Oregon State Seal

HOUSE REPUBLICAN OFFICE

 

For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 18, 2013

Contact: Kevin Curry, 503-986-1351

 

DEMOCRATS BLOCK BILLS HELPING LOW-MIDDLE INCOME OREGON FAMILIES

 

SALEM, OR – On a party-line vote today, Democrats in the Oregon House of Representatives blocked a vote on three bills which would have helped Oregon’s low and middle income families. House Republicans called for a vote on the bills, which would have reduced taxes for low and middle income families, increased money for classrooms, and provided flexibility when dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The specific bills were:

 

HB 3210: Provides tax relief for lower- and middle-income Oregonians. Third party analysis of similar concepts estimate a typical family of four making $35,000 per year would save $927.00. It would stimulate the economy by providing more family income for spending and would add over $2 billion in new tax revenue over five years. “This tax cut for struggling, low and middle-income families would have given them more money in every paycheck, helping them and providing more spending in our local communities,” said Rep. Jason Conger (R – Bend), chief sponsor of the measure.

 

HB 3288: Allows 25 percent of the union dues paid by a teacher to be given to the school where the teacher works for in-classroom instructional purposes. This will provide relief for teachers who spend their own money on instructional supplies and dedicate more money for classroom spending. “This bill would give teachers the choice of redirecting some of their own resources back into their classrooms to benefit their students,” said Rep. Mark Johnson (R – Hood River), who made the motion to bring the bill for a vote.

 

HB 2411: Instructs the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish extended weekday and Saturday operating schedules for field offices. Right now, the DMV is only open during regular business hours Monday through Friday, which forces people to take time off of work. These current hours of operation are hard on families who must lose pay or take vacation time in order to renew their licenses or do other DMV business. “Government needs to recognize the real cost paid by Oregon’s families from the unreasonable hours DMV has set. A business that set their hours in such an unfriendly manner wouldn’t last long,” said. Rep. Kevin Cameron (R – Salem)

 

Rep. Mike McLane (R – Powell Butte), the House Republican Leader, expressed disappointment that the measures were not supported by House Democrats. “Oregon’s low and middle income families are working hard to provide for their families and the Oregon Legislature should take these simple, common-sense steps to help them out,” said Rep. McLane. “These measures would have helped low and middle-income families on a day-to-day basis. They would have helped them keep more money in their family budgets and more money in their kids’ classrooms.”

 

 

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