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Legislative Update |
September 2012 |
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VOTER REGISTRATION | |
www.oregonvotes.org
*Information on voter registration in Oregon
Click here
*First time voters can register online
Click here
*Update current voter registration
Click here
*Download a voter registration form
Click here |
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ITEMS OF INTERST | |
Newberg-Dundee Bypass Groundbreaking
Rep Thatcher attended a kickoff ceremony for the long awaited project . Click here for more.
(Picture provided by ODOT)
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Future of PCC Newberg?
Now's your chance to tell Portland Community College leaders what to focus on for the future in Newberg. A community forum will be held at the PCC Newberg Center on Wednesday, September 26th at 6 pm.
Click here for details. |
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Today is National Voter Registration Day (September 25th, 2012) and efforts are underway around the state to encourage Oregonians to sign up to participate in our elections process. (The actual deadline to register to vote for the November election is OCTOBER 16TH in Oregon)
One of the themes for this first ever national day is "your vote is your voice" and I couldn't agree more. That's why it's so important to ensure that the people who have a voice are legally eligible to vote in the first place.
In the proclamation for this national day issued by Governor John Kitzhaber it says: "Whereas: The State of Oregon has been a leader in innovative, secure, and accessible technology for registering to vote and voting." Yes, technology is important, but it's equally important that we have the basics, like ensuring those who register to vote for the first time meet the eligibility standards.
I have worked hard at the State Capitol to change state law to add the same requirements already in federal law. Currently you'll see wording on the various voter registration forms which ask for your identification. That is a FEDERAL requirement in order to vote in FEDERAL elections. However, if you don't provide the proper ID you will still be registered to vote in state and local elections. I recently wrote more about this problem in the Keizer Times Newspaper. Click here to read the commentary.
When I first proposed this idea of putting the same voter ID rules into state law that already work well at the federal level back in February of 2011 there were nearly 10,000 Oregonians who had not provided the correct identification when they registered to vote. They are currently only allowed to vote in state and local elections, not federal. Today that number has grown by 10 percent to nearly 11,000 of these conditional voters. What makes this fact even more interesting is that the total number of registered voters has only increased less than 1 percent in the same time period.
To the left you'll see various links to information about voter registration. We should all encourage our coworkers, friends and relatives to participate in our democratic process by registering to vote so they can take part in the upcoming election. But we also need to protect the credibility of the system by screening out those who should not be authorized to cast a ballot.
I will continue to work on changes when the legislature goes back in session next year and I welcome your thoughts on this issue at the bottom of this newsletter.
Sincerely,
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. |
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Rep Thatcher Supporting Community Events
Keizer Transit Center Groundbreaking
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(Pictured above left to right: Allan Pollock-head of the Cherriots/Salem-Keizer Transit District, US Senator Ron Wyden, Rep Thatcher, US Congressman Kurt Schrader, Jerry Thompson-Board President for Cherriots/Salem-Keizer Transit District) |
Local officials broke ground recently at the site where a new transit center will be built to provide park-and-ride spaces for cars, facilities for bikes, and restrooms for passengers among other features. The $8 million facility, funded with mostly state and federal funds should be complete next year.
National Night Out in Keizer
Thanks to Darrell Fuller in north Keizer for hosting one of several events around the country to increase awareness of local public safety programs. Rep Thatcher was pleased to join Keizer Fire Department and all the neighbors who showed up. |
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(Pictured left to right: Art Bobrowitz-retired OSP Trooper & Memorial Committee member from Keizer, Rep Thatcher, Richard Evans-Oregon State Police Superintendent) |
Oregon State Police
Fallen Trooper Memorial Update
150 people turned out for a solemn groundbreaking ceremony held a few weeks ago in Salem on the Capitol Mall for a living memorial to OSP troopers killed in the line of duty over the past eight decades. A special committee has raised around half the money needed to complete the project which will be constructed in phases.
