Dear Friends,

One month ago, Josie and I traveled across the mountains to start the 75^th Legislative Session as your State Representative.  With the help of Megan Schenewerk, our Legislative Assistant; Josie, Administrative Assistant, our interns: Jay Hall, a 3^rd year law student at Oregon and Andrew Miller, a senior at Willamette; we have submitted our bills and started the legislative process representing your issues and your quality of life.  These remain our priorities. 

Tomorrow, we have a special session day to celebrate the 150^th birthday (Sesquicentennial) of the State of Oregon.  The celebration will feature both a House and Senate floor session with members in period dress. The House will be discussing the location of the Capitol of the new state of Oregon.  The Capitol’s location in Salem or Oregon City was the first political issue the new state of Oregon Representatives debated.  I plan to submit a compromise and suggest the capitol be located where the real Oregonians live and in the Center of Oregon, “Farewell Bend.”  You may watch the entertaining floor session on the webpage: http://www.oregonchannel.org/. After the Floor Session, there will be several activities for children, families, and all Oregonians to enjoy here at the State Capitol from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Please join us for square dancing (the State’s official dance), candle making, pictures with a real live Gold Man, and tours of the building, birthday cake, hotdogs, and a display showcasing the Oregon Constitution.  Gift bags will be given to the first 500 children. 

After one month working in Salem for you, I am concerned about the Leadership’s lack of urgency to find bi-partisan solutions to our economic crisis.  I believe that we are in this crisis because we did not prioritize our past spending and did not maintain adequate reserves.  After discussions with education leaders, I am supporting the use of the Education Stability Fund to prevent school closures in the current school year.   I want to hold our children harmless to our mistakes with your taxes.

It appears that we now have a Federal Stimulus package and an Oregon Legislative Stimulus package to help us.  I really hope they work for you and our state.    I’ll discuss my opinion further below.

Happy Sesquicentennial to you and our State,

Representative Gene Whisnant

BILLS OF INTEREST

-          HB 2157 (Disconnect from Federal Tax laws) passed the Senate yesterday 17-13 which will nullify much of President Obama’s Federal Stimulus Package approved by Congress yesterday.  HB 2157 disconnects the state from the federal tax code, a technical maneuver that mutes the effect of federal tax relief for businesses and families in Oregon.  It eliminates benefits like a $1,000 per child tax credit for the working poor, a $2,500 college tuition tax credit and tax cuts for small businesses.  Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli stated that if the leadership had not rushed this bill through before the President signed the Federal Package bill; HB 2157 would have failed.  It would then have become a tax increase which required 18 votes.  We’ll hope this disconnect does not prevent Oregon citizens from the economic recovery President Obama’s overall stimulus predicts.  I, and all Republican House and Senate members plus one Senate Democrat voted against HB 2157.

-          HB 2674 (Restricts School Districts competing with Private industry in the Printing sector) was introduced at the request of local printing companies.  One owner reported that “there’s not a single one of us who has not lost a client to them.  He further questioned whether his own property taxes are being used to subsidize a competitor (school districts).  The school district official reported “we are not trying to do anything to hurt them.  They’re patrons of our district, too.  Their children are in our schools.”  We are working with the school district, ODE, and the industry to find acceptable language.     

-          We have introduced again this session the “Keep Kids Safe” license plate bill to help our County Commissions on Children & Families fund programs for abused children.  We worked this bill very hard last session but we were unsuccessful in getting it to have a committee hearing.  On Thursday, I met with the Directors of the Counties’ Commissions and requested their support in advocating for this bill with their State Senators and Legislators.  Purchasing the license plate is optional but an Oregonian can opt to support our county programs to protect our children by purchasing special license plates. 

-           HB 2500 (Taxpayers Transparency bill) requires the state to set up an easy to understand free web site to review state expenditures and revenues.  The “Bend Bulletin” editorial on Feb. 10, 2009 provided good commentary and review of our bill.  The other chief co-sponsors and our staffs are working to obtain free support to create the site.  Transparency is critical to our form of government.  President Obama’s Federal Stimulus bill calls for full transparency.  It is the right thing to do.

BUDGET

Now, we have the Federal Stimulus Package and know how much help Oregon will receive.  Plus, Oregon is now disconnected from the federal tax codes including President Obama’s stimulus package.  Thus, on February 20^th, Oregon Legislative leadership and the Governor will receive the revenue forecast and know how short we are for the 2007-2009 budget.  Then, if necessary, they will have to decide how to reduce state expenditures.  They have reported that they do not plan to use the rainy day fund or the education stability fund to help reduce the impact.  After discussion with education officials, “I am supportive of using some of the education stability fund to keep our children harmless and keep the school houses open.”  Any across the board cuts by the Governor, will probably result in less school days.  Education officials have reported that they are preparing to cut in the 2009-2011 budget but really have no opportunities to reduce expenditures for the next four months except to cut school days.    

COMMITTEES

The Ways and Means Education Subcommittee on Monday received the Board of Pharmacy budget presentation and public hearing/testimony.  On Tuesday, we received three informational reports.  The first report discussed the first “best business practices” audit of the Multnomah ESD which cost about $250,000.  Also, we received a very informative presentation on the Career & Technical Education.  I am a strong supporter of more tech education in our high schools and community colleges.  The last report was a transportation study.  On Thursday, we received the Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Board of Clinical Social Workers budget presentation and public hearing/testimony.  Also, we received a fee increase presentation by the Board of Clinical Social Workers.

The House Judiciary Committee worked many bills each day this week.  On Monday, we worked some sex offender and DUII bills.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, we worked child support bills. Then on Thursday, we worked bills concerning reimbursement from persons committed to local correction facilities, the definition of “mentally incapacitated, and control of sexually explicit property or material.  Friday was a brief meeting with some simple bills on our compact about supervision of offenders, public disclosure of DPSST investigations, and SSN protection.

FLOOR VOTES

On Tuesday, we passed HB 2420 (Workers’ Compensation coverage for firefighters passed the House with a 55 yeas, 1 nay, and 4 excused.  I voted yea for our firefighters.  I met with and discussed this bill and other issues with four members of the Redmond Fire Department.

CONSTITUENT AND OTHER VISITS

Redmond Fire Fighters L-3650

            Matt Linker, Daniel Meyer, Treasurer; Jon Wood, Jeff Puller, President

      Pregnancy Resource Center Central Oregon Representatives

            Angie Peeler, Leslie Smith from Redmond

Bill Kopacz and Associates from Midstate Rural Electric Company

John McGrath- owner of McGrath’s Fish House restaurants

Please note that you can also listen to me on the Radio on KITC FM La Pine on Tuesday mornings to hear what is going on in Salem. And the Time has been changed to 7:35 from 7:15, so remember to tune into to the Bob and Tony, the Radio Roughnecks Show on Tuesdays at 7:35 on KITC FM!

Please feel free to contact my office on any issues you would like to be brought to our attention, or to give your opinion on any legislation that is before your State House right now. We want to hear from you and make sure we are doing what we can for you here in Salem.

Our office phone number is 503-986-1453; our email is rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us; our mailing address is 900 Court St NE H-471 Salem OR 97301.

You may also follow our House Floor Sessions and Committee meetings by going to http://oregonchannel.org/rams.htm