Senator Ginny Burdick Appointed Chair of Finance & Revenue Committee for 2009 Session

In an announcement from the Senate President’s Office, Sen. Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) was appointed to continue serving as chair of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee for the 2009 session.

“I’m thankful to have the opportunity to continue moving forward on the hard work my committee accomplished over the interim, particularly given the challenges we face in our state budget this session,” said Burdick. “The circumstances we face make this a critical time for open and earnest conversations about how our state funds its crucial services."

The Finance and Revenue Committee is responsible for overseeing the state’s tax policy and other finance policies.

“Oregonians depend on state programs for health care, food, public safety, schools, and a number of other essential and basic needs. Ensuring we have sufficient revenue to fund these programs is a vital part of the equation. I’m committed to engaging in this conversation and asking the tough questions that need to be asked, particularly given our current grim economic outlook,” said Burdick.

In addition to serving as chair of Finance and Revenue, Burdick was also appointed to serve on the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection & Public Affairs and the Senate Rules Committee.

Road Show on Revenue Restructuring
Tigard Public Library, December 17, 6pm-9pm

Oregonians are encouraged to join elected officials and citizen members of the Task Force on Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring to discuss options for reforming Oregon’s tax and revenue system. The Task Force, created by the 2007 Legislature, has been meeting for a year. They will be seeking input on a draft report to be submitted to the 2009 Legislature as well as the public’s ideas on how to make Oregon’s tax system better serve the needs of its citizens.

The bipartisan Task Force on Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring consists of 21 citizen members appointed by the Governor, 8 members of the Legislature and the State Treasurer. The Task Force Chair and a subset of Task Force members, including Senator Ginny Burdick, will attend the meeting to receive public input. Public input will be included in the final Task Force report. The Task Force is particularly interested in the public’s views concerning:

• Adequacy of the revenue system

• Fairness of the tax system

• Suggestions to improve the stability of the revenue system

• Ways to use the revenue system to more effectively encourage economic growth