing committee, the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, as well as the Transportation Policy Committee. I’ll also continue as a member of the Emergency Board, the group responsible for making (limited) budget decisions when the full Legislative Assembly isn’t in session. Finally, I helped start a legislative workgroup tasked with developing proposed legislation for improving the accountability and cost-effectiveness of ESDs. This interim workgroup will begin its work in earnest soon after the start of the school year. Given the alleged fraud and mismanagement at the Willamette ESD, I hope to pass reform legislation in the upcoming special session of the State Legislature.

Recently, I had the honor of joining U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden for the Intermodal Transit Facility (ITF) groundbreaking ceremony in Hillsboro. With the help of my fellow Washington County legislators, I secured $7 million in lottery-backed bonds for this project. Construction of the facility will provide up to 90 jobs and contribute to the revitalization of the downtown area. The facility is essential for the construction of a new health professions campus that will mean an estimated 1,200 jobs and over $130 million worth of economic activity over the next ten years. It will provide essential access to transit services for patients and clients of Pacific University’s Health Professions Campus clinics, the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Clinic and Tuality Hospital, as well as commuters and local residents.

The health professions campus associated with this project will give under-insured and uninsured members of our community to access much-needed health care; and will help grow the number of qualified health professionals, not just locally, but statewide. The project is a great public-private partnership that typifies Oregon’s pioneer tradition of taking care of our own.

Oregon’s current economic downturn has made the need for more and better affordable housing more urgent than ever. Oregon is among the 14 states with the highest rates of homelessness in the nation. The complexity of the poverty issue requires effective community partnerships. In October, I will be the Keynote Speaker at the Oregon Opportunity Network 2009 Banquet. There, I’ll speak on the passage of the Housing Opportunity Act of 2009, which will expand the stock of affordable housing and help strengthen our economy. As you may recall, this Act will provide an ongoing, dedicated revenue source for affordable housing, benefiting low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities and others left behind by the housing market.

On a personal note, I managed to take a week’s vacation in Washington, D.C. with my wife of 19 years and our two boys. It was the first time the boys, aged 12 and 14, have visited our nation’s capitol. Needless to say, they were duly impressed with its historical majesty. Though my youngest preferred the nearby Six Flags amusement park to the museums on the National Mall, we had a wonderful time taking in the sights. Every time I visit the area, I’m reminded of the timeless values that, in the words of John Winthrop, have made our country a “city upon a hill” watched by the world.

While the 2009 Legislative Session proved challenging given the global recession and Oregon’s attendant economic woes, I’m looking forward to the upcoming special session in February 2010. As always, I’ve been sustained by your community spirit and regular feedback. It’s an honor and a privilege to represent my hometown in Salem. I hope you’ve had a pleasant summer and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure progress and prosperity for every generation.

Regards,
Rep. David Edwards

Dear Friends,

There is little doubt the 2009 Legislative Session was fraught with challenges. Given the toughest budget situation in generations, we faced a series of hard choices. Charting Oregon’s course through the current economic crisis required real leadership. For my part, as a member of the state’s chief budget-writing committee, I focused on crafting a prudent, pay-as-you-go budget, and on enhancing job and business creation.

Our community and the State of Oregon continue to suffer from a global economic crisis. We continue to experience high unemployment, record home foreclosures, serious hunger and health care issues, and a high rate of business closures. In this situation, we experienced the worst decline in state revenues since the Great Depression, and had the unprecedented task of both balancing the current budget and re-balancing the 2007-2009 budget.

Just like Oregon families are doing, we started by tightening our own budget belt. This meant making over $2 billion in cuts to various state agencies. The budget will lead to an estimated 1,700 state employee layoffs and freeze many, if not most, state workers’ salaries. We also invested all of the available federal stimulus dollars and most of our state reserve funds to protect essential services. But these actions alone weren’t enough. We still faced a budget gap that threatened unconscionable cuts to education, public safety and health care. To avoid the worst consequences of this fiscal crisis, we enacted new revenue.

In essence, we asked large corporations and households making over $250,000 a year to contribute a bit more. We also increased the $10 corporate minimum tax—paid by over 60% of corporations—for the first time since 1931. This revenue package will generate about $270 million over the next two years. To put that number in perspective, we made budget cuts of over twice that amount—over $2 billion—during the same period. Some of the changes we enacted will be permanent; others will be temporary.

