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Please join incoming legislators, Senator Lew Frederick and Representative Tawna Sanchez, and me for a town hall meeting previewing the 2017 Legislative Session. We look forward to hearing your questions and learning about your priorities.
WHEN: Saturday, January 28, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: PCC Cascade Campus, Moriarty Auditorium
(on the NE corner of N. Albina and N. Killingsworth)
The results of the November election have produced a range of emotions for many of us here in Oregon. I'm honored to have the privilege and responsibility of representing North/NE Portland again in Salem for the next two years. I will keep working tirelessly to make Oregon a state where everyone can succeed.
Now, more than ever, we should lean on our shared hopes – equal opportunity for all, respectful communities, and a healthy world – to guide us in meeting the challenges in the months ahead.
In the aftermath of a tumultuous campaign season, I’ve heard many questions and concerns about the failure of Measure 97 and, of course, the election of Donald Trump. Here are statements I released last month on both of those results:
Statement on Measure 97:
Despite the defeat of Measure 97, the conversation the campaign started is essential for moving Oregon forward. Thousands of Oregonians volunteered on the campaign and hundreds of thousands of voters supported the measure because they believe that Oregon's unequal tax system is shortchanging our schools, limiting access to health care, and undermining services for seniors.
National experts have confirmed that large corporations are paying far less in taxes here than they do in other states where they operate. Meanwhile, Oregon's students are sitting in the third largest class sizes in the nation, health care is too expensive for many working families, and seniors are struggling to retire with dignity. We must focus now on protecting our current investments and challenge ourselves to find a way to build the equitable and inclusive Oregon we all want.
Joint Statement with House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson on the Aftermath of the Presidential Election:
As legislative leaders in the Oregon House of Representatives, we want to assure people that we will protect and preserve equal opportunity, fairness, and respect for everyone in our great state.
Since the results of the Presidential election, multiple incidents of intolerance and harassment have been reported in our communities, with many more likely unreported. Peaceful protests have been marred by violence. Many people feel unsafe.
We are committed to doing everything in our power to protect Oregonians from intolerance, bigotry, or injustice. Moving forward, we ask everyone reading this to consider ways to be an ally to your neighbor. When any of us witness intolerance, bigotry, or injustice, it is critical that we stand up to it and show those being bullied, threatened or harassed that we support them and that such incidents are unacceptable.
Oregonians must recommit themselves to ensuring that our state is a place where tolerance and diversity are valued and sustained. Let’s get to work.
One of the top priorities for the 2017 Session will be passing an investment package that will preserve the transportation infrastructure we have and modernize our systems to keep up with our growing, dynamic state. Right now, Oregonians are traveling on crumbling roads, unsafe bridges, and congested highways, which has a significant impact on our economy and is affecting our quality of life. As more time passes and our population grows, our current challenges will become even more difficult and more expensive to fix.
That’s why Senate President Courtney and I, with the full support of Governor Brown, appointed a special bipartisan committee to build support for a significant transportation package for consideration next year. The committee spent the summer months meeting with local leaders across the state, touring local trouble spots, and hosting public hearings to hear directly from community members about their transportation priorities.
At each stop on their 11-city, 2,000-mile tour, there was a clear, consistent message from the public: Oregon’s transportation system is failing to meet the everyday needs of families and businesses across the state, and it is high time to invest in a comprehensive, statewide plan to fix it.
The special joint committee will continue its work in the upcoming session. You can learn more about them here.
The committee gathered important feedback from over 500 community members who testified across the state. To build on that, I’d like to hear your thoughts, too.
In the coming weeks, I’ll send out newsletters highlighting some of my other top priorities for the 2017 session – including the urgent need to address Oregon’s housing crisis. I also encourage you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional updates.
Our democracy relies on public involvement and advocacy. I hope you will participate in your state government by contacting me about what is important to you.
If you'd like to set up a constituent meeting in the district before or during the upcoming session, please email rep.tinakotek@oregonlegislature.gov or call 503-986-1444 and my legislative assistant, AmyBeth Stevens, will work to set up an appointment.
I hope you and yours have a restful and joyous holiday season.
Best,
Tina Kotek
State Representative
House District 44
Speaker of the House
email: Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1200
address: 900 Court St NE, H-269, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/kotek
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