Good Thinking blog

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