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Hello Friend,
As your Representative, one of the most important duties I and my colleagues have is to pass a balanced budget that meets the needs of all Oregonians and reflects our values as a state.
That means funding top priorities like K-12 classrooms, veterans, public safety, and the programs that keep East County healthy.
On January 19, the Co-Chairs of the legislature’s Ways & Means Committee, Rep. Nancy Nathanson and Sen. Richard Devlin, released an initial framework for the 2017-19 budget based on the existing resources in the state’s coffers.
The news isn’t great. In the upcoming budget, Oregon will have $1.8 billion less than we need to fund existing programs at current levels as well as the recently passed ballot measures.
Without any additional revenue, this budget gap will mean painful cuts to education, health care, and public safety, which make up more than 90% of the budget. People in every corner of the state, including Gresham, will feel the impact of these cuts.These cuts could include: larger class sizes; shorter school years; teacher layoffs; cuts to educational programs; reductions to care programs for seniors, people with disabilities, and struggling families; cuts to mental health care and drug treatment programs; cutting health insurance coverage for low-income families; the closure of youth correctional facilities; and much more.
I’m committed to fighting for the needs of children, low-income seniors, veterans, working families, and other vulnerable people in our community, but I need your help.
Because of the size of the challenge facing us, the budget committee is launching a series of forums around the state, to hear from every impacted community. We need to hear from you about what’s at stake and how we should address this crisis.
Here are the two forums closest to our community—can I count on you to come out and make your voice heard?
Friday, February 10 -- Salem
5 to 7 p.m.
Hearing Room F
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE, Salem
Saturday, February 11 -- Portland
Noon to 2 p.m.
Main Mall, Amo DeBernardis CC Building
PCC, Sylvania campus
12000 SW 49th Ave, Portland
Please don't hesitate to contact my office with questions. I hope to see you there!
Fondest wishes,
 Representative Carla C. Piluso
email: Rep.CarlaPiluso@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1450
address: 900 Court St NE, H-491, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/piluso
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