JASON CONGER

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

HOUSE DISTRICT 54

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2013

Contact: Jordan Conger, 541-633-9719

Representative Jason Conger Asks Democrats to Give OSBA Bill a Public Hearing

Says meaningful PERS reforms could add 5,000 additional teachers in Oregon Schools

SALEM- Today, state representative Jason Conger (R-Bend) urged the Legislature to provide more funding for Oregon classrooms and to give the Oregon School Boards Association PERS reform bill a public hearing.

“Oregon’s education system is struggling: we have cut roughly 7,000 teachers in the past 3 years, shortened the school year and class sizes so large that children are sometimes forced to sit on the floor,” explained Representative Conger.  “We have to change this failing paradigm and invest in our kids and our future.”

Conger went on to discuss the shortcomings of the co-chairs’ budget and the opportunity to provide more funding with the plan put forward by the Oregon School Board Association (OSBA).  The OSBA proposal is a package of PERS reforms, including the concepts put forward by Gov. Kitzhaber, that would save $1.3 billion in the next budget cycle alone.

“The additional funding from OSBA’s plan would allow schools to hire more than 5,000 new teachers with money left over - without raising taxes one penny,” explained Representative Conger.  “This is a much larger funding package for our schools and I would urge the Democrats to at least give the bill a public hearing.”

“PERS reform needs to be openly and publicly debated - it is simply not good enough to stick our head in the sand again this year,” Conger continued. “The children who are trapped in under performing schools, parents that are worried about their child’s education, and 5,000 teachers deserve an answer.”

Jason Conger is the State Representative for House District 54 which includes the City of Bend.  He was first elected in 2010 and is currently serving his third session in the Oregon State House.

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