Here are some of the highlights of what we accomplished:

ISSUES THAT MATTER TO WASHINGTON COUNTY

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Approximately 34% of households in the county have very low, low, or moderate incomes and a significant percentage of these face some housing issue.

• HB2436: I helped lead a number of efforts to protect Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens this session, most notably, by coordinating passage of the Housing Opportunity Act of 2009. This Act will provide an ongoing, dedicated revenue source for affordable housing, benefitting low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities and others left behind by the housing market.

JOB TRAINING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: In these uncertain times, training today’s workforce requires bold new thinking. I am proud to have crafted two measures that will help many Oregonians get the training they need to attain solid, family-wage jobs.

• HB3093: Creates up to four new applied bachelor’s degree programs. Once implemented, this bill will expand educational opportunities for many Oregonians, especially those with terminal credentials or Associate’s degrees, and help them maximize their earning potential.
• HB3300: Kick-starts the development of a green jobs initiative designed to align training opportunities with high-wage, high-demand professions. Many of these jobs are ‘middle-skill’ jobs in the building trades that require more than a high school education, but less than a college degree. This bill will help these Oregonians transition from 20th-century blue-collar jobs to 21st-century green collar jobs.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS: We worked diligently to create jobs, in part, by making smart investments in our neglected state transportation system. We have an estimated annual backlog of $800 million worth of maintenance needs on our state highway system alone. This lack of investment contributes to congestion, hinders commerce and economic development, and erodes our quality of life.

• HB2001: I partnered with State Sen. Bruce Starr and other legislators across the aisle to help develop the Jobs & Transportation Act of 2009. This measure will not only fund critical multi-modal transportation improvements, it’s estimated to support an average of 4,600 jobs per year over the next ten years or about 23,000 full-time annual jobs.

• Projects for Washington County: Nearly $2 million in new investment every year to improve the streets of Hillsboro and over $9 million every year to enhance Washington County roads. In addition, the state will make a $32 million investment in the US 26/Glencoe Road interchange. We will invest $20 million to build a new travel lane in each direction on US 26 from Cornell to 185th, and capitalize on $45 million to add a new loop ramp to serve Shute Road.

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.
• 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.

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENTY & ACCOUNTABILITY: State government tightened its belt, making tax dollars go further and streamlining government to make it more efficient.

• HB 2500 creates a Web site 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.
• HB 2452 reorganizes the state’s economic development agency to make it more effective in retaining, expanding and attracting businesses. The agency’s renewed commitment to helping Oregon companies is reflected in its new name: the Oregon Business Development Department.

HEALTH CARE ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY: This session saw the most sweeping reform of our state’s health care system since the creation of the Oregon Health Plan. Because of the actions we took this session, Oregon will have access to about $1 billion in additional federal dollars and will facilitate health coverage for about 180,000 uninsured legal residents, including 80,000 children. At the same time, we put in motion a plan to streamline the Department of Health Services as well as a series of cost-containment measures designed to reduce health insurance costs for everyone.

• 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 2376 requires pharmaceutical and medical device companies to annually disclose the value, nature and purpose of any gift or payment over $500 given to health care professionals.
• 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, with assistance provided under the federal stimulus package.

Throughout the recently concluded legislative session, we endeavored to balance the short-term need to protect essential services like education, public safety and health care—which make up about 94% of the state budget—with the long-term need to create the conditions for a prosperous future. Did we craft the best state budget that can be imagined? Of course not. But I believe it is the best we could achieve given our circumstances and a properly conservative approach to budgeting. As long and hard as this economic downturn has been, it will not persist indefinitely. We worked to ameliorate its worst consequences for children, seniors and middle-class families, and at the same time, position our state to best take advantage of the inevitable economic recovery.

In a recent independent survey of Salem lobbyists, state capitol staffers and journalists, I was one of only two Metro-area state representatives to receive a rating of ‘excellent.’ I attribute this accolade to my experience as a small business owner and consequent focus on results. And I am hopeful what we accomplished this legislative session will prove to honor the past, improve the present, and secure the promise of the future.

While the legislative session was exceptionally challenging, I have been sustained by your community spirit and regular feedback. As always, it is an honor and a privilege to represent my hometown in Salem. And I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure progress and prosperity for every generation.

