Ways and Means Education Subcommittee: This week we held three more meetings on Community College and Workforce Development.  On Wednesday, we had public hearings and heard from students, faculty, and administrators about the negative effects of the projected budget reductions to the Community College and Workforce Development budgets.  The enrollments are up especially at Central Oregon Community College as people without a job seek retraining and certifications to make them qualified for other careers.  I believe that Community Colleges are a state function which must be funded as an effective response to this economic recession.  It is critical to our economic recovery.  A college president stated that “community colleges are a first responder to the economic recovery.”  However, we must provide the jobs for these students to really complete the recovery.  Even if we do retain and provide more education there has to be the jobs available to hire this citizens.  

House Judiciary Committee:  One of the many important Judiciary bills we passed this week was HB 3263 which extends indefinitely the statute of limitations for certain crimes if defendant is identified on the basis of DNA sample comparisons.  The extension would apply to first degree rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration and sex abuse.  This bill was advocated by three victims of serial rapist Richard Gillmore.  Gillmore was the “Jogger Rapist” convicted of the 1986 rape of 13-year old Tiffany Edens.  On Friday, we received a presentation with the Senate Judiciary Committee on Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement program.  We are evaluating their program’s effectiveness in decreasing drug, increasing compliance with terms of probation and reducing recidivism and would enact a pilot program with HB 3264.

HB 2385:  This bill does make it a crime to smoke with children in the car.  The bill passed out of the House on a vote of 35 yeas and 25 nays.  I support the concept but could not support making this action a crime.  It’s hard to legislate common sense. It is more difficult to enforce this bill with the limited law enforcement officers we have now.  Please understand I think it is a “crime” to smoke with a minor in the car but could not vote for a bill to legislate this common sense and enforcement.

HB 2506:  This bill mandates marriage counseling to be in all insurance policies. I was contacted by the “Oregonian” after yesterday’s vote where I was the only nay with 55 yeas on this bill.  I support all aspects of the bill concerning licensing except I do not want to mandate marriage counseling in all insurance policies.  Mandates increase the cost of health coverage.  I understand that marriage counseling is important but should all citizens be forced to pay insurance to have this service.  

HB 2424: the Noxious Weeds removal in the Adopt-A-Highway program, passed the House Chamber this week with a vote of 58-0, 2 were absent. I am very excited that this bill has passed through the House and will now move on to the Senate.

 There are several bills that have been introduced this session regarding taxes and fees increases, Click Here

The Commission on Children and Families held a press conference on Monday morning to announce that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Representative Whisnant, Representative Roblan, Representative Boone, and Senator Kruse were in attendance. The conference also announced the formation of Prevent Child Abuse, Oregon Chapter. The CCF is trying to promote awareness of child abuse prevention in the month of April.

This week, I was visited by Dr. Becky Johnson, OSU-CC campus and Dr. Jim Middleton, COCC President.  With Rep. Stiegler and Senator Telfer, we discussed the upcoming budgets and a strategy to support adequate funding for both schools which are vital to the economic recovery of Central Oregon.

Darrel Wilson, Executive Director of Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon visited with us on Thursday Morning.

Harol Koyama, President and CEO, and Eric Simpkins, Government Affairs of IdaTech, LLC. IdaTech is an Advanced Fuel Cell Solutions Company located in Bend, Oregon. 

Scott Johnson and Shannon Dames, Mental and Public Health Department in Deschutes County.

Dennis Dempsey, Superintendent of the High Desert ESD

Andy High and Tim Knopp, Central Oregon Builders Association

Remember to please pass this newsletter on to your friends and family if you wish. Encourage them to email my office and ask to be added to our mailing list.

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.

Have a Happy Easter