In the current economic recession, I believe the priority for the state of Oregon and the legislature should be job creation.  Since our state revenue depends on income taxes; we need more people with payroll checks.  I’ll try to keep you posted on how we are doing at providing more real JOBS for the 254,404 unemployed Oregonians with families and mortgages and food bills.

Jobs Scoreboard

Bill                                                                                        Jobs Created

SB 5552 borrowed $175 million                                                       16

for maintenance on state facilities.

 (No change!!!)

“WASHINGTON STATE PASSES BUDGET TO BRIDGE $9B GAP”

The $35 billion budget did not propose general tax increases

(AP) Washington’s legislature granted final approval to a grim two-year budget Saturday…that would whack $4 billion from education, health care, and social services.  About $5 billion of the shortfall was made up with federal money, raids of outside accounts, and other one-time fixes that defer underlying budget problems.  Nearly $830 million would be left in reserves.  The spending cuts could lead to 8,000 government worker layoffs, strip 40,000 people from the state-subsidized Basic Health Plan and leave 9,000 college enrollment slots without state financing.  Teachers won’t get their voter-approved cost-of-living raises, K-12 schools will get less money to hire staff, and hospitals and nursing homes will be paid less to care for the poor.

Ways and Means Education Subcommittee: We continued working the higher education budget on Monday and Wednesday.  Tuesday, we received testimony on the K-12 budget by OEA and OSEA who recommended a two year budget plan with a one year budget and a second year escalation clause if the economy improves.  Then, there were presentations on our K-12 mentoring program and the K-12 transportation study.

House Judiciary Committee: We moved all House bills through the committee to comply with the deadline.   Now, we will focus on the bills introduced in the Senate.

HB 3121A:  The “Keep Kids Safe” license plate bill was a priority bill for us with the County, Coalition of County, and State Commissions on Children & Families.  The bill, which we tried to pass last session, passed unanimously out of the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday.  The profit from the specialty license plates will be invested in child abuse prevention programs in the county where the plate was purchased.

HB 2897A:  This bill requires the courts to include a “written finding” when the courts do not concur with a Department of Human Services recommendation for placement of a child with relatives.  I am a strong advocate for placing foster children with relatives and was the chief sponsor of this bill which passed the House on Monday with a 58-1 vote.

HB 3076:  The bill requires school districts to submit a written plan of instruction for talented and gifted (TAG) students.  It passed the House on Thursday unanimously.  This is the third session I am proud to have sponsored legislation to supports education for TAG students.

MILITARY BILLS PASSED

HJM 12: This bill urges Congress to enact legislation increasing veteran’s access to health care. It passed the House unanimously on Monday.  I am a co-chief sponsor of this bill with Rep. Brent Barton (D- Clackamas).

HJM 21: This bill recommends Congress to change funding for veterans health care from discretionary entitlements to permanent and direct entitlement. This bill came to floor on Monday and passed unanimously. I am a co-chief sponsor of this bill with Rep. Sal Esquivel (R-Medford); Rep. Jeff Barker (D-Beaverton); and Rep. Chuck Riley (D-Washington County).

HB 2510:  This bill implements lifetime veterans hiring preference for public sector employment positions passed the House on Tuesday.  I am the Chief Sponsor of this bill.

HB 2500:  Open Books Oregon, one of my priority bills, passed the House on Wednesday with a vote of 55-5.  This taxpayer’s transparency bill will begin the process to have a searchable webpage for citizens to review the Oregon State financial records.  Please review the press releases at www.leg.state.or.us/whisnant

HB 2377:  The cell phone bill passed the House on Tuesday with a 38-22 vote. I voted no. (Sorry, Frank) This was a difficult vote because I believe that people should not use cell phones without hands-free accessories in moving vehicles.  However, I would have preferred the bill set this offense as a secondary penalty; i.e. you must be violating another law to be stopped and cited for using a cell phone in a moving vehicle.  The advocates made several amendments but they were not clear in how the bill would be enforced.  If the bill is improved in the Senate; I m ay be able to support a more reasonable bill to eliminate this unsafe practice.

 Congratulations to the City of Redmond

Tiffany Lewis, District Liaison --

I want to sincerely thank Tiffany who has worked as our District Liaison for the past two years.  Tiffany attended events and meetings in district for me and watched the local press for items of interest.  She helped organize our “Noxious Weed bill” local work group meetings and played a key role in my constituent outreach program.  She is an impressive young lady who has been an excellent representative for me and the office.  We wish her best of luck in the future.

Constituent Visitors

Central Oregon Mortgage Banker group

          Andy Zook, Bend

Lana Strom, Sunriver

Kelly Baer, Bend

Debbie Tallman, Bend

Michael Hinton, Bend

Angela Boothroyd, Redmond

Rockland Dunn, Bend

Alan Unger, Deschutes County Commissioner

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.