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Political and personal agendas trump special session |
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Thursday, 25 February 2010 00:00 |
The final “practice run” of Oregon’s even numbered year session was defined by political posturing, retribution and a distinctly partisan agenda, leaving little substantive work product for Oregonians to feel good about. The session began February 1st and in the afternoon of February 25th.
“Little has been done this session to address the number one issue facing Oregonians: a lack of jobs,” said Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “This special session was intended to demonstrate that the legislature could be trusted with another session if it was used to address state emergencies and pressing policy issues, the issues that matter to Oregonians. Instead, the majority party has spent the last 24 days using the legislature as their personal political cattle prod, hoping that Oregonians won’t notice the posturing and vengeful, partisan retribution against political enemies.”
Much has been made of the 209,000 Oregonians who can’t find work today. Since January of last year, when Democrats first vowed to address Oregon’s festering unemployment problem, the state has hemorrhaged another 50,000 jobs.
“The so-called ‘job creating’ efforts from this session are much like putting lipstick on a scorpion; it looks good but doesn’t change what it is,” said Senator Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro). “We need to enact significant changes to Oregon’s business environment if we are going to get back on firm economic footing. Anything less might make good headlines, but does little to shorten Oregon’s unemployment lines.”
Instead of focusing on job creation, this session dedicated significant time to bills seeking retribution against individuals, coalitions and associations that played an active role fighting the recently proposed tax increases. According to investigation published in The Bend Bulletin, Head Start, the Oregon Bankers Association and individual lobbyists were all targeted by various levels of threats or legislation designed punish interests that displeased the ruling powers.
“Since when did the legislature become about personal vendettas and exacting a pound of flesh from political opponents?” said Senator Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg). “This is worse than partisanship, this is the politics of personal power and arrogance, and it is an abuse of and a black eye on this process.”
Other legislation, like freezing the unpopular expansion of the earned time law until after the November election, was designed specifically to provide political cover for the majority party.
“Unfortunately the business of Oregonians was ignored in favor of special interest politics and posturing,” said Ferrioli. “Real issues like creating a rainy day fund and fostering an environment where employers can grow and prosper were completely ignored. |
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Republicans propose budget that protects core services without increasing taxes |
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Tuesday, 19 May 2009 00:00 |
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House and Senate Republicans announced a Back to Basics Budget plan on Tuesday. The plan funds a full school year, protects prioritized service areas like public safety and human services by giving them the same funding levels they received in the last two year budget and creates a $1.374 billion surplus for targeted legislative add-backs and contingency reserves.
“This budget protects our most important priorities: quality education for our kids, safe neighborhoods and services for the most needy and vulnerable,” said Senator Chris Telfer (R-Bend). “Republicans applied the same philosophy that Oregon families and small businesses are applying to their budgets, funding what is most important with what we have, tightening our belt and being fiscally responsible. If we do those things, we don’t have to talk about raising taxes on Oregon families and small businesses in these tough times.”
Highlights of the Back to Basics Budget include:
• The plan starts with the assumption that Oregon government does not need to increase taxes in order to provide the services that Oregonians need and value.
• The plan funds K-12 education with $6.245 billion, holding schools harmless with a zero cuts budget that ensures kids can receive a quality education through a full school year.
• The plan protects public safety, human services and other core functions by giving them at a minimum the exact budget they had last cycle.
• The plan leaves a $1.374 billion surplus for legislative add backs, enhancements, contingencies and reserves.
• The plan leaves $457 million of our state reserves intact.
Republicans built the Back to Basics Budget using a philosophy that funds the most important, core services first. This budget creates a starting point that holds services like K-12 education, higher education, public safety agencies and human services providers harmless from any cuts from their 2007-09 funding levels.
To protect these priorities, the budget uses $911 million in Federal Stimulus money and $457 million from the Rainy Day and Education Stability Funds, leaving $457 million left in reserves. The budget also uses $429 million in savings and efficiency enhancements. After funding each core service at their 2007-09 level, the budget leaves $1.374 billion for the legislature to make targeted add-backs to the most important priorities.
