Dear Friends,

Thanks to each of you who responded to our questions in last week’s Legislative Update.  You provided some very good ideas and comments.  We’ll try to summarize your inputs next week.

In light of all the pessimism in Oregon and America today over the economy and America’s leadership in the world; I would like to report on an article which I recently read.  Alan W. Dowd in a Military Officers magazine reports that “it may be premature to replace Old Glory with a white flag just yet.”  Facts are America’s GDP is about double that of the second largest economy on Earth – China.  Yet America’s labor force is 1/5 the size of China’s.  The US has 17 of the 50 largest companies on Earth.  The US accounts for more than 1/3 of all international patent filings.  The US debt is 38 % of it’s GDP; Japan’s public debt is 194 % of its GDP and Germany&rs quo;s is 65 %.   I do not mean to minimize our economic crisis but I believe it is important to maintain pride in our County; its successes; and the American people’s ability to overcome crisis.

Sincerely,

Gene Whisnant

COMMITTEES

Ways and Means Education Subcommittee:  On Monday, we had a public hearing and testimony on the Oregon Board of Dentistry budget and fee increase.  The rest of the week, we had public hearings on the Department of Education 2009-2011 budgets.  The subcommittee co-chairs discussed their proposal to urge the Joint Ways and Means Co-Chairs to submit their budgets early for the agencies budgets presentations.  Normally, the agencies present their budget request based upon the Governor’s Recommended Budget (GRB).  However, with the 2009-2011 Revenue Forecast now down at least $3 billion from when the Governor submitted his GRB; their presentations may have no relevance to the budget.  

House Judiciary Committee:  We continue to hear many important bills in Judiciary which hears more bills than any other committee.  The chair of this committee is Rep. Jeff Barker (D-Aloha).  I have served on this committee with Rep. Barker for two terms and he is a retired police officer and a strong advocate for public safety.  I have appreciated his willingness to allow me as the minority vice chair to review and influence the committee schedule.  This is important to the process and allows the committee to effectively and efficiently hear as many bills as we do.

BILLS/VOTES

HB 2424: (Adding noxious weeds removal to “Adopt-a-Highway” program) On Tuesday, March 3^rd, Brenda Pace and I testified in the House Agriculture Committee hearing supporting the bill.  Although the committee did not move the bill; the committee comments were very favorable and the Chair is very supportive. 

SB 5552/SB 581:  (2007-2009 Budget Rebalance Bills) I voted NO on both bills which passed the House to rebalance the 2007-2009 budgets.  I understand that we have to rebalance the budget to meet the $881 million shortfall but I oppose some of the specific reductions. Remember last week I provided you the example in SB 5552 that cut ODFW $3.5 million for a deferred maintenance account, yet earlier this month Oregon bonded $1.2 million for ODFW deferred maintenance in the Oregon Legislative Stimulus Package.  Why???  In addition, I have spoken in support of using the “Education Stability fund” of almost $400 million for K-12 to prevent a reduction in school days.  Also, I spoke on the floor against the diversion in SB 581 of 9-1-1 funds from local services to the state general fund.  SB 581 took $3.6 million dollars from critical emergency services and leaves every dispatch facility undermanned, under-equipped and under-funded.  I believe that this action may be illegal in accordance with federal and state laws.  SB 5552 passed 37-22 and SB 581 passed 37-22 through the House on Thursday.

HB 3095: (Main Street Incentive Plan) We formally introduced the House Republican stimulus package this week.  The plan encourages businesses and homeowners to immediately invest in improvements to their property through a tax credit.  The Legislative Revenue Office suggests the plan would immediately create over 6,000 jobs across Oregon.  Under the plan, Oregonians would be able to claim 50 percent of the costs of their own capital construction projects over a five-year period.  You can read the press release on our Republican Minority leader’s website http://www.leg.state.or.us/press_releases/hro_030309.html.

HB 2882:  (Wedding Bill) I received emails in support and opposed to our bill which authorizes weddings and other commercial gatherings on exclusive farm use (EFU) land. I am working with representatives of both opinions to find a solution to allow this activity but also to be a good neighbor.  Just as the Bend Bulletin editorial stated “finding the right balance between a property owner’s need for income and a neighbor’s need for sleep won’t be easy.”  I am working with interested parties and looking at another bill addressing many uses of EFU land.  Remember the analogy that legislation is like sausage you don’t want to know what goes into the product.

HB 3121: (Kids License Plate Bill) We have introduced a bill to the House about creating a specialty license plate where the revenue generated would go the appropriate county Commission on Children and Families and they would give it to child abuse prevention programs. The bill has 8 sponsors in the Senate and 39 House sponsors. We have heard from the Transportation Committee Chair, Rep Beyer that she will have a hearing on our bill.

VISITORS/EVENTS

Realtors from all over Deschutes County

Tim Williams, Lawyer from Bend

Tom Hall from Redmond with NAIFA

The House Land Use Committee met last weekend in Redmond.  Although I was unable to attend; I am reviewing the audio recordings of the hearings.  Thanks to all that participate in this important public hearing.  Although I am not on this committee; I will follow its work this session very closely.

Remember, we are having a Talk of the Town with myself, Rep Stiegler, Sen Telfer, and the Deschutes County Commissioners at Cascades Theatrical Company, 148 NW Greenwood, Bend on March 23 at 5:30pm.

CONTACT

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.

Also, please visit our website to find all of our past Whisnant’s Weekly issues and any Press Releases that we put out about issues that are going on in Salem. Our website is http://www.leg.state.or.us/whisnant/ and then go to our News page. You may also be interested in reading Representative Bruce Hanna’s (R-Roseburg) news page on his website, http://www.leg.state.or.us/hanna/. He is the minority leader and on his News page are many interesting press releases about what the R epublican Caucus has been doing.

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

Classified Employees Week, March 2- 6, 2009

I also want to add in a note about our hardworking Classified School Employees. I want to thank them for all their work and effort that they put into our schools and I hope that many of you are able to go thank them for all their dedication in our Schools.