Regards,
Rep. David Edwards

Dear Friends,

President Obama has recently asserted that we will be judged by the rightness of our actions; that all of us must take bold and sometimes difficult steps to help our families, our neighbors and our communities. Like any family faced with an emergency without the money to pay for it, we are using our good credit to keep us afloat in times of great crisis and need. Although paying for these projects directly would be less costly in terms of absolute dollars, the amount we plan to bond has to be set against the scale of the crisis we now face. This is likely to be the worst economy Oregon and the nation have seen since World War II. A line of Nobel-prize-winning economists have supported the notion of using stimulus packages like this one to bolster business activity. Given our current challenges, we have to be pragmatic and do everything possible to avert further calamity.

To ensure the stimulus has an immediate, positive impact on our economy, the projects associated with it were selected based on the following criteria. In short, they had to be…

• A priority on a state agency’s list of deferred maintenance or new construction;
• Ready to start by April of this year;
• Retain or create private sector jobs, not simply perpetuate state government positions; and
• Lead to improvements or permanent structures that will outlast the life of the bond.

In addition, it’s important to note that because of the bonding instruments used, only state-owned facilities were eligible for this particular stimulus package. As noted below, others, with broader public purpose applications, will likely be part of future stimulus packages.

None of this is to say that we should borrow to the extreme limit of our means–a figure currently estimated to be about $1.1 billion. We don’t know the full length and depth of the recession and will need to maintain considerable reserves. That said, the stimulus package offers to reverse years of neglect and put people back to work right away in our hardest hit sectors in every corner of the state. The rising unemployment figures don’t even tell the full story. Oregon’s Labor Economist Art Ayre estimated recently that over ten thousand Oregonians can be considered ‘discouraged workers’–workers legally able and wanting to work, but not actively searching for positions. Although not perfect, Senate Bill 338 offers hope to these and other folks displaced and discouraged due to tough economic conditions.

Please note that this stimulus package is likely to be the first of a series of other, targeted packages designed to provide a ’staggered stimulus’ to the economy. The items in SB 338 may be considered part of a first phase effort; the federal stimulus package, particularly, it’s community infrastructure and transportation-related components, may be considered, a second phase effort; and a likely state-sponsored transportation package, which would take effect next year, may be considered a third phase effort. The notion is to provide a constant stimulus to the economy over an extended period in order to cushion Oregonians from the worst possible consequences of the downturn.

It’s an honor and a privilege to represent you in Salem.

Regards,
Rep. David Edwards

Dear Friends,

I hope you’ve had a pleasant summer. Last week, I finished the last of three town halls I held over the summer months. At these gatherings, I presented some of my key legislative accomplishments and more importantly, listened to our neighbors’ top-of-mind concerns. The topics of these town halls consisted of the issues I’ve most often heard at the doorstep: education; jobs & the green economy; and government accountability. I want to thank everyone who turned out for one or more of these events. They were successful in generating a lot of grounded discussion and good ideas.

Even though the Oregon Legislature isn’t in session, I’ve been intimately involved in addressing these issues, in part, by serving on various boards, roundtables and commissions. For instance, I’m one of two representatives from the legislature on the Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission, which oversees the agency tasked with advancing our economy. At present, I’m heavily involved in re-structuring this state agency. The overarching objectives of this streamlining process are to: 1) better focus the agency on job and business creation; 2) keep and maintain a prioritized list of infrastructure improvements necessary for economic development; and 3) make the agency more accountable and innovative. The governor initiated the process via an executive order in March, in part, at my request. The agency has an able and energetic new executive director and we expect to have a final reorganization plan by the end of September.

I’m also working with the new State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and the Governor’s Office on restructuring our state’s workforce development system. Since the early 1990s, our state’s workforce development system has grown increasingly complex. Eight state agencies, the Governor’s Office, seven local boards, a state board, the workforce policy cabinet, numerous service providers and multiple business, labor and industry interests are currently involved in the workforce development system. In terms of general policy and budget development, public education, higher education and workforce development operate independently. As a result, our workforce development efforts are fragmented and lack strong accountability measures.

