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Hello Friends,
End of March Newsletter.
Well, we are now at the end of March and I am still waiting
to see the school funding bills. I have
had many conversations with teachers, parents, and school board members and
none of them knew that I introduced SB 671, that requested over $9.5 Billion
for K-12. Even after hearing this, the
question wasn’t “what do we need to do to help you get this bill passed?” The
question was “are you going to support raising taxes to fund education?” The issue is we have sufficient revenue
forecast for the 2017-2019 budget but education funding is not the number #1
priority of Legislative leadership.
At this date in the session, I would have expected we would
have quality legislation ready to pass regarding PERS, transportation, and
legislation to support business. Not
so. Most of the bills we have passed
from the Senate are of minor importance.
It appears that any funding packages will wait until after tax season to
see what we have to spend. We already know
that we have $200M more than the early budgets, which means we have
approximately $20.8B to spend. A huge
increase over the $18.9B we had last biennium, but apparently not enough for
the insatiable appetite of government.
[See Links Provided Below for More Information]
 Senator Olsen giving Gladstone Kraxberger Middle School Students a lesson in civics and a brief history on the Oregon State legislative Process.
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I would also like to discuss the importance of energy to our
state. There is a huge push to tax or
charge CO2 emissions in our state through a cap and trade program. This from a state that produces ¼ of 1% of
all the worlds CO2. It is not the
reduction that drives the movement, it is the money. As they always say, “Follow the money.” Take money from the producers of products and
the job creators and give it to “disadvantaged communities.” I have heard this over and over how that
would create jobs in these communities.
My question to those that make this statement is, “Why can’t we create
new jobs without losing existing jobs?”
There is continual silence to the answer. Oregon is not a leader in this area. We are
following the lead of other states and provinces with very liberal agendas, to
make Oregon fall in line and pay for carbon.
We are not California and the question must be asked, “Do we want the
cost of living in California to come to Oregon?” I think if Oregonians were asked this question,
they would not want it. That is just my
opinion, but I will warn you that if this legislation passes, you will see gas
prices increasing to match California at a minimum. You will also see those companies that pay for
CO2 emissions, leave our state and put their employees on the unemployment rolls. Be aware also that these charges would also
be applied to your residential electric and natural gas bills.
Please pay attention to this proposed carbon legislation and
let your voices be heard. Do we steal billions of dollars out of the economy
to pay for these boondoggles with no environmental benefits or do we help
Oregon industry by finding technologies that will reduce their CO2 outputs? I personally support the latter and not the
former.
It appears as if the strategy to move carbon bills is to
give them minimal public discussion this session and then reintroduce and pass
them in the short February 2018 Session.
There is a history of this political maneuver used to pass controversial
legislation.
Let’s hope the April newsletter will have some happier news
that good legislation that supports Oregonians will be on the move. Until then!!!
My Priority Veterans Bills.
SB 694- Adjust existing property tax exemptions for disabled Veterans to keep up with the current property values and taxes.
SB 676- Requires organization that has related apprenticeship program to give credit toward apprenticeship for qualifying individual Veterans experience in plumbing, pipefitting, steamfitting or heating ventilation air conditioning while in active duty in the armed forces.
SB 796- Permits Veterans who are issued Oregon Wounded Warrior parking permit or person transporting person issued parking permit to park motor vehicle in any public parking zone restricted as to length of time permitted therein without incurring overtime penalties and to park motor vehicle in any public parking zone with metered parking without being required to pay any parking meter fee.
SB 670- Relating to concealed handgun licenses for service members.
SB 320- Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Oregon Military Department for Oregon Military Museum. It
encompasses 14,000 artifacts of all services, 30,000 library volumes and 750
cubic feet of documents that date back to the early 1860's and is currently closed to the public. This funding would open and draw tourism as Oregon's only official Military Museum.
SB 143- Relating to provision of campus veteran resources; to help veterans successfully transition from military service to college life, succeed in college, complete educational goals and transition from college to workforce and community.
SB 129- Establishes Task Force on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Oregon.
My Education First Funding Package.
SJR -20 proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would require the Legislature to appropriate funds for Oregon's K-12 system by 65th day of regular session held in odd-numbered year and would prohibit legislator compensation if the appropriation is not passed.
SB 671- appropriates $9,523,300,000 to the State School Fund.
SB 672- appropriates funds to the Oregon Department of Education to award grants for career and technical education. Vocational Education.
SB 673- appropriates $760,000,000 to public universities.
SB 674- appropriates $589,000,000 to community colleges.
See my Testimony to SJR- 20 and the Education First Funding Here: Video
PamplinMedia News Article Click Here.
The Chief News Article Click Here.
Olsen: Veterans need modernized property tax exemption
HB 2020 exacerbates problems at Energy Department.
SB 677- Senate cheers cider industry by leveling playing field.
Olsen introduces "Education First" package .
Testimony to Funding