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 Feb 8, 2016

 


Dear Constituents and Friends,

I have always opposed the short session and this 2016 session is confirming my reasons for opposing a 35 day session without better limitations on what we can do.  The leadership with the support of the Governor are moving ahead with an agenda of significant policies without adequate input by the minority party and Oregonians.  The citizens were assured that the 35 day session would be limited to budget adjustments, emergencies, corrections, and non-controversial policies.

We are projected to have 2017-2019 budget shortage of billions.  It is my opinion, the leadership is trying to pass legislation which will provide them the funds to cover the budget shortage plus funds to increase the current service level of funding. 

The first step in their strategy is to pass an increased minimum wage bill.  Friday, the Senate Workforce Committee "swiftly" passed a "three-tiered system" which will give Oregon the highest minimum wage rates in the nation.  There has been no objective study of the impact of this action to the state budget, school budgets, city and county budgets or local businesses.  An increase in the minimum wage will affect the salary contracts of government and school union employees who uses minimum wage as a base for their negotiations.  Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist told a Senate Committee that Linn County will not raise the minimum wage.  He states that Linn County will "opt out" because according to the Oregon Constitution the legislation is an unfunded mandate on his county.  (An Oregon constitutional snag for governor's minimum wage plan?

There are several possible minimum wage referrals to the voters but passing a referral will cost the minimum wage increase supporters significant campaign funds.  Passing this legislation in the 35 day session costs the majority party and supporters nothing.  Thus, the majority party and its supporters have more funds for campaigns.  

Next, the leadership strategy is to pass significant legislation which harms citizens providing rental housing for low income families to impose more regulations on small businesses and foster care providers, and to increase the cost of electricity for all citizens.

Remember this is being done within 35 days.  They have 27 days left; maybe they will have time to help middle class families and rural Oregonians, to improve our education system and health services, and to address the ethical issues in Oregon government.

I presented HB 4057 amended to the House Education Committee on Friday.  I am optimistic that this bill will pass which requires a report on how we are using over $250 million from the State School Fund to help students from poverty families.  My second bill, HB 4010, is scheduled for a hearing in the House Higher Education, Innovation and Workforce Committee next week but will die in committee.  HB 4010 requires public universities to report on their financial support of non-profits which effects student's tuition.

With the 35 day session, bills must have been scheduled for a work session on Friday, Feb. 5 or they die and must be voted out of the committee of the original chamber by Thursday, Feb. 11.  For the first week, I had many meetings with advocates and opponents of many bills.  In addition, I had committee meetings and floor sessions. Basically, your and my inputs on House bills ends on Thursday; unless they come back amended.  Then we will have a short time to respond to Senate bills.

Our office has tried to answer and/or forward constituent emails on bills to the committee staffs to enter comments into the record.  Please follow the committee meetings and the issues you are concerned about on OLIS or watch on the legislative website.   The volume of proposed bills and the deadlines adversely affects our ability to input your communications; however, we appreciate all your inputs. 

Please help me convince the leadership that this is not good to overload the 35 day session with this many important policies.  


Respectfully submitted,
 

 
Gene Whisnant 
 


 
Contacting our Salem office

Seal
Rep. Whisnant, Josie Whisnant and Vicki Olson

Address-
900 Court St. NE   H-383
Salem, OR  97031

 Office phone number-
(503) 986-1453

Rep. Whisnant's email-

 

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Jessica York, Ashtlyn Clark, Jorilynn Messner, Kaley Cope from Oregon Student Association met with Rep. Whisnant




Sharlene Weed, Clark Brody, Robin Tawney, Dwane Krumme from Habitat for Humanity of Oregon met with Rep. Whisnant and Korina Huffman



Lauren Olander, Gary Tash, Aftan Damon from Cancer Society 


 

  

Oregon Legislative Information System

OLIS

 

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