In addition, the K – 12 and higher education systems are not sufficiently integrated into the workforce development efforts and strategies of the state. As the principal institutions preparing young people for the workforce, they should place a strong emphasis on developing core academic and applied skills. That’s why, in part, I supported tough new high school graduation requirements that include a career readiness component. I want to see vocational education back in our public schools in a way that ensures all students get exposure to jobs that do not require a four-year degree, but pay a family wage. These are honorable, good-paying jobs and we are doing a disservice to our young people by not having strong vocational education programs in place around the state.

Our current proposal to restructure the state’s workforce development system has two components. The first component consists of making long-term, systemic changes to ensure our workforce development efforts are more responsive to the business community, accountable for outcomes and coordinated among affected agencies and industries. Basically, it means consolidating the current governance structure in a way that improves coordination and streamlines planning and decision-making.

The second component entails pursuing priorities to respond to current and emerging industry demands like clean technology. The primary activities here are to expand and prioritize training programs in industry sectors with a documented and immediate need such as manufacturing, clean technology and health care. And to develop pilot programs to determine how to best restore vocational and professional-technical education for our high school students.

When it comes to issues like education, the economy and jobs, I’ve focused on the ‘big picture.’ I’m not afraid to take on entrenched interests because, as I see it, my central charge is to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars. To do this, I’m working to streamline state agencies so they do business differently and at the same time, generate demonstrably better results. After years of budget-cutting, there’s little ‘waste, fraud and abuse’ that can be discovered through simple financial auditing. What we really need is a change in culture. Our state agencies need to adopt a culture of permanent re-invention. And I’m working hard to make that happen.

In my first speech as a declared candidate for this office, I announced my chief aim was to help foster sustainable economic growth. Why? Because expanding opportunity for all—ensuring that everyone who works hard has a fair chance to make the most of their lives—depends on a strong economy. And a strong economy, in turn, requires a state government with the good sense to abide by the dictum: markets when possible, the state when necessary. Without question, the private sector, regulated in the public interest, is the best engine for general prosperity.

The main challenge to achieving a stable, robust economy is not a matter of the market versus the state; rather, it’s a matter of institutional design. What’s the best collective arrangement? To my mind, the state should concentrate on providing the fundamental infrastructure necessary for economic growth and avoid detailed regulation of business practices and market structures insofar as competitive forces are conducive to the common good.

As a small business owner, I know the challenges of creating good-paying jobs and meeting a payroll. I understand the struggles of businesses to generate sustainable growth. And in my experience, the state works best when it focuses on establishing the right conditions for business success, with minimal interference in actual business operations.

Recent economic indicators show that we’re on the right track. For the first time in more than 40 years, Oregon’s unemployment numbers are better than the national average during a slow-growth or recessionary period. What’s more, Washington County is now the acknowledged center of economic development in the state, leading the way in business and job growth in vital traded sectors like alternative energy and biotech.

It’s important to acknowledge the importance of traded sector companies—companies involved in national and international trade that bring net new dollars into the state. The U.S. Dept. of Commerce just released numbers for the Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton region that shows companies are on pace to generate about $15.2 billion in export revenue, making us the 15th largest exporting region in the country.

One of my goals as your State Representative is to capitalize on this type of success, in part, through targeted tax incentives. I helped pass Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) legislation in 2007 and in 2008 (during the supplemental session in February) designed to attract alternative energy manufacturing companies like SolarWorld and SpectraWatt to our community. Together, these firms are on track to employ over 2,000 people in good-paying positions with a future.

We’ve made substantial progress in growing green collar jobs in the last two years, but more remains to be done. As for my role, I’m actively engaged in redesigning the state’s workforce development system. The overarching goal of the redesign is to fill the talent pipeline with workers qualified for in-demand, well-paying jobs. I’m working with eight state agencies and the Governor’s office on streamlining our workforce development system in order to accelerate job growth and improve accountability for meeting state employment targets.

Without getting into the details of that plan, here’s what I hope to accomplish in relation to green collar jobs:

• To strengthen the capacity of our community colleges to address the short-term needs of the clean energy industry;
• To establish industry internship and mentoring systems;
• To integrate clean energy elements into the core curriculum for conventional academic and technical programs for engineers, electricians, plumbers, building sciences and others; and
• To create pathways out of poverty into the clean energy industry and create career advancement pathways within industry sectors.

