For Immediate Release                                                                           Contact Geoff Sugerman

Aug. 4, 2008                                                                                                            503-986-1904

Education, Health Care Access and Economic Growth

Top Agenda of Oregon House Democrats

House Democrats Release 2009 Road Map to Oregon’s Future

Economic growth, improved education opportunities and better access to affordable health care top the list of priorities on the Oregon House Democrats Road Map to Oregon’s Future, the 2009 agenda released today by Majority Leader Dave Hunt and the 31 Oregon House Democrats.

“When Democrats took control of the House in 2007, Oregon was heading in the wrong direction. Republican leadership in the House had disinvested in education, especially higher education,” said Hunt (D-Clackamas County). “They had cut state troopers and rolled back health care choices for our citizens. They had refused to enact a Rainy Day Fund to save for our future and they had spent every penny they had.

“We turned the ship of Oregon around last session. We funded education. We doubled the money for Oregon Opportunity Grants for Higher Education. We added 139 state troopers. We helped schools and small businesses by allowing them to pool together to buy health care. We passed legislation to improve health care options for Oregonians on many levels. And we put in place the economic incentives that have led to a surge of renewable energy companies to locate here in Oregon. Now we are ready to continue moving Oregon toward a better future.”

Hunt, who was joined by State Rep. Betty Komp, chair of the House Democrats policy group, said the five agenda areas on the 2009 Democrats Road Map include:

• Continuing our reinvestments in our education system with the goal of establishing a world class system in Oregon’s future,
• Make targeted, careful investments to bring new jobs to Oregon,
• Controlling costs and providing access to affordable health care for all Oregonians,
• Make sure our communities are safe and secure, including ongoing efforts to protect the environmental health of our state, and
• Ensure accountability and responsiveness in state government

“We know there will be many issues debated during the next session. This Road Map represents agreement from all 31 House Democrats on issues we will move forward during the session,” said Komp (D-Woodburn). “It will give Oregonians a clear indication of our priorities in economic growth, education and health care.”

            Hunt said despite troubles caused by the national economy, Oregon heads into 2009 in much better shape than most states because of the creation of a state savings account and successful efforts to expand jobs, particularly in the area of renewable energy.

“We can’t completely insulate ourselves from events happening across the country, but we can continue the fiscal responsibility and the targeted investments that have made us one of the healthiest states in the nation as we head toward 2009,” said Hunt. “Frankly, despite the challenges ahead of us, there’s no place we would rather be than right here in Oregon. And we intend to keep it that way.”

The Road Map includes 14 legislative priorities under the five agenda areas listed above. A complete copy of the Road Map can be found at:

http://www.leg.state.or.us/press_releases/hdo_agenda_080408.pdf