Issues

On the Road to a Better Future For Oregon

During the 2007 Legislative Session, we began our journey down the road to a better future for Oregon and went farther than anyone expected. This legislative session marks a turning point in our state. We’re finally investing in Oregon families again. We’re committed to a new future ripe with potential for all our citizens. It’s a future that will be brighter for our kids, better for our economy, safer for our communities and healthier for our families. Here’s a snapshot of what, together, we’ve already accomplished.

Putting Oregon’s Children First

Reinvesting in K-12 public schools--Oregon children will receive a better education thanks to a budget that prevents further cuts, puts more teachers into the classroom, adds back programs like art and PE, reduces class sizes, allows for a full school year, improves achievement and provides new tools for local districts to build and maintain world-class schools.

Improving early childhood education--More kids will come to school prepared to learn and thrive academically and socially through increased opportunity in Oregon’s successful Head Start program.

Taking care of kids’ physical and mental well-being--While at school, kids will have healthier food choices and better protection from a 21st century threat—cyberbullying.

Insuring Oregon’s kids--Oregon can meet its moral obligation to provide affordable, accessible health care to more than 117,000 uninsured Oregon children. The Oregon Healthy Kids Plan, which the Legislature approved, will go before voters in November.

Making Healthcare More Affordable and Accessible

Bringing prescription drug costs under control--Individuals and small businesses will get some relief from financial strain due to the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. Everyone in Oregon can now get lower-cost prescription drugs by using the state’s bulk purchasing power.

Holding hospitals and insurers accountable--We held the health insurance industry and hospitals accountable for rate hikes and confusing costs so that Oregonians will finally have the opportunity to put the brakes on rising healthcare costs.

Keeping our Communities Safe

Hiring 100 More State Troopers-- Traffic and drunk-driving fatalities will decrease and the meth epidemic will get more attention because this Legislature provided funding to add 100 more State Troopers to our highways.

Cracking down on Internet predators--This year, the law caught up to 21st century criminals who solicit minors over the Internet or expose children to pornography. New laws will make it easier to prosecute these predators before they harm our kids.

Combating identity theft--Oregonians can now freeze their credit reports so criminals can’t profit from identity theft. We’ve also required companies who store and use sensitive information to report immediately any breach in security so consumers can protect themselves.

Standing up for victims of rape and incest--We protected the health and well-being of victims of rape and incest by ensuring that all hospitals and clinics provide information about and access to emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors.

Attracting Good Jobs and Investing in Our Economy

Becoming a national leader in alternative energy innovation-- Through a package of biofuels legislation approved this year, rural Oregon will see the creation of new jobs and our state will reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

Reviving higher education--After years of cuts, we have taken the first positive steps toward reinvesting in a world-class higher education system in our state. In addition, we made textbooks more affordable for college students, made college more accessible by doubling student aid and provided tools for community colleges and universities to build and maintain world-class facilities.

Identifying innovation-driven growth opportunities—We’ll maximize the state's competitive advantages and establish Oregon's niche in the global economy through the Oregon Inc. plan approved this year. Oregon Inc. will aid in the development of signature research centers in areas such as wind energy and bio-pharma research and utilize public/private partnerships to spur entrepreneurial economic development.

Connecting Oregon’s economy to the world--The state's major industries—manufacturing, forest products, agriculture, fishing, technology, and tourism—depend heavily on a sound transportation network. Our landmark Connect Oregon II plan will improve links between key transportation systems that connect Oregon industry to national and international markets, spur job creation and contribute to a lasting prosperity in our state.

Creating a More Accountable, Transparent State Government

Saving for a rainy day—We created the state’s first ever savings account--a Rainy Day Fund that will protect Oregon from drastic cuts in education, public safety and social services during the next recession.

Cutting government waste—Oregonians can be assured that their tax dollars are being used wisely as a result of increased funding for aggressive audits of state agencies. And, thanks to new laws to streamline regulations, we’re cutting down on government red tape that costs taxpayers time and money.

Closing the “revolving door”--Former lawmakers will no longer be able to turn public service into personal gain by using their legislative office to acquire lobbying jobs. Legislators will now have to take a “time out” before lobbying their former colleagues.

Toughening ethics laws for public officials--We enacted some of the toughest ethics laws for public officials in the country, limiting gifts from lobbyists and stiffening penalties for ethical violations, to ensure your representatives are representing you—not special interests with deep pockets.

Restoring efficiency and bipartisan fairness to the legislative process—We set and met clear timelines for the completion of our work in the Legislature and brought back the rights of the minority party to fully participate in the democratic process.

Restoring Oregon’s Reputation as a Steward of the Environment

Bringing Oregon's landmark "Bottle Bill" into the 21st century—We added plastic bottles used for water and flavored water to those that carry a five cent recycling deposit. The change will mean the recycling of millions more beverage containers, keeping those containers out of landfills and conserving energy and resources.

Recycling Oregon’s “e-waste”--We fought to keep computers and consumer electronics from overwhelming Oregon’s landfills and polluting soil and groundwater with toxic chemicals by partnering with electronic manufacturers to create a statewide electronics recycling program that is free to consumers.

Supporting Oregon’s Families

Promoting family in the workplace – Bills passed by the Legislature this session will make the workplace friendlier to Oregon families. New mothers will be guaranteed a break time and a private place to express milk while at work. Workers who need to take family leave from their jobs can now use paid sick days as part of that leave while they care for a loved one.

Guaranteeing family health parity – The Access to Birth Control Act will give women and families greater access to prescription contraceptives through their health insurance plans. Contraception is basic health care for women, but—until now--many insurance policies have routinely excluded it from their prescription drug coverage. Now, all women will have fair access to basic health care services.

Protecting Oregon Consumers

Prohibiting predatory lending--Oregon consumers who patronize check cashing, payday lending and car title loan businesses will be better protected from unscrupulous lenders who charge outrageous interest rates and trap working families in a spiraling pattern of debt. This legislative session we set limits on interest rates and check cashing fees and closed lending loopholes that allowed predatory lenders to operate outside conventional lending laws.

Protecting the value of gift cards--Those who receive gift cards from friends and family will no longer have to worry about excessive “inactivity fees” or expiration dates that rob consumers of the opportunity to use the card’s full value. Gift cards will no longer expire and retailers can’t charge inactivity fees—a plan that has been called a win/win for retailers and consumers.

Ending price gouging during emergencies—We want to make sure no Oregonian has to experience the kind of nightmare Hurricane Katrina victims encountered. During a natural disaster, our citizens will have protection for the first time from unscrupulous businesses under a new state law that will prohibit excessively high prices for basic necessities during a natural disaster, crisis or human-created emergency.