As you’ve probably surmised, realizing these goals will require a combination of forward-thinking public policy and an entrepreneurial private sector. I’d appreciate your vote of confidence in moving forward on these initiatives.

When I first ran for this office in 2006, I emphasized making government more accountable and innovative. One of my initial proposals was to create an independent performance review commission. I made good on this promise by co-sponsoring a bill during February’s supplemental session of the Oregon Legislature that created the Committee on Performance Excellence. This Committee is the equivalent of a management consulting SWAT-team.

We need a systematic way to achieve steady performance improvements and to ensure real results for everyday Oregonians—especially now, in this time of growing economic uncertainty. That’s why the Committee on Performance Excellence is so critical—it promises to modernize state government and accordingly, lead to innovative, lower-cost methods of delivering quality services. It can systematically apply fresh ideas to long-standing challenges. One of the most important aspects of the bill is the fact that it will bring a powerful and consistent outside-in perspective to agency management.

The Committee will leverage alternative service delivery models in other states, important R&D efforts at university and government labs, Internet access to top-notch consulting talent, and of course, ideas proffered by frontline employees, who often face needless barriers to doing their best. Even if we somehow eliminated every vestige of waste, fraud and abuse, our state government would still be large. The creation of this committee goes a long way to ensure it’s effective, doing the right things in the right way. And I received national recognition from the centrist Democratic Leadership Council for my efforts on behalf of this idea.

This Committee is a small, but important part of my plan to reinvent state government. Together, we can advance this and other, similar ideas to make state government work for all of us.

2007 Oregon Legislature Recap: On the Road to a Better Future

During the 2007 Legislative Session, we began our journey down the road to a better future for Oregon and went farther than anyone expected. This legislative session marks a turning point in our state. We’re finally investing in Oregon families again. We’re committed to a new future ripe with potential for all our citizens. It’s a future that will be brighter for our kids, better for our economy, safer for our communities and healthier for our families. Here’s a snapshot of what, together, we’ve already accomplished.

Putting Oregon’s Children First

Reinvesting in K-12 public schools—Oregon children will receive a better education thanks to and a budget that prevents further cuts, puts more teachers into the classroom, adds back programs like art and PE, reduces class sizes, allows for a full school year, improves achievement and new tools for local districts that help to build and maintain world-class schools.

Improving early childhood education—More kids will come to school prepared to learn and thrive academically and socially through increased opportunity in Oregon’s successful Head Start program.

Taking care of kids’ physical and mental well-being—While at school, kids will have healthier food choices and better protection from a 21st century threat—cyberbullying.

Insuring Oregon’s kids—Oregon can meet its moral obligation to provide affordable, accessible health care to more than 117,000 uninsured Oregon children. The Oregon Healthy Kids Plan, which the Legislature approved, will go before voters in November.

Making Healthcare More Affordable and Accessible

Bringing prescription drug costs under control—Individuals and small businesses will get some relief from financial strain due to the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. Everyone in Oregon can now get lower-cost prescription drugs by using the state’s bulk purchasing power.

Holding hospitals and insurers accountable—We held the health insurance industry and hospitals accountable for rate hikes and confusing costs so that Oregonians will finally have the opportunity to put the brakes on rising healthcare costs.

Eliminating hospital rate discrimination—Low-income, uninsured patients will no longer pay more for health care than those fortunate enough to have insurance. By eliminating hospital rate discrimination against low-income Oregonians, we’ve ensured that hospitals will charge patients the same rate, regardless of how they pay.

Keeping our Communities Safe

Hiring 100 More State Troopers—Traffic and drunk-driving fatalities will decrease and the meth epidemic will get more attention because this Legislature provided funding to add 100 more State Troopers to our highways.

Cracking down on Internet predators—This year, the law caught up to 21st century criminals who solicit minors over the Internet or expose children to pornography. New laws will make it easier to prosecute these predators before they harm our kids.

Combating identity theft—Oregonians can now freeze their credit reports so criminals can’t profit from identity theft. We’ve also required companies who store and use sensitive information to report immediately any breach in security so consumers can protect themselves.

Standing up for victims of rape and incest—We protected the health and well-being of victims of rape and incest by ensuring that all hospitals and clinics provide information about and access to emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors.

