|
Senator Ginny Burdick
District 18
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
As the 2015 legislative session gets underway, I am
working hard to prepare for what will be an important session for Oregonians. I
am honored to be elected to my third term as Senate President Pro Tempore,
where I will continue to be a member of the Senate leadership team.
Additionally, I have been selected to Co-Chair the
Joint Committee on Implementing Measure 91. This committee, comprising both Senate
and House members, was appointed to make the necessary technical and policy
changes to successfully implement legalized recreational marijuana in Oregon.
I will also be serving on the Senate Judiciary committee and the Senate Rules committee.
Session Goals:
Implementing Measure 91
During the 2014 election cycle, Oregon voters approved ballot measure 91, legalizing recreational marijuana for people over 21 years of age. Oregon joins Colorado, Washington and Alaska as the only states that have fully legalized marijuana.
As Co-Chair of the special committee, my top priority for this session is to develop an effective regulatory framework for legalized recreational marijuana. If marijuana regulation is done correctly, Oregon will position itself at the center of an emerging industry that will help further stimulate the economies of both urban and rural areas.
The Colorado and Washington state legislatures have been working on this issue since 2012, after ballot measures legalizing marijuana were passed in both states. However, they have both encountered significant challenges while trying to implement a system that works. Neither state has provided a blueprint that will work for Oregon without some significant changes. For example, in my recent trip to Colorado, officials told me that weak regulation of the medical marijuana program is a problem that is having a negative impact on the recreational market.
For the past month, I have been meeting with all segments of the medical marijuana community, including growers, dispensary owners, patient advocates and laboratories. I want to make sure that a diverse coalition of Oregonians is involved in this process. Together, we can create a system that works for Oregon.
Gun Safety Background Checks
I have been fighting for common sense gun safety legislation since I first ran for office in 1996. As I was campaigning, I saw that people in my district are passionate about the human cost associated with gun violence. I view gun safety as a crime prevention issue, and as legislators it is our obligation to take action.
This session, I am working with my colleagues on a bill that will close the private gun sale loophole. Currently, anyone who purchases a firearm from a licensed gun dealer or at a gun show has to undergo a criminal background check conducted by the State Police. Private sellers are not legally required to do background checks. This omission is putting guns into the hands of criminals.
I am optimistic that the legislature is finally ready to take action to fix this glaring loophole. That being said, we will need your continuing support.
Numerous polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of Oregonians, including gun owners, support universal background checks. However, there is an active and vocal minority that stifles debate with threats and intimidation. It is time for us to speak up so that our public safety policy is not controlled by a fringe minority.
Police Body Cameras
I am sponsoring a bill requested by the city of Portland that would enable law enforcement to require the use of body cameras on police officers. This will increase police accountability, help prevent confrontational situations, and help resolve officer-involved incidents and complaints. Additionally, body cameras will help protect officers from unsubstantiated citizen complaints.
Of course, body-camera footage presents significant privacy concerns as police interactions are often conducted in personal situations, and involve traumatic and sensitive dealings with citizens. To protect the privacy of these interactions, a clause has been added exempting on-body camera footage from the Public records law unless it becomes evidence in a court proceeding.
Crafting a narrowly tailored bill that balances transparency and privacy will benefit both police officers and the community at large.
Meet
my staff:
Thomas Baker - Chief of Staff
Thomas joined
us from Waggener Edstrom, a public relations firm, where he worked on Microsoft’s
intellectual property campaign team and its crisis communications team.
Previously, Thomas was an intern in my office during the 2013 legislative
session and during the special “Grand Bargain” session. He graduated with
honors from Portland State University with a B.S. in Political Science and
Economics.
Kate Grosswiler - Legislative
Aide
Kate
worked for me during the 2011 session, and I am excited to have her back on my
team. Kate focuses on constituent relations, scheduling, and ensuring that I am
on time to my appointments – not an easy task.
Erika
Gibson - Legal Intern
Erika is a third-year law student at the University
of Oregon School of Law. Previously she worked as an intern for both the U.S.
Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of the Interior. She is fascinated
by the political process, and is pursuing her dual interests as a law fellow in
the Wayne Morse Center and the Environmental and Natural Resource Center.
Stephen
Watson - Intern
Stephen is a sophomore at
Willamette University where he is majoring in Political Science and Classical
Studies. Previously, Stephen worked as a campaign volunteer for Senate
President Peter Courtney. He intends to pursue a career relating to law and
public policy.
Danielle
Henderson - Intern
Danielle is a sophomore at Willamette University
where she is majoring in both Economics and Spanish. In what little spare time
she has between interning in my office and her studies, she volunteers at the
Talking Book and Braille Library in Salem, helping to provide resources to the
visually impaired. Danielle is hoping
her internship provides her with additional knowledge on how to continue to
help and serve her community.
Bill
tracking:
The Oregon legislative website makes it easy to get
involved in the legislative process. Here are some helpful links:
1) You can use www.leg.state.or.us to access
information about committees, agendas, floor sessions, and specific bills.
2) How to look up a bill:
The Oregon Legislature has a user-friendly website that allows you to track
bills. Go to http://www.leg.state.or.us/bills_laws/ and click
on the link for the 2015 legislative session. This will direct you to a webpage
that provides several search options. You can search for bills based on keyword
or specific bill number.
3) How to track bills:
Make a note of the bill number. Go to https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Pages/Find-a-Bill.aspx
and search for the bill. This will direct you to a page that will provide the
status of the bill, sponsors, brief description of the bill, scheduled action
(public hearing, work session etc.), and a link to the language of the
introduced bill.
4) Testify before a committee:
If a bill you are interested in is scheduled for a public hearing, you have the
option to participate in the process by testifying in front of a committee. If
you have written testimony, you should bring 15 copies.
5) Accessing committee hearings and floor
sessions online:
Committee hearings and floor sessions are also streamed online. To watch
committee hearings, go to https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/committees. Each
committee webpage will have archived and live audio and video.
As the 2015 Legislative Session progresses, I
welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. You can contact me and my
staff at (503) 986-1718 or by e-mail at sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us. I look
forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Senator Ginny Burdick
Senate President Pro Tempore
| 
