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Dear Friends,
Our beautiful Central Oregon
summer vacations are ending and the kids will be in school soon. Our
son’s family and several friends visited us this summer. Being tour
guides gave us the opportunity to renew our appreciation for all the
natural beauty and recreational tourist opportunities we have to enjoy
in Central Oregon. We participated in the State’s best Fourth of July
events- La Pine Rodeo, La Pine Frontier Days, Redmond Parade and
Centennial Celebration. Next, we greeted many constituents at the State’s
best County Fair. Finally, I had the honor as a State Representative
and Vietnam Veteran of speaking at the “Vietnam War traveling Wall”
ceremony at the Redmond High School on the evening of August 12th.
Megan and I have continued meeting with constituents and organizations
to keep a pulse and awareness of the issues and concerns of the people.
We have submitted some of our legislative agenda ideas for bill drafts
to help Oregon businesses recover with private job growth.
Sincerely, honest, and with respect-
Gene Whisnant
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I have already started drafting my
Legislative Agenda for the 2011 Session. I am planning to introduce a
number of bills that will help small businesses, Oregon students, and
others. I am working with NFIB and small business leaders to draft a bill
that would require Small Business Impact Statements be prepared for bills
that will have a financial impact or cost on small businesses. I want to
ensure Representatives and Senators know the financial impact of their
votes. I will reintroduce a bill “Keep Kids Safe” license plate that
would allow a specialty license plate be made available and where the
revenue from the plates would go to child abuse prevention efforts. I do
not believe High School students have the opportunity to learn enough
financial literacy or civics education before graduation. I plan on
introducing a resolution that encourages School Districts to require a ½
credit of financial literacy and a ½ credit of civics education for all
students as graduation requirements. As a member of the American
Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), we vote on model legislation in the
committees. I have started to draft two of ALEC’s model legislation and
plan on introducing them next session. One is a Privatization Initiative
panel that would create a panel to consider Oregon government’s
priorities and determine which activities are best provided by the
government and what services could be provided by the private sector. The
other ALEC model is to create a council on efficient government. We need
to take a hard look at Oregon’s government and ensure that the services
are delivered as efficient as possible.
Education Commission of the States
Annual Meeting August 18th- 20th
National Forum in Portland. Rep Whisnant is one of the
Representatives appointed to serve on the Commission.
Tour of Epic Aircraft and Kids
Center in Bend, Aug. 24th
Tour of Rocky Mountain Products
and Pacific Pellet in Redmond, Aug. 24th
La Pine “Band of
Brothers” veterans group Aug. 25th
September 18th -
Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA) Redmond Centennial Breakfast
September 21st -24th
- Legislative Interim Committee Days in Salem
September 27th – Central
Oregon Resources for Independent Living (CORIL) Annual Partnership
Luncheon in Bend
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CONTACT INFO
Office phone number:
503-986-1453
Megan Schenewerk, Legislative
Assistant
Email: rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us
Website:
www.leg.state.or.us/whisnant
Mailing address: 900 Court
Street NE H-471, Salem, Oregon 97301
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900
Court St. NE, H-471, Salem Oregon 97301