Attracting Good Jobs and Investing in Our Economy

Becoming a national leader in alternative energy innovation—Through a package of biofuels legislation approved this year, rural Oregon will see the creation of new jobs and our state will reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

Reviving higher education—After years of cuts, we have taken the first positive steps toward reinvesting in a world-class higher education system in our state. In addition, we made textbooks more affordable for college students, made college more accessible by doubling student aid and provided tools for community colleges and universities to build and maintain world-class facilities.

Identifying innovation-driven growth opportunities—We’ll maximize the state’s competitive advantages and establish Oregon’s niche in the global economy through the Oregon Inc. plan approved this year. Oregon Inc. will aid in the development of signature research centers in areas such as wind energy and bio-pharma research and utilize public/private partnerships to spur entrepreneurial economic development.

Connecting Oregon’s economy to the world—The state’s major industries—manufacturing, forest products, agriculture, fishing, technology, and tourism—depend heavily on a sound transportation network. Our landmark Connect Oregon II plan will improve links between key transportation systems that connect Oregon industry to national and international markets, spur job creation and contribute to a lasting prosperity in our state.

Creating a More Accountable, Transparent State Government

Saving for a rainy day—We created the state’s first ever savings account–a Rainy Day Fund that will protect Oregon from drastic cuts in education, public safety and social services during the next recession.

Cutting Government Waste—Oregonians can be assured that their tax dollars are being used wisely as a result of increased funding for aggressive audits of state agencies. And, thanks to new laws to streamline regulations, we’re cutting down on government red tape that costs taxpayers time and money.

Closing the “revolving door”—Former lawmakers will no longer be able to turn public service into personal gain by using their legislative office to acquire lobbying jobs. Legislators will now have to take a two year “time out” before lobbying their former colleagues.

Toughening ethics laws for public officials—We enacted some of the toughest ethics laws for public officials in the country, limiting gifts from lobbyists and stiffening penalties for ethical violations, to ensure your representatives are representing you—not special interests with deep pockets.

Restoring efficiency and bipartisan fairness to the legislative process—We set and met clear timelines for the completion of our work in the Legislature and brought back the rights of the minority party to fully participate in the democratic process.

Restoring Oregon’s Reputation as a Steward of the Environment

Bringing Oregon’s landmark “Bottle Bill” into the 21st century—We added plastic bottles used for water and flavored water to those that carry a five cent recycling deposit. The change will mean the recycling of millions more beverage containers, keeping those containers out of landfills and conserving energy and resources.

Recycling Oregon’s “e-waste”—We fought to keep computers and consumer electronics from overwhelming Oregon’s landfills and polluting soil and groundwater with toxic chemicals by creating a free-statewide electronics recycling program.

Supporting Oregon’s Families

Promoting family in the workplace—Bills passed by the legislature this session will make the workplace friendlier to Oregon families. New mothers will be guaranteed a break time and a private place to express milk while at work. Workers who need to take family leave from their jobs can now use paid sick days as part of that leave while they care for a loved one or recover from an illness. And, when workers have used all their sick or vacation time, they will be eligible for paid family leave under a new state insurance program.

Guaranteeing family health parity—The Access to Birth Control Act will give women and families greater access to prescription contraceptives through their health insurance plans. Contraception is basic health care for women, but—until now–many insurance policies have routinely excluded it from their prescription drug coverage. Now, all women will have fair access to basic health care services.

Protecting Oregon Consumers

Prohibiting predatory lending—Oregon consumers who patronize check cashing services, payday loans and car title loans will be better protected from unscrupulous lenders who charge outrageous interest rates and trap working families in a spiraling pattern of debt. This legislative session we set limits on interest rates and check cashing fees and closed lending loopholes that allowed predatory lenders to operate outside conventional lending laws.

Protecting the value of gift cards—Those who receive gift cards from friends and family will no longer have to worry about excessive “inactivity fees” or expiration dates that rob consumers of the opportunity to use the card’s full value. Gift cards will no longer expire and retailers can’t charge inactivity fees—a plan that has been called a win/win for retailers and consumers.

Ending price gouging during emergencies—We want to make sure no Oregonian has to live the kind of nightmares Hurricane Katrina victims encountered. During a natural disaster, our citizens will have protection for the first time from unscrupulous businesses under a new state law that will prohibit excessively high prices for basic necessities during a natural disaster, crisis or human-created emergency.

Kind regards,
David