A fundraising auction will be held November 10th at Mission Mill in Salem. You can make a donation at any US Bank branch, contact committee Chairman Greg Willeford at 503.949.0981, or go to the committee's website at www.ospmemorial.org |
 New Help for Oregon Businesses
Representative Thatcher has worked on a number of initiatives to help businesses in Oregon deal with state government. She frequently has interactions with state agencies in her own small businesses. That's why she was pleased to see a new "one stop shop" website for Oregon businesses launched by the Secretary of State's Corporations Division this past summer.
Thatcher is pushing for a Business Ombudsman program to help companies deal with any problems they might encounter with a state agency and she hopes to work with the Secretary of State for legislative changes to make that happen next year.
The new website is called Business Xpress at www.oregon.gov/business. It offers information on everything from taxes and finance, to permits and locating buildable land. The new portal was part of a law passed by the 2011 Legislature. |
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Clean Fuels Rules Revving 
up Controversy
Should Oregon adopt tough new tailpipe standards
like the ones in California? That's what's now being proposed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and you have a chance to tell the agency what you think about the idea.
In 2009 the Oregon Legislature adopted a new law allowing DEQ to write rules to impose stricter requirements on fuel suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas. Rep Thatcher did not support that new law. Now the agency wants to see those emissions in transportation fuels go down 10% over the next 10 years.
Adopting these new "clean fuel" or "low carbon" restrictions on gasoline or diesel has generated opposition from many businesses in agriculture, trucking, construction and other industries. Groups such as Associated Oregon Industries fear these new rules will raise fuel prices, lead to job losses and long court battles. Some say the DEQ plan would increase the use of ethanol in our gas tanks and Rep Thatcher has heard many complaints from Oregonians about the amount of ethanol already in use.
The state Environmental Quality Commission will hold a meeting and may vote on the proposed fuel rules at their December meeting. To let them know what you think, you can email the Commission staff at clark.stephanie@deq.state.or.us or call 503-229-5301.
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 Services for Seniors
MEDICARE -- It's that time of year when Oregon seniors should prepare for any changes ahead in their Medicare coverage. The open enrollment period for Medicare Part D related to prescription drugs runs October 15th through December 7th.
An estimated 600,000 Oregonians rely on Medicare for their health care needs and now is a good time for them to review their current coverage to make sure it's right for them. They can go to www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE for more information. Another good source is Oregon's Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program which has volunteers around the state ready to help. Click here for more information or call 1-800-722-4134
ALZHEIMER'S --a new plan has been launched to help deal with the growing number of Oregonians afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. There are currently 76,000 people in Oregon with Alzheimer's and the number is expected to grow nearly 50% by the year 2025. The new State Plan for Alzheimer's disease is being developed by a special task force of state lawmakers, advocates, researchers, doctors, caregivers and others. Learn more about it from the Alzheimer's Association of Oregon by clicking here or calling 503.416.0201
ELDER ABUSE--efforts are now underway by the Oregon Department of Human Services to increase awareness of the signs to look for when seniors are being abused. The legislature adopted a new law this year to give investigators more tools to combat cases of financial exploitation and other abuses against elderly residents in Oregon. In Representative Thatcher's area the NorthWest Seniors and Disability Services agency is working with DHS to help victims of such abuse. |
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 Thoughts for Thatcher
Should Oregon improve the current laws which do not require someone registering to vote for the first time to provide any identification before they are allowed to vote in state and local elections? Should our state adopt the same standards for ID required by the federal government before someone can register to vote in federal elections?
Click here to respond or email rep.kimthatcher@state.or.us
Feedback from last month's newsletter question:
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?
Responses received:
- No. And fix the economy first, before you talk about who should have more power than they already have (or deserve) now.
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What does "other provisions" mean? Sounds like someone is trying to model Oregon after the Federalies and create a kingdom. Bad, BAD idea as you can see how well that's working out in Washington, D.C.
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HJR 7 establishes no objective standards ...thus, it would be easy to declare a disaster period but be much harder to end one.
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Upon ending the disaster period, the Legislature can "include any provisions the Legislative Assembly considers necessary to provide an orderly transition... this effectively nullifies all limits on government power established by the Oregon Constitution.
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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 |
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