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

                                                                                  Jobs          Jobs

Bill                                                        Projects/Maintained/Created

SB 5552 borrowed $175 million                                                      

for maintenance on state facilities.     174            648            102

“Go Oregon Stimulus Plan” and

promised 3,000 new jobs & 547 projects.

Ways and Means Education Subcommittee:  The committee on Thursday held public hearings on three bills.  HB 2544 establishes a ten-member Oregon Environmental Literacy Task Force to develop an Oregon Environment Literacy Plan.  HB 2571 allows certain veterans with honorable discharges to pay tuition and fees at discounted rates.  SB 442 comes from Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton) which proposes studying the financial viability of the OSU-CC, OUS (Oregon Uni versity System) conversion to a semester calendar, increasing enrollment and rural-student success, combining management functions at smaller universities, and redundant high-cost low-demand programs.  I put on the record that I did not see the need to have a study which is due by October 1^st on the OSU-CC financial viability.  The OUS Chancellor in testimony did state that the enrollment at OSU-CC is up 18 % and that it is not fair to only compare the upper level (last two years) of the cost at OSU-CC without factoring in the less expensive first two years at COCC.

House Judiciary Committee: On Monday, we began working all Senate originated bills.  We passed two “victim rights” bill, SB 233A and SB 218.

HB 2727A:  This bill protects persons with concealed handgun licenses (CHL) from having personal information released to the public.  The bill passed the House on a 53-4 vote. The passed bill is different than the original bill on which I was a sponsor but we could not get a bill passed that was not in the public laws statutes.  We worked with the sheriffs on the amended HB 2727 and will continue to work with them to provide more CHL protections in the future.  I know that some gun rights advocates are not satisfied with this bill but I do believe that it provides more protecti on than existing law.

HB 2511A:  This bill makes the Secretary of State’s office set up a voting by fax system for Military and Overseas Voters. This bill will be passing out of the House Rules Committee soon and be coming to the House floor for a vote. You may go to our website news page to see the press release regarding this bill.

HB 3121A:  The “Keep Kids Safe” license plate bill was a priority bill for us with the County, Coalition of Counties , and State Commissions on Children & Families.  The bill, which we tried to pass last session, passed out of the House on Thursday with a 57-3 vote. The profit from the specialty license plates will be invested in child abuse prevention programs in the county where the plate was purchased. Read our press release here about the bill.

Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony

On Thursday, I attended the annual memorial ceremony at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training which honors fallen law enforcement officers.  Attorney General John Kroger was the guest speaker.  The four fallen officers who were recognized were Officer Samuel Young from the Portland Police Bureau, Reserve Deputy Robert Riley from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Senior Trooper William Hakim from the Oregon State Police, and Captain Tom Tennant from the Woodburn Police Department.  Trooper Hakim and Captain Tennant were killed in the line of duty last year in the Woodburn bank bombing.  Woodburn Police Chief, Scott Russell, who was seriously wounded in the bombing read the recognition speech for his colleague Captain Tennant.  It was a very inspirational ceremony “honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the citizens of Oregon.”

Sisters Residents and Neighbors:

          Come join me at a Meet & Greet with Senator Telfer at the Sisters Chamber of Commerce tonight (Friday May 8^th) for conversation and refreshments

Friday, May 8^th

5:30pm-7:00pm

Sisters Chamber of Commerce

291 E. Main Avenue

Sisters, OR 97759

VISITORS

La Pine Teen Court Members

Lindy Gravelle and many of her fans came to the Hearing where her song, “No Place Under the Sun Like Oregon”, was considered being an additional State Song. We wanted to add her song, in addition to “Oregon, My Oregon”, to be recognized as official state songs. The Register Guard wrote a great article on what we are doing regarding the song.

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.