“The way Oregon budgets must be fixed,” said Senator Frank Morse (R-Morse). “Past practices are simply not sustainable. Government must find ways to improve performance and demonstrate the ability to reduce costs. Ultimately, core services and functions of government can be preserved without raising taxes. ”
In the past, the legislature has started the budget discussion with an automatic, no-questions-asked increase to state agencies, called the “Essential Budget Level.” The legislature doesn’t require agencies to come before the budget writing committee and justify why they need increases in their base levels of spending like a business would. The Legislature has handed out increases without asking tough questions about what drives the cost of state government and how we can better prioritize. The result is out-of-control spending and insurmountable deficits. In fact, over the last ten years our state budget has increased by more than 75%.
“This is a fundamental change to the way the legislature budgets,” said Representative Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg). “Oregonians are hurting and having to make tough choices in their budgets at home and in their businesses right now. We think Oregon government should be making the same tough decisions and start managing taxpayer dollars with responsibility.” |
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Senate Republicans poised for legislative pick-ups on filing day |
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Monday, 09 March 2009 00:00 |
Salem, OR – Tuesday was the final day to register for elective office in Oregon, and the close of business showed opportunities for Senate Republicans to add seats in the Oregon Legislature. Democrats must defend twelve seats, two of which are open, while Republicans have only four to hold.
“This is shaping up to be a tremendous year for Republicans nationwide, and I don’t expect it to be any different in the Oregon Senate,” said Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “There is a strong class of highly qualified, experienced individuals who have stepped up to serve Oregon in the Senate. These are the type of leaders Oregon needs right now.”
The strong field of Republican candidates for State Senate seats includes:
Dave Dotterer, Senate District 3 - Dave Dotterrer is a retired Marine Corps Colonel and a member of the Ashland Planning Commission.
Marilyn Kittelman, Senate District 4 - Marilyn Kittelman is a former Douglas County Commissioner who is the part-owner of the Roseburg Beacon, a private newspaper focused on the Roseburg community and State and Federal issues.
Karen Bodner, Senate District 7 – Karen Bodner is a small business owner and local political activist.
Frank Morse, Senate District 8 (Incumbent) – Retired President and Chairman of Morse Brothers, Morse is a respected voice on the economy and budget issues.
Jackie Winters, Senate District 10 (Incumbent) – Winters has been a visionary and leader in the fight against meth and has spearheaded several major job creating efforts in Salem.
Michael Forest, Senate District 11 – Michael Forest is a local activist and policy analyst.
Larry George, Senate District 13 (Incumbent) – George is the President and co-founder of one of the largest hazelnut processing firms in Oregon. George is an advocate of the taxpayers and watchdog of government waste.
Bruce Starr, Senate District 15 (Incumbent) – Starr owns his own small business and has been the state’s foremost leader on transportation issues over the last ten years.
Bob Horning, Senate District 16 – Bob Horning is business proprietor and owner of Horning’s Hideout, a destination for fishing, picnicking, camping and concert events.
Stevan Kirkpatrick, Senate District 17 - Stevan Kirkpatrick is an administrator at Wells Fargo Bank, Army veteran and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
Mary Kremer, Senate District 19 - Mary Kremer is is a retired financial consultant with Salomon Brothers (now Citigroup). She is an education advocate and actively works with “Dinner & A Movie (an outreach group for homeless teens) and numerous other educational and philanthropic charities.
Alan Olsen, Senate District 20 - Alan Olsen is a homebuilder from Canby and a veteran who has built a respected and successful construction business.
Rob Wheeler, Senate District 24 - Rob Wheeler is the current Mayor of Happy Valley, a financial planner and consultant. Rob is the immediate past President of the North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce.
Chuck Thomsen, Senate District 26 - Chuck Thomsen is a third-generation orchardist from Hood River and is in his fourth term as a Hood River County Commissioner. |
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New taxes and more spending epitomize first weeks of session |
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Monday, 09 February 2009 00:00 |
A $17 million tax increase passed out of the budget writing Ways and Means Committee Friday morning to fund a new program characterizes the first four weeks of the legislative session: more spending and more tax increases. So far, the legislature has borrowed and spent $175 million and passed two tax raising measures to extract almost $111 million more from Oregon families and small businesses over the coming two years.
