Senator Devlin's Spring Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

The Legislature is now in full swing here in Salem. The public is testifying, legislators are deliberating and bills are passing into law. As the Senate Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, I am in the midst of daily budget discussions and debates. We still have an enormous amount of work to complete before sine die (the official close of the legislative session), but I am pleased with the Legislature’s accomplishments thus far and look forward to fruitful conversations ahead. 

Oregon's Turning Point Budget

On March 4th, Representative Buckley and I released the Co-Chairs’ budget. The release of the Co-Chairs’ budget marks an important step forward in budgetary deliberations. Drawing upon lessons of biennia past, we recommended a budget that reinvests in our state while concurrently including strategies to help Oregon weather future crises. We’ve coined our budget “Oregon’s Turing Point Budget” due to its focus on renewing state support for K-12 education. The Co-Chairs’ budget aims to reverse Oregon’s downward trend in education funding and begin stabilizing our schools. Representative Buckley and I also prioritized critical investments in Oregon’s health care transformation and economic development. 

In order to achieve these investments, the Legislature must engage in strict budgeting, enact some public safety reforms, achieve reasonable and equitable PERS savings, and reduce selective tax expenditures. Each Sub-Committee of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means is in the process of reviewing state agency and program budgets, as they have been doing since February 4th. The Sub-Committees represent each program area funded through the state budget – Education, Transportation and Economic Development, Human Services, Natural Resources, Public Safety, General Government and Capital Construction. As Co-Chairs, we have asked them to reach targeted savings levels in each area they oversee. This can be achieved by setting clear priorities and determining the efficacy of programs. Reaching these savings levels will enable the Legislature to make vital investments. It is our hope that with the assistance of the business community, public employees, health care representatives, and innumerable additional stakeholders, the Legislature can craft a budget that places Oregon on a solid foundation to continue recovering from the financial crisis of 2008.

To read the full Co-Chairs’ budget, please click here.

Promoting Comprehensive Data on School Facilities

Apart from my focus on the budget, I am sponsoring a number of bills. One bill I’m sponsoring, Senate Bill 540, would establish a database of K-12 school facilities and their infrastructure needs. The proposed database would enable the Legislature and school districts to better quantify and prioritize long term capital needs. While it is clear that infrastructure improvement needs at K-12 facilities are immense, it is unclear how school districts and the state will meet those needs. The database would serve a critical role in guiding conversations related to facilities. SB 540 received the support of the Senate Committee on Education and will next appear before the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. 

Events Around the State

I’m excited to announce that I am hosting a town hall this spring with U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. The town hall will take place from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on April 22nd at West Linn High School in Commons B (5464 West A St, West Linn, Oregon 97068). I look forward to a lively discussion on issues facing Oregonians at both the state and federal level. 

Furthermore, Representative Chris Garrett and I are planning our second town hall of the session. The event will be on June 13th at the Oswego Heritage House from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Chris and I are particularly excited to hear from constituents during the last weeks of the 2013 Legislative Session, as many debates on important issues will be nearing closure. 

As Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, I will also be participating in the Ways and Means Committee Road Show. Meetings will be held across the state to explain the Legislature’s budgetary process and hear citizens’ concerns on the state budget. All members of the committee and its sub-committees are invited to attend. Below is a list of Road Show dates and locations. Please stay tuned for more information in the coming days.

Ways and Means Road Show Dates: 

Eugene - Friday, April 12

Ashland - Saturday, April 13

Bend - Friday, April 19

Hermiston or La Grande - Saturday, April 20

Portland - Tuesday, April 23

Tillamook - Thursday, April 25

Appointment to the Infrastructure Finance Authority Board

Finally, I am proud to announce my appointment to the Infrastructure Finance Authority Board (IFA) for a four-year term. The nine members of the IFA Board provide oversight to Business Oregon’s Infrastructure Finance Authority.  The Board helps Oregon communities and businesses address critical infrastructure needs such as providing safe drinking water and certifying land for industrial development. I look forward to lending my experience as a state legislator and former city councilor to guide the IFA in making smart investments that improve Oregonians’ lives now and in the future.

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope to see many of you at my upcoming town halls or down in Salem. As always, please feel free to contact my office by phone at 503-986-1719 or by email at sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us.

Sincerely,

Senator Richard Devlin

Senate District 19