Senate Republican Office
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE, S-323
Salem, Oregon 97301
Republicans' plan cuts bureaucracy to aid economy
The Statesman Journal
In My Opinion – Ted Ferrioli
February 1, 2012
Despite anemic gains in some employment sectors, Oregon economists remain concerned by what they are calling "weak recovery and uncertain prospects."
They aren't the only ones. Oregon families and the almost one in five Oregonians who can't find work or have given up looking are also understandably apprehensive about the future.
Senate Republicans believe that the February legislative session could be a crucial opportunity to get Oregon back on the right track if legislators attack the root causes of Oregon's particular brand of unemployment.
Our agenda consists of five policy changes that would immediately help the private sector create new jobs by (1) placing a moratorium on non-essential rule making, (2) expanding local land-use authority in distressed areas, (3) demanding state agencies disclose impact of their actions on private sector job creation, (4) limiting state spending and growth of the public sector and (5) creating strict sunsets on all agencies, programs, boards and commissions.
Oregon must transform itself into a place where small businesses can germinate and thrive. Oregonians want a business climate that nurtures and encourages economic trailblazers. Creating this environment means removing the bureaucratic toxins that choke business expansion.
The first plank of the Senate Republican agenda is a two-year moratorium on all non-essential agency rule-making authority. The bill would also give legislative committees virtual veto authority over existing and future rules that harm the economy but contribute nothing to the safety or welfare of Oregonians.
To grow jobs in distressed communities, Republicans want to give local jurisdictions power over their economic destiny by granting them an exemption from Oregon land use and zoning laws in cases where a county with populations of less than 50,000 have experienced declines in employment and population over the past 10 years.
Republicans also believe that before they are adopted, new laws and administrative rules should fully disclose potential impacts on job creation by requiring business and economic impact statements, forcing decision makers to face the facts before passing new laws.
Senate Republicans believe runaway spending must stop. Our goal is to establish a state spending cap and reserve fund to limit the growth of government to no more than the increase in per capita personal income and to deposit excess tax collections in a reserve fund. By creating such a policy, government has an incentive to grow the private sector to pay for programs and build a safety net to stabilize services when revenues are flat or declining. Once the reserve fund reaches pre-established goals, excess tax collections would be returned to taxpayers.
Since 2007, there have been more than 150 new programs established and a myriad of program expansions. Government spending has increased by more than $10 billion. But most Oregonians would say they are no better off.
An agency sunset bill would create sunset dates for all agencies, programs, boards and commissions to evaluate whether the rule, program or agency is still necessary and still fulfilling its original purpose. A sunset committee will have the ability to consolidate and recommend shutting down divisions of state agencies that are no longer needed.
Senate Republicans believe this agenda can answer the real concerns of Oregon families. The sooner these policies are adopted, the sooner Oregon can begin to create family wage jobs and stronger communities.
Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli of John Day can be reached at (503) 986-1950 or sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us.
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120201/OPINION/202010383/Republicans-plan-cuts-bureaucracy-aid-economy