Roadmap for Oregon's Future - Oregon House Democrats

From protecting families facing foreclosure to helping coastal residents recover from recent floods, the February session of the Oregon Legislature produced real results for the people of Oregon. Just look at some of the accomplishments from the special session.

Improving Long Term Care For Seniors:

SB 1061 requiring development of a comprehensive plan for long term senior care.
$12.2 million allocated to improve access to adult foster home care, assisted living centers, relative care and in-home care including Oregon Project Independence.

Protecting Our Children:

HB 3631 requiring retailers to remove unsafe and recalled toys from their shelves.
SB 5556 allocating $500,000 for test projects to expand access to health care for children.
SB 5556 allocating $7.3 million for 200+ case managers and assistants to protect foster children.
SB 1066 directs $350,000 from the State School Fund to improving Talented & Gifted Education.

Helping Families Facing Foreclosure:

HB 3630 ending “mortgage rescue scams” and improving notification for people facing foreclosure.
SB 1064 restricting mortgage loan originators; requiring mortgage bankers/brokers to file reports.

Aiding Victims of Disasters:

HB 3605 giving the Governor authority to prevent insurance companies from cancelling policies following a natural disaster.
HB 3606 allowing the state to waive a one-week waiting period to provide unemployment benefits to people who lost their jobs due to natural disasters.
Directs a budget allocation of $500,000 to help local governments with disaster loans.

Improving Public Safety:

Provided funding for 24-7 Oregon State Trooper Coverage on major Oregon highways SB 1087 increasing penalties for repeat property offenders and drug crimes, increasing drug and alcohol treatment to reduce future crime.

Smart Investments For Business, Housing and Education:

HB 3619 increasing the amount of renewable energy tax credits from $20 million to $40 million
HB 3619 targets $6 million to increase Oregon’s investment in affordable housing.
Capital construction for expansions at the Oregon Institute of Technology and Clatsop Community College which will result in new construction jobs and new opportunities for Oregon students.

Help For Our Family Farmers:

HB 3618 providing an inheritance tax credit on small family farms, fisheries and woodlots.
SB 1067 creating statewide water storage projects under the Agriculture and Community Water Act.
HB 3601 establishing Oregon Farm-To-School Garden Program to get local produce in local schools.

Improving Government Accountability:

SB 1099 establishing the Committee on Performance Excellence to improve state agency performance.

"We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals -- and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship." -- Grover Norquist, 2003

For 16 years, the Oregon House Republicans have followed the orders of Washington, DC Republican extremist Grover Norquist and made the Oregon House bitter, nasty and ineffective. They have ruined a once-respected institution of innovation and cooperation that reflected the pioneering values of Oregonians. Unfortunately, virtually all Oregonians now believe that the Oregon Legislature simply does not matter. Ask yourself: Do you know anyone who believes the Oregon House is doing a good job?

The need for a change in House leadership has never been clearer. The 16 year record of the House Republicans is shameful - or shameless depending on how you look at it. In 2005, with the House Republicans in charge for the 16th consecutive year, the powerful special interests won yet again and Oregon families lost.

A record of serving the Big Tobacco Companies.

House Republicans stonewalled HB 2940, which would have reinstated the voter-approved 10 cent cigarette tax to fund the Oregon Health Plan.
House Speaker Karen Minnis personally killed SB 931, which would have required tobacco companies to sell "fire-safe cigarettes" in Oregon.

A record of serving the Big Drug Companies.

House Republicans killed SB 329, which would have expanded the state's drug purchasing pool to let small business and individuals save money on their prescriptions.
House Republicans killed SB 1011, which would have allowed victims of the drug Vioxx, and their families, to seek justice in court.
House Republicans killed HB 2817, which would have required disclosure of the billions of dollars in gifts drug companies give to doctors.

A record of serving the Big Insurance Companies.

House Republicans killed HB 2837, which would have required health insurance companies to get public approval before they raise our insurance rates.
House Republicans voted down SB 849, which would have required pharmacies and health insurance companies to make emergency contraception available to sexual-assault victims.
House Republicans killed HB 2920, which would have required all insurance companies to get public approval before they raise our insurance rates.

A record of Hurting our Schools and Protecting High Paid School Bureaucrats.

House Republicans unanimously voted to kill HB 2727 - the only no cuts school budget proposed during the 2005 session.
House Republicans forced passage of HB 2450, which would have let corporations off the hook for funding schools and capped spending on schools.
House Republicans killed SB 639, which would have saved taxpayers as much as $100 million by creating a statewide health insurance pool for teachers.
House Republicans voted down SB 766, which would have restricted payouts to retiring school administrators, the infamous "golden parachutes."
House Republicans killed HB 3433, which would have ensured that tax dollars get to the classroom by limiting the amount of funds that can be spent on administration.

A record of serving Corporate Polluters.

House Republicans forced passage of the polluter tax loophole in HB 3481, which gives tax money to the worst polluters in Oregon simply for following the law.
House Republicans used unconstitutional language in the Department of Environmental Quality budget to block steps that would reduce auto emissions.
House Republicans prohibited state government from taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in HR 3.

A record of serving Predatory Lenders and Ultra-Wealthy Tax Cheats

House Republicans gutted SB 480, which would have reformed the abuse of offshore tax shelters by the ultra-wealthy and the most powerful corporations like Enron.
House Republicans voted down SB 545, which would have reined in predatory payday lending practices.

A record of serving out of state corporations through massive Corporate Tax Giveaways.

House Republicans forced passage of HB 2332, one of the biggest tax giveaways in Oregon history. This shameless bill would have given away nearly $600 million, and would have required deep cuts to services in order to balance Oregon's books, such as elimination of Oregon's entire system of community colleges.
House Republicans forced passage of HB 2542, a massive tax giveaway to out of state corporations.
House Republicans forced passage of HB 2450, which would have let corporations off the hook for funding public schools.

A record of Abuse of Power and shutting the public out of decision making.

Minnis changed the rules in the early innings of the session to give herself the power to fire the Chief Clerk of the House.
Minnis abused the rules to stop legislators from challenging her with floor amendments.
Minnis changed the rules by preventing a majority of House members, of either party, from challenging her by moving bills from committees.
Minnis embraced partisanship when she unilaterally broke up the bipartisan Ways and Means Committee. As The Oregonian reported, this allowed Minnis to secretly negotiate on behalf of the special interests, in backroom meetings, with only six other elected officials. Then Minnis shot a fundraising video in the very office where she cut these backroom deals.

Join the Oregon House Democrats. Let's bring change to the Oregon House.