OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Nick Smith

January 14, 2013

503-986-1351

 

PERS REFORM, JOB GROWTH ARE KEY ISSUES IN 2013 SESSION

 

SALEM—As the 77th Legislative Assembly convenes, House Republicans today said the success of the 2013 session will be determined by the Legislature’s ability to fix the state’s pension system, promote job growth and stabilize state finances. 

 

microphone icon “Oregonians are expecting us to pass significant, long-term PERS reforms to restore school days and protect other services,” said House Republican Leader Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte). “With taxpayers facing a $16 billion unfunded liability, we must reform PERS before addressing other issues that affect our budget and tax system.”

 

The caucus also released its 2013 session priorities, which focus on increasing economic prosperity throughout Oregon while protecting and continuing the bipartisan reforms that House Republicans helped initiate in the previous term.

 

microphone icon “With many Oregon families still waiting for their own economic recovery, House Republicans will continue to offer solutions to help our businesses accelerate job growth,” said Deputy Republican Leader Julie Parrish (R-West Linn). “We’ll also work toward a stronger education system that helps more of our students and workers succeed. We hope the House will maintain the same spirit of co-governance that has made the Legislature so productive over the past two years.”

 

With an exceptionally strong and experienced team on the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee, House Republicans will call for continued spending reforms along with healthy budget reserves to sustain core services into the future.

 

microphone icon “House Republicans will work to implement spending reforms, promote essential spending and require agencies to justify fee increases,” said Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point), Vice Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. “With the continued uncertainty in our economy and the Governor's budget assumptions, it will be important to maintain a healthy reserve fund to ensure a stable budget and avoid devastating budget cuts later in the biennium.”

 

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microphone iconRadio Actualities: Rep. McLane (Click here), Rep. Parrish (Click here) and Rep. Richardson (Click here)

 

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