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Dear
Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you and your family are well. I want to give you a quick update on what is going on at the capitol this spring.
Paid
Sick Leave
The
Senate will soon vote on SB 454 to provide paid sick leave for employees in
companies with six or more employees. The bill will ensure protected sick leave
for employees in smaller businesses. Accruing at least one hour leave for every
30 hours worked, the bill will allow employees to role hours over to the next
year if they do not use their sick leave. Protections are also in place to
ensure that sick leave is not abused. If passed, this will ensure working
families are able to recover from illness while still paying their rent.
 Oregon Unemployment Rate Drops
The Oregon Employment Department recently released its monthly update to Oregon’s unemployment rate which has dropped to 5.8 percent in February from 6.3 percent in January. This was the second consecutive large drop in the rate, putting February’s rate at the lowest since May 2008. Oregon’s unemployment rate is now within three tenths of the U.S. rate.
This is encouraging news for Oregon’s continued economic and job growth. Our economy continues to recover the jobs we lost during the Great Recession, and I am relieved to see more Oregonians entering the workforce to find a good-paying job. But we can do more to accelerate the creation of family-wage jobs in both urban and rural communities. Oregon’s steady economic growth is expected to continue through the rest of the 2015-17 biennium, which means continued job growth around the state.
But we still have work to do. I’m hard at work this session with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fund schools, help small businesses, and expand job training programs so more people can get back to work.
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Upcoming Constituent Town Hall
Wondering about what is going on in the legislature? Have questions? Come to the town hall Representative Jeff Reardon (East Portland/Happy Valley) and I are hosting.
WHEN: Saturday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m
WHERE: Midway Christian Church, 2546 SE 131st Avenue, Portland, OR 97236
 To find out more information, join our Facebook Event or contact me personally.
Please feel free to contact my office with your ideas, priorities and concerns. I’m always eager to hear from you! You can keep in touch with my office by following my Facebook page, by emailing us at Sen.RodMonroe@state.or.us, or calling us at the State Capitol, at (503) 986-1724.
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Best regards,
 Senator Monroe
Senate District 24 – East Portland and Happy Valley
Senate District 24 – East Portland and Happy Valley email: Sen.RodMonroe@state.or.us I phone: 503-986-1724
address: 900 Court St NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/monroe
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