REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS RICHARDSON

OREGON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE DISTRICT 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Rep. Dennis Richardson
January 10, 2011	503-986-1404

REP. RICHARDSON TO CO-CHAIR JOINT WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

SALEM— Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) today was sworn-in as State Representative for House District 4.  Rep. Richardson, serving his fifth term in the Oregon House, was appointed by the House Co-Speakers to co-chair the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee.  He will serve with the Democratic Co-Chair, Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland)

“I’m honored to receive this important assignment to oversee the current budget and develop the 2011-13 budget,” Rep. Richardson said.  “These are challenging times, and I’m prepared to work with Rep. Buckley to make the tough decisions.  We will have disagreements, but we are both committed to charting a new course for Oregon.

Rep. Richardson will return to the Joint Ways and Means Committee, where he served last session.  In 2005, he chaired the committee’s Human Services Subcommittee that developed the budget for the Oregon Department of Human Services and other social agencies.

He said the task of passing the 2011-13 budget is  made difficult by past overspending and declining tax revenues due to a poor economy.  Rep. Richardson says Oregon must change the way it spends tax dollars in order to avoid a decade of deficits.

“We must start by bringing spending under control and making Oregon a better place to do business,” Rep. Richardson said.  “Private enterprise creates prosperity, and job growth will help provide more of the revenue we need to fund essential programs.  However, we must also find new and innovative solutions—inside and outside of state government-- for delivering services and helping our most vulnerable citizens.”

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