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Dear Friends,
The 2009 summer holiday season is over. For some, it is too soon and for others, not soon enough. Since the 2009 session ended, I have been very busy as your State Representative. In July, I
attended the “Education Commission of the States” (ECS) education forum in Nashville, TN as an Oregon Commissioner. The ECS forum focus was “shifting education and the economy into high gear.” Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty served as the forum chair and he was joined by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and former Colorado Governor Roy Romer. They addressed education challenges. Next, I attended the “American Legislative Exchange Council Annual Meeting” in Atlanta, GA as the Oregon Public Chair. In Atlanta, we had great seminars and speakers highlighted by Newt Gingrich. In August, I met with constituents and local leaders to stay on top of local
state issues. I worked with Senator Chris Telfer, Rep. Judy Stiegler and Bend City Council members to address an issue with Oregon Liquor Control Commission. City Council members Jodie Barram and Jeff Eager did most of the work. It appears that the issue is on the way to being resolved in order to be fair to our local businesses but still maintaining proper
controls. I am scheduling to speak to local service organizations and other groups on the results of the 2009 Session. My report on the “2009 Session” was mailed randomly to the people of my district. If you did not receive one in the mail; you may review the Post Session Report on my website: www.leg.state.or.us/whisnant/news.
Sincerely,
Gene
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I was appointed to two House Committees for this interim. I will remain on the House Interim Judiciary Committee as the vice chair. I have also been appointed to the House Interim Consumer Protection and Government
Accountability Committee. This new committee assignment will allow me to follow up on many ideas concerning consumer protection and government accountability. Also, I assume that this committee will be in charge with monitoring the government transparency website (HB 2500) which I helped craft and pass as a chief co-sponsor. Committee scheduling prevented me
from serving on the House Interim Education Committee on which I was vice chair and have served on since September 2003. Our first interim committee meetings are scheduled for September 29 and 30.
I am still serving as the House member on the Oregon Commission on Children & Families. The Commission will be meeting periodically during the interim. Meetings of the Oregon Supreme Court’s Special Courts Advisory Committee, to which the Chief Justice appointed me, have been suspended due to budget restraints.
The interim began with our participation at many local 4th of July events.
August started with attending the Deschutes County Fair and meeting many people with questions and concerns about our state and national government.
I have attended Redmond, La Pine, and Sisters city council meetings. I discussed the 2009 Session with the Sunriver Rotary Club and am scheduled to speak to the Sisters Rotary Club on September 1st and the Redmond Rotary Club on September 17th.
I have met and discussed the 2009 session with the Central Oregon Builders Association legislative committee and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Oregon.
We’ll continue to meet with as many organizations and citizen groups as possible to discuss the 2009 Session and the February 2010 “special” session. Please contact Megan in my Salem office if you are interested in a meeting.
I am fortunate enough that our Legislative Assistant Megan Schenewerk will be in our Salem office during the interim. Please contact her first with your issues and questions.
Office phone number: 503-986-1453;
Email: rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us;
Mailing address: 900 Court St NE H-471 Salem OR 97301.
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Please visit our website’s Link to read our post session report that we have mailed
out to some constituents. We were not able to mail them to everyone in the 53rd District, so if you have not received one, please visit the website.
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900 Court St. NE, H-471, Salem Oregon 97301