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Representative Tina Kotek
D-North/NE Portland
District 44
Phone: 503-986-1444900 Court St. NE, H-281, Salem Oregon 97301
Email: rep.tinakotek@state.or.us
Dear Friends,
I hope you will be able to join me this Saturday for a town hall meeting with Representative Chip Shields and Senator Margaret Carter to discuss the work we are doing in Salem. I look forward to sharing the progress we have already made and getting your input on what we hope to accomplish this legislative session. The details are:
What: Legislative Town Hall - brief presentations and time for questions/answers
When: Saturday, March 14, 10:00 a.m. to noon
Where: Portland Community College, Cascade Campus, Terrell Hall Room 112
And, as always, thank you for the many emails, phone calls and letters about issues that matter to you this legislative session. Please keep them coming! Your communication with me helps me to serve you here in Salem.
Legislature Rebalances 2007-09 Budget
As I reported last time, I have been heavily involved in the process to rebalance the state's current two-year budget to address the $855 million shortfall currently facing the state. Last week, the Oregon Senate and House passed a budget plan that combined selected cuts and use of reserves and federal stimulus dollars to balance the budget.
We were forced to make some tough choices, but the good news is that we were able to provide school districts, community colleges and universities with the funds necessary to complete the school year. We refused to risk the lives of Oregonians who are dependent on vital human services. We protected the safety of our communities by keeping our prisons open and not cutting mental health or substance abuse treatment programs. Although the budget rebalance is far from ideal, I am pleased with the bipartisan work that went into crafting the budget.
Our limited cuts put Oregon in a much better position than many of our neighbor states, and I am proud of the leadership that my colleagues have shown in navigating our state through these tough choices. We will now turn all our energies to the 2009-11 budget and the $3 billion deficit currently projected. I look forward to hearing your ideas and opinions as we continue this conversation.
Oregon 49th in the Nation for Providing Access to School Nurses
Public testimony for one of my priority bills this session, House Bill 2693, was heard last Wednesday in the House Education Committee. This bill would implement the recommendations of the Task Force on School Nurses by requiring school districts to provide a better ratio of school nurses to students. Currently, the average nurse working in Oregon schools is responsible for some 3,140 students, compared to 1,151 students per nurse nationally. My bill would require school districts to add nurses incrementally until reaching the required ratio of one nurse for every 750 students by 2020. I am dedicated to providing for the holistic needs of our children, including their immediate health concerns in the school environment. I believe House Bill 2693 is a great step in that direction.
Bringing the Main Street Program to St. Johns
Community and business leaders are organizing to apply for funding from the Oregon Main Street Program to promote local business activity in St. Johns. The Main Street Program is a state-funded effort created to help revitalize central business districts. I look forward to supporting the efforts of our community members to encourage economic growth in North Portland. To find out more information about the Oregon Main Street program follow this link: Oregon Main Street
For more information on this effort in St. Johns, please contact Robin Plance at rgplance@hotmail.com.
Thanks for taking the time to read this e-newsletter and for the honor of representing you in the Oregon House of Representatives.
Best wishes,
Representative Kotek In the News