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Dear friends,
On March 3, the Oregon Legislature adjourned it's 2016 "short" session. Despite the constraints of a 35-day timeline and media coverage that tended to focus on political debate, the Legislature passed some important policy accomplishments. (See below for a summary.) Our work was aided by input and support from citizens who e-mailed, called and visited the Capitol.
The first set of "legislative days" for the 2016 interim will be May 23-25. This is when the various committees will begin to hold informational hearings in advance of the 2017 session. You can review previous and upcoming committee agendas, and watch hearings live, using the Legislature's online information system.
Below you will find information on:
- Session Accomplishments
- Scam Alert: Collections Con
- Lane County Sheriff's Office Restores 24-hour Patrols
- Oregon Health Authority Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana
- "Movies in the Park" for North Douglas County
- Gardening Tip: Springtime Planting of Onions Brings Big Summertime Bulbs
I hope this information is helpful and informative for you or someone you know. As always, feel free to share your comments, questions or concerns with me by phone, mail or e-mail.
Session Accomplishments
The following is a general listing by subject area of important legislation that passed during the 2016 session. Future editions of this e-bulletin will feature in-depth summaries by area. In the meantime, more information can be found using the Legislature's online information system.
The 2016 legislative session:
Invested in Education, Small Businesses & Workforce across the State
- Protected significant investments in K-12, community college, and university education (SB 1537, SB 1541, SB 5701; HB 4002, HB 4076)
- Supported Oregon's small businesses by simplifying regulatory processes (SB 1563, SB 1583; HB 4014, HB 4053)
- Promoted family-wage jobs in urban and rural Oregon (SB 1503, SB 1532, SB 1544, SB 1589; HB 4037)
- Continued to develop a balanced transportation funding plan for Oregon that bolsters critical infrastructure, creates jobs, and protects quality of life (HB 4048)
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Balanced the budget by making sure government spends wisely (SB 5701)
Fostered Government Accountability and Transparency
- Ensured that Oregon's prepared to handle emergent financial needs when they arise (SB 5701)
- Equipped state agencies with the resources they need to provide essential services, while holding them accountable for delivering quality work by tightening oversight and promoting sound, evidence-based practices (SB 1515, SB 1538, SB 1539, SB 1571; HB 4106)
- Enhanced government transparency by promoting open and fair public processes (HB 4067, HB 4134, HB 4135)
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Built on investments in affordable, safe housing statewide (SB 1533, SB 1582; HB 4081, HB 4143)
Worked to Keep Oregon Healthy & Safe
- Continued the transformation of health care delivery for Oregonians, including innovations in behavioral and mental health (SB 5701; HB 4017, HB 4030, HB 4071, HB 4107, HB 4141)
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Fostered safe, healthy environments in which Oregonians live, work, learn, play, and raise families (SB 1515, SB 1547, SB 1558, SB 1566; HB 4075, HB 4110, HB 4127)
Scam Alert: Collections Con
This tax season, beware of a newly reported telephone scam in which a threatening impersonator claims to be from the state treasury. The caller ID from the scammers even shows that the calls are placed from the Oregon State Treasury switchboard. That is not happening; the Oregon Treasury doesn't even collect taxes. In Oregon, the Oregon Department of Revenue collects taxes.
The scam is a new spin on a deceitful effort in which callers claim to be from the IRS and demand payment of back taxes. The Oregon Department of Justice on Monday released its annual list of “Top 10 Scams” and impersonator calls were number one on the list.
To learn more about scams in Oregon and what to look out for, visit the Attorney General's Scam Alert Network at www.oregonconsumer.gov, or Guard Your Money on the Oregon Treasury website.
Lane County Sheriff's Office Restores 24-hour Patrols
As reported by the Register-Guard, the Lane County Sheriff's Office is restoring 24-hour coverage by deputy patrols in rural areas. Since June 2014, there has been a four-hour period each day when no county deputies patrol unincorporated Lane County. The gap in coverage was caused by simultaneous retirements and subsequent recruiting and training that left the sheriff's office understaffed. Read more, here: http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/34191673-75/new-hires-allow-lane-county-to-return-24-hour-sheriff-deputy-patrols.html.csp#.
Oregon Health Authority Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana
The Oregon Health Authority is accepting applications for its Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana. Anyone interested can apply by using the following link: http://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/acmm.aspx. There, individuals can also sign up to receive notice of Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana meetings by email.
"Movies in the Park" for North Douglas County
In partnership with the Drain-based nonprofit, Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA), the North Douglas Cohort of the Ford Family Foundation Leadership Program is raising money to purchase a projector, screen, sound system and other components to bring "Movies in the Park" to North Douglas County.
In addition to Movies in the Park, the equipment will be made available to local student groups, nonprofits, and other organizations for community-building activities. The goal is to unite communities and organizations through family-oriented movies in the park events, then to build on that success by highlighting student movies and art. A debut party is in the works for June 18 in Drain.
Movies in the Park was the brainchild of Stephanie Barrow, president and program administrator for DIVA. A retired newspaper illustrator and artist, Barrow has a passion for bringing art to the community and believes strongly that art is a powerful force that can change lives and communities for the better.
Anyone interested in volunteering or making a donation to help purchase the equipment can contact Barrow at 541-870-5442.
Gardening Tip: Springtime Planting of Onions Brings Big Summertime Bulbs
(Courtesy of the OSU Extension Service)
Get onions in the ground in spring and avoid heartbreak when it comes time to harvest big, beautiful bulbs this summer. Plant as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. March and April are prime times.
Most onions grown in Oregon are "long-day" onions. They make top, green growth until a critical day length is reached, which triggers bulbing. That generally begins at about 14 hours of light per day.
Planting onions in early spring means they'll grow into fairly large plants by the time daylight reaches 14 hours. Large bulbs result. However, waiting to plant until the end of April will result in immediate bulbing and small pearl onions.
Buy onion sets while firm and dormant. Harvest early in the season to eat as green onions, or in late summer when they've formed bulbs. When purchasing transplants, look for plants that have not been damaged by decay or excess drying.
After taking onion sets home, sort into two groups by size: those smaller than a dime and those larger. Use the larger size for green onions. The smaller ones will produce large dry bulbs.
Onions can be grown in almost any type of soil as long as it has good fertility and drainage. Before planting, amend soil with compost or aged manure. A handful of complete fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, applied along the row at planting time will get the plants off to a good start. A good compost or organic fertilizer will also supply the needed nutrients for onions.
For green onions, plant the sets 1½ to 2 inches deep and 1 inch apart. They'll be ready to eat in about a month when the tops reach 8 to 10 inches tall. For larger onions, plant the sets about ½ inch deep and 4 inches apart. Plant transplants 3 to 4 inches apart in rows 12 to 15 inches apart.
Fertilize every two to three weeks until onions start to form bulbs and make sure to keep soil consistently moist. When tops begin to dry out and are falling over, stop watering so the bulbs mature in dry soil. After about half the tops have fallen over, wait about a week and harvest the bulbs. Cure them for a week or so by spreading in the sun and covering with a sheet or tarp at night.
The OSU Extension Service recommends the following varieties as performing well in Oregon:
- Yellow: Copra, New York Early, Candy
- Overwintering: Walla Walla
- Red: Red Wing
- White: White Sweet Spanish, Superstar
- Green bunching: Ishikura, He-shi-ko
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