July 2012

With the election season underway we can help
our kids understand how government works with
a new video from the National Conference
of State Legislator's Back to School Program
Click here for the video

CAPITOL NEWS

History in the Making
at the Capitol

A special project is underway called "Oregon's History Gateway at the State Capitol" which will be full of exhibits and interpretive programs to educate the nearly 300,000 students and other visitors that come to the Capitol each year. The Oregon State Capitol Foundation is planning a Welcome Center and Listening Posts using the old Capitol telephone booths. Click here to learn more.

Mobile Website for Legislative Junkies

For those who need easy access to information about the Oregon Legislature they can now use the new Mobile Website. Go to:
www.oregonlegislature.gov

Then click on "mobile site" near the top right of the page. The mobile site fits the smaller screens on smart phones and includes things like contact information for legislators and video of hearings going on at the Capitol.

A few hopeful signs that things are starting to turn around in Oregon's economy this summer. The unemployment rate is 1% lower than a year ago and state economic forecasters say growth is slow but steady. I would caution that the rate doesn't give the whole picture of all the Oregonians who've given up looking for a job or those working part time for a minimal salary.

One thing is still true, a lot more work is ahead in order to improve the business climate in Oregon. One example of this truth is reflected in a new survey on small businesses which gave our state an "F" grade when it comes to how difficult it is to hire a new employee. Also we can do better in making our land use laws more flexible which would also enhance economic development in our state. The legislature tried to pass some common sense measures giving cities and counties more control over planning at the local level. That didn't happen, but Governor Kitzhaber recently took a small step with an Executive Order to conduct a pilot project in three Southern Oregon counties.

In an effort to plan for the future, the legislature and the Governor have both made overtures to hold our state agencies more accountable for how our limited tax dollars are spent. Noted economist Milton Freidman once said, "one of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results." A new law was enacted by lawmakers (Senate Bill 676) requiring that we craft the state budget looking at outcomes we can measure instead of just always giving agencies more money based on inflation, caseload increases or other factors. A year ago the Governor launched his "10-Year Plan for Oregon Initiative." According to the 10-Year Plan website it is a "strategic planning process to make state spending decisions more transparent and results focused."

During a hearing this spring at the Audits and IT Committee which I Co-Chair, questions were raised about whether this new budgeting approach will produce more than just another report to collect dust on a shelf somewhere. I also pushed for additional reforms last year to require prioritizing the core functions in our state budget like public safety and education (House Bill 2780) but was unsuccessful in getting that passed. However, I am not ready to give up and will continue to advocate for changes in our spending practices; Oregon taxpayers deserve no less.

Of course decisions we make about how to spend tax dollars trickle down to the local level and many school districts have recently wrapped up their budget process for the upcoming school year. Education reform is the subject of my commentary in the Keizer Times this month. Click here for a link.

One ongoing concern is the rising cost of providing retirement benefits for teachers and other public employees across the state. New figures show a $1 billion increase is projected for the current state budget in how much it costs for all state and local governments to cover their expenses in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). Our state is not alone. Others are facing similar problems and it's definitely an issue the legislature needs to deal with next year.

States across the country, including Oregon, are also wondering what's next for health care now that the US Supreme Court has issued the ruling on the federal health care law. I don't believe the state's efforts to overhaul the system used to provide care for low-income residents on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) are directly tied to so-called "Obamacare". However, many observers are concerned that the structure we're setting up for OHP patients will be forced on everyone with private insurance as well. I strongly oppose such a move, especially when we don't know what kind of results we'll see from this "transformation" initiative - good or bad, and I will be working with other legislators to prevent that from happening.

