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IN THIS ISSUE:
Photos
From Events
Special February
Session Wrap-Up
New License Plates
Transparency
Update
Thoughts for
Thatcher
This month has been interesting. The
legislature convened for an "emergency" special session. But
where is the emergency? Debating cable versus Direct TV broadcast of
Trailblazer games? How about paper versus plastic? Legislative leaders
claim their focus was to create jobs, yet most of the "jobs"
bills seemed to create more government jobs than anything else. Many of
these bills were designed to correct "unintended consequences"
from laws passed last year.
There was some talk of taking the money
that is currently refunded to taxpayers using the Kicker law and putting
it in a rainy day fund but that idea never got off the ground. I
appreciate all the comments you sent in from last month's "Thoughts
for Thatcher." See below.
Then there's the issue of annual
sessions. For the past four years we've had annual sessions in one form
or another. I don't believe Oregonians want the legislature to meet every
year and don't see the need for them, but now voters will have a chance
to weigh in on this in November. As with Measure 66/67, the ballot title
was written by the proponents rather than by a neutral party like other
ballot measures.
There were over 200 bills introduced
for this month-long session. There were several which were adopted that
are worth mentioning, so I included a partial list in this
newsletter. I should mention the legislation I sponsored to establish the
Core
Functions of State Government. Although we didn't get the bill
passed, we were lucky enough to get a hearing and a promise by several
legislators to continue working on the concept. One thing is certain, we
need to get our core priorities in order before next session. We can't
continue funding everything at the same levels we have been. Business as
usual will not suffice.
I have many legislative ideas I'm
working on for the 2011 session -- some are continuations from previous
sessions, some from constituents who have brought me their
suggestions and concerns. If you have an issue you think needs to be
addressed by the legislature I'm always happy to put it on the list
for consideration.
Sincerely,
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Students at Ewing Young
Elementary School celebrate in Newberg. Click here for more
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Rep Thatcher talks to radio
host Bill Post at Taxpayer
Rally on Capitol Steps.
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Parents & Students rally for virtual schools. Click here for details
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Some of the Measures in Feb
Legislative Session
(*Did
not pass)
CHILDREN
SB
991: Creates private community programs to provide respite care to
families in crisis.
CRIME
SB
1007: Temporarily suspends program that was granting certain
inmates 30% off their prison
sentences.
HB
3623: Allows OLCC to distribute stickers and information on human
trafficking.
SB
999: Gives prosecutors discretion in offering diversion to veterans
in certain crimes.
ECONOMY
HB
3655: Extends unemployment benefits to nearly 19,000 Oregonians for
up to six weeks.
SB
1045: Prohibits employers from using credit histories in some
circumstances to screen
potential employees.
HB
3706: Makes banks, credit unions, mortgage and other consumer finance
lenders
subject to the state's anti-fraud laws.
HB
3698 & SB
1017: Increase amount of taxpayer money distributed to
select small
businesses.
SB
5563 & SB
5564: Allow the use of bonds to pay for $65 million renovation
project of an
ODOT building and
$75 million dormitory at the University of Oregon.
HB
3640: Allows four largest counties to waive property taxes for mobile
homes valued under
$12,500.
EDUCATION
HB
3660: Places further restrictions on virtual public charter schools.
HB
3686: Lifts ban on public school teachers wearing religious clothing
in the classroom.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
HB
3613: Extends ban on leasing land for offshore development of oil or
natural gas.
HB
3680: Reforms the Business Energy Tax Credit to limit runaway costs.
SB
1059: Requires agencies to develop policies for
limiting transportation related greenhouse
gases in metropolitan areas.
*SB 1012: Allows
water from Columbia River to be sold to other states.
*HB 3608: Provide
incentives for production and transportation of woody biomass.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
SJR
41: Refers
issue to Oregon voters to allow legislature to hold annual sessions.
*SJR 49: Puts
3% of state revenue into savings account for budget emergencies.
*HB 3638: Imposes one year
waiting period before former legislators can be hired to
non-elected positions under most circumstances.
*SB 1065: Requires
all state programs, taxes and fees to be reviewed every six
years and
ended if not renewed.
*HB 3641:
Establishes spending limit on the state budget based on inflation and
population.
HEALTH
SB
1033: Automated External Defibrillators will be mandatory in every
public school.
HB
3631: Insurers can't discriminate against victims of sexual violence
by treating their injuries
as pre-existing condition.
HB
3664: Allows teens 18-21 who left foster care to be eligible for the
Oregon Health Plan.
HB
3626: Establishes pilot program to provide vision screening for
students.
SB
1046: Gives licensed psychologists the ability to prescribe certain
medications.
*HB 3611:
Encourages Congress to allow insurance premiums to be deducted
from federal
taxable income.
(*Did not pass)
Click here
to see how Rep Thatcher voted
New License Plates
Honor
Oregon's History
40,000 sets of the
classic Pacific Wonderland vehicle plates go on sale March 1st. The special plates
are coming back in style to commemorate
Oregon's 150th Anniversary. They cost $133 and
the proceeds benefit the Oregon Historical Society.
Transparency Website
Update
www.oregon.gov/transparency
The new Oregon Transparency Website was recently updated to
include
expenditures.
The website
was created by Rep Thatcher and a handful of other legislators last year
to feature various aspects of the state budget. It is a work in progress
and will be improved over time. The new website is featured on
the main portal for state agencies - click here.
Thoughts for Thatcher:
(Due to House Rules this is
the last newsletter until May)
Do you know
any businesses that have had to lay off workers, close or move out of
state due to the new tax measures?
What should the
state do to encourage businesses to create jobs?
Click here to give Representative
Thatcher your thoughts.
Thank
you for your feedback.
Responses From
Last Month's Question:
In light of
the recent tax measures should the Legislature make changes to Oregon's
Kicker Tax Refund Law?
- The
kicker should be returned to the taxpayers. Government has way too
much money, much of which is wasted.
- There
are ways to cut spending and that should be done, not continually
looking for more ways to increase taxes.
- The
kicker should go out after essential services are covered.
- The
kicker law is nuts. The kicker should be used for a rainy day fund,
not returned to out-of-state corporations or even the everyday
taxpayer.
- If
we have overpaid taxes, then we should be entitled to those monies.
- The
last thing this progressive tax and spend state legislature
needs is another source of money to waste and tell us it simply
isn't enough.
- Hell
no to kicker changes; government has enough money.
- Stop
the waste. Stop the kicker.
- If
I spent like Salem, I'd be broke and homeless.
- This
is just one more effort to get their hands on more funds. We need to
hold the line and stop the spending.
- Like
the "no sales tax", the kicker is a unique distinctive of
Oregon and should stay as it is.
- Yes!
The kicker should be abolished.
- I
believe the legislature should not make any changes to Oregon's
kicker tax refund law. It is time state government became more
accountable for their actions and their spending.
- It
is in the constitution and should not be changed.
- My
concern with the kicker refund staying in the hands of State
Government is, they have not and have never shown the ability to
save anything.
- The
State of Oregon must learn to live within a budget the same as
we, private citizens have to.
- The
legislature and the governor should keep their hands off my money.
- This
is the taxpayers' money and I want what is owed to me back.
- Don't
steal our kicker! Oregonians voted on the kicker and it is part of
our constitution. Leave the kicker alone.
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900
Court St. NE, Salem Oregon 97301 