“While Oregonians are losing their jobs and income at a record pace, the legislature continues the same habits that put us in this mess,” said Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “It is massive, unsustainable spending that has created the deficits we are dealing with today. More spending and more taxes are not the answer to our problems. Oregonians are expecting government to reduce spending, make tough decisions and help families make ends meet.”
On Wednesday the House passed House Bill 2157 to disconnect from the federal tax code, effectively eliminating $94 million of potential tax relief contained in the national stimulus plan. The bill is expected to pass out of the Senate Revenue Committee Friday afternoon and be rushed to the Senate floor early next week. Thursday the Governor signed a bill into law that borrows $175 million to pay for deferred maintenance projects around the state. Taxpayers will end up paying $330 million over the next 20years to pay off the borrowed money and interest.
Friday morning, the Ways and Means Committee passed HB 2436 that establishes a $15 fee every time an Oregonian buys or refinances their home, raising $17 million this budget cycle.
“We are raising $17 million in new revenue to create a new program when our budget is $2 billion in the hole,” said Senator Doug Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls), who sits on the Ways and Means Committee.
“Our goal should be to help Oregonians who are hurting purchase food, rent, and heat, and create lasting, local jobs at the same time,” said Ferrioli. “Adding to government’s bottom line by increasing spending and raising taxes is foolish in this environment.”
Republicans proposed a plan last week that would put money back into Oregonians’ pockets and create 2,453 lasting jobs. The plan would simply give Oregonians part of their tax refunds now, rather than next year, and put $100 million directly back into the Oregon economy. The plan does not cost the taxpayers a dime and would start creating jobs immediately. |
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Senate Republicans to Courtney: take more time crafting stimulus |
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Wednesday, 28 January 2009 23:13 |
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Senate Republicans said the borrow-and-spend stimulus package on the Senate floor Wednesday doesn’t do enough to ensure the creation of long term jobs for families across Oregon. Republicans made a procedural motion to send the bill back to the budget writing Ways and Means Committee where more substantial stimulus efforts could be added with the help of both Republican and Democrat members. The motion failed, 12 to 18.”Our goal is to create jobs that will last,” said Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “While this bill contains some investment in infrastructure, it also wastes a lot of tax dollars on petty projects and busy work without providing long-term job creation. Oregonians recognize that pork barrel spending is a poor way to stimulate the economy.”
The bond package, which was not crafted in a bi-partisan manner, borrows money to pay for deferred maintenance projects at state agencies, a financial maneuver most businesses would avoid. Deferred maintenance projects include sealing cracks on walls, pulling up juniper bushes and installing light bulbs. Many of the short term projects end after a few days and weeks, sending Oregonians back to the unemployment line. Long after the paint has pealed and the light bulbs are burnt out, taxpayers will still be paying the bill on the long-term bonds.
“Is this really the best, most responsible stimulus package we could craft?” said Senator Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro). “I know we could put our heads together, Republicans and Democrats, and come up with a package which includes common sense investments in key infrastructure and extra money for Oregon families to buy food, heat and pay the rent.”
Republicans proposed a plan last week that would put money back into Oregonians’ pockets and create 2,453 new, lasting jobs. The plan would simply give Oregonians part of their tax refunds now, rather than next year, and put $100 million directly back into the Oregon economy. The plan does not cost the taxpayers and will start creating jobs quickly. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) echoed the views of many economists who say the most effective way to stimulate the economy is to provide money either through tax cuts or direct payments.
“Our proposal will give families help with their electric bills and grocery budgets, and at the same time creating thousands of jobs,” said Senator Brian Boquist (R-Dallas). “Oregonians are hurting, and paving new agency parking lots shouldn’t be our first priority. Our priority ought to be making sure families have the means to feed and clothe their children.” |
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