For those who are following the transformation program, two of the new Coordinated Care Organizations (CCO) were recently approved for Marion County: Willamette Valley Community Health and FamilyCare Inc. These CCOs are supposed to ensure the doctors for OHP clients are working together reducing unnecessary trips to the emergency room or other costs. CCOs begin their work across the state starting next month. And, the federal government just announced approval for this transformation effort in Oregon along with nearly $2 billion to help cover costs over the next five years

I remain skeptical of the Health Insurance Exchange Oregon is establishing to presumably act as a one-stop shopping place for patients which is directly tied to Obamacare. The public corporation set up to run the Exchange is supposed to be self-funded after tens of millions of federal dollars are cut off in a few years. If the numbers don't pencil out and there aren't enough customers to keep the Exchange going, the legislature may be pressured to step in with taxpayer subsidies to try to move patients off private sector programs and into the government controlled market. Stay tuned.

I welcome your questions on health care and other issues as we forge ahead in preparation for the 2013 Legislative Session.

Sincerely,

Signature

P.S. Included in my monthly newsletter is information about various government programs paid for with your tax dollars that you may want to know more about. See details below.

transportation

Transportation Updates in Marion
& Yamhill Counties

Newberg-Dundee Bypass Reaches Mile Marker

This summer the Federal Highway Administration signed off on a decision for the Tier 2 Final Environmental Impact Statement with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the Newberg-Dundee Bypass Project. That signals a green light for the project to move into the last bit of design and construction work before Phase 1 of the project can get underway next year. Phase 1 is a 2-lane route from Highway 219 southeast of Newberg to Highway 99W southwest of Dundee.

ODOT reports they have collected almost all of the $192 million authorized by the legislature in 2009. When it's complete, the 11-mile, 4-lane, expressway around Newberg and Dundee is projected to ease traffic congestion in the region.

Non-road Projects

For the past several legislative sessions funding has been provided for non-road projects like the new Keizer Transit Center which is slated to break ground August 8th. Over $2 million of the $8 million cost for the new project came from what's known as Connect Oregon funds.

This time around the legislature approved around $40 million for air, marine, rail, transit and other projects around the state. The Oregon Transportation Commission is finalizing the list of projects that will receive funding next month.

The list includes:

1) A new Transit Center in McMinnville ($1.2 million request) to provide shelter, restrooms and other amenities for bus riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

2) The Downtown Salem Transit Mall Rehabilitation at Courthouse Square ($3 million request) which not only accommodates bus riders, but also a parking garage and administrative building.

3) The Willamette Valley Railway Company ($904,000 request) needs funds to repair 7 bridges east of Salem to help rail freight service and boost economic development.

Click here to read more about the Connect Oregon program.

Yamhill County Pilot Program for New Court System

A new system for filing and tracking court documents was recently launched in Yamhill County, the first in the state for the E-Court project. The Oregon Judicial Department is trying to build a virtual courthouse statewide so the different courts can communicate and also share information with other agencies using technology. The public can expect better access and security as well.

The legislature's Audit and IT Committee has held several hearings on this project and will continue to monitor for any problems. California attempted to implement a similar system but had to cancel due to poor planning after spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars.

More counties are expected to flip the switch on their E-Court systems later this year. You can learn more by clicking on this link.

home Families in Foreclosure Process
Get Additional Assistance

Additional help is now available for families facing foreclosure on their homes with the start of a new state law this month. While the foreclosure rate appears to be improving in some parts of the state, many homes remain in jeopardy and new services may help those in need.

During the brief legislative session earlier this year, lawmakers enacted Senate Bill 1552 which adds new responsibilities for mortgage lenders, including mediation with borrowers before a foreclosure is completed. The Oregon Department of Justice is heading up the new mediation program. Click here or go to www.foreclosuremediationor.org to find out details.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Housing and Community Services agency is working with non-profit groups around the state to train counselors to guide distressed homeowners, attorneys that will work on special cases, and a one-stop shopping website with supplemental information. Click here for more on those programs.

Keeping Track of State Bureaucracy

Ever wonder how many boards, commissions, task forces and other quasi government agencies currently exist at the state level? What do they do and why do we need them? Those questions and many more were part of a recent audit by the Secretary of State's Office. There are at least 250 of these boards, maybe more according to the audit. These entities cover a wide range of topics like the weed board to one that regulates massage therapists. The audit calls for better training of board members and more oversight by lawmakers. And FYI, last year the legislature created three dozen additional boards, task forces, and work groups.

One way to keep track of what all these board and commissions are up to is by checking out a new feature Representative Thatcher was able to have added to the Oregon Transparency Web Site (www.oregon.gov/transparency). She was successful in passing House Bill 2788 which requires all agencies, advisory boards and other bodies in state government to post their meeting notices on that web site. There are more than 100 meetings just for the month of July. Keep in mind many of the decisions impacting businesses and families in state policy start in these various meetings so it's important to keep an eye on what's going on if you have a particular area of interest.

Thoughts for Thatcher

Last year the legislature referred a measure (House Joint Resolution 7) to the ballot for the November 2012 election which would change the Oregon Constitution giving the Governor more power during a "catastrophic disaster" and includes other provisions. Do you believe this is a good idea or not? Click here to read HJR 7

Click here to respond or email rep.kimthatcher@state.or.us

Feedback from last month's newsletter question:

Do you support the State Board of Education's ban on Native American mascots or do you feel the legislature should step in and allow local schools to make their own decisions after consulting with tribal representatives?

Responses received:

I definitely support allowing local schools to make their own decisions after consulting with tribal representatives. I do believe many tribes are NOT offended by NA mascots, and it just carries "politically correct" restrictions to a ridiculous level. It just seems to me that there are a lot of people out there who don't have enough to do with their time!
This was NOT a majority Native American issue, but a select few Non-Native Americans that generated a perceived outcry that the Board acted on. Too bad we have time enough to address these mundane issues and not address something positive like a school voucher system or more Charter Schools.
I think local schools in consult with tribal representatives should make the decision. I have not been impressed with decisions made by the State Board of Education in the past.
If the tribes are OK with these mascots, others should be too. What next? Should the people of Norse heritage was "Vikings" to be changed? Should the Greeks was "Spartans" to be changed? The pro-animal groups might was to see "Tigers", "Lions" to go?
I think we should let the individual schools set their own policy. If a recognized Tribe, with local jurisdiction, registers a legitimate complaint with the school board, it should be taken seriously.
The State Board of Education's ban on Native American mascots is just another example of the government and their agencies becoming way too involved in local issues and the lives of its citizens.
We have the shortest school year of any state in America, graduation rates are falling and standards are being reduced. The State Department of Education should be dealing with those issues, not whether or not "Indians" or "Chiefs" or "Warriors" upset some busybodies.
I feel the legislature should step in and allow local schools to make their own decisions after consulting with tribal representatives. Leave them alone.
With all of the education problems that we have in our public schools you would think that this board could find time to address some of them. A made-up flap over Indian names is not one of them.
More government interference in the name of political correctness. No wonder so many citizens are cynical.
After all of the evil that the whites did to the First Nations peoples I think it is a good thing that schools use some reference to their valor and warrior skills in choosing their school mascots. It seems a crying shame that folks who have graduated as a Warrior, Brave, Indian, etc. no longer have that mascot to identify with.
Oregon has towns, rivers, lakes, streams, mountain ranges, streets, casinos and roads that carry names of Native America tribes, such as Siltcoos, Grand Ronde, Ochoco, Deschutes, Umqua, Modoc, Takilma, Umatilla and Wallowa to name a few. Oregon has a well-blended balance of names throughout the state that depicts the history of Oregon and its pioneers, settlers, tribes and prominent leaders of the state. The school board's recent decision is a prime example of government over reach.
It is all just a distraction from the fact kids are not being taught to read well or do math in the early grades. This mascot issue is nonsense. It is just the illusion of doing something.
I would allow Oregon schools to make their own decisions on school or mascot names just like they have done for decades. If a tribe objects then the offending school should be sensitive to that but otherwise, the state board should lighten up!

If you want to contact Rep Thatcher's office you can send an email to: rep.kimthatcher@state.or.us or call 503.986.1425

Write to Rep Thatcher at:

900 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301

www.leg.state.or.us/thatcher