OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Nick Smith
May 20, 2011	503-986-1351

REP. MCLANE FIGHTS WASTEFUL SPENDING TO SUPPORT

PROGRAM FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED

SALEM— Rep. Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) today said funding for a state advertising program should be eliminated in favor of a program that provides transportation services to seniors and the disabled.  He says it’s wrong to fund the “Drive Less, Save More” ad campaign at the same time the Legislature is considering devastating cuts to human services programs.

“Five years of instructing Oregonians to ‘drive less and save more’ is enough, especially as high gas prices are already forcing citizens to make this decision,” Rep. McLane said. “The Legislature should cut this wasteful spending and redirect those savings to help our most vulnerable citizens.”

As a member of the Joint Ways and Means Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee, Rep. McLane has worked to eliminate “flexible” federal dollars for the $2 million advertising program, and redirect those savings to the Seniors and Disabled Transportation program.  He says the funding shift should be an easy decision for legislators working to balance the state budget.

“During these difficult times the Legislature should ‘spend less and save more,’ and prioritize our limited resources to help Oregonians in need,” Rep. McLane said.  “We shouldn’t spend these limited resources on programs that only serve special interests and urban transit agencies. It’s time to cut wasteful spending, and use tax dollars on programs and services that our citizens truly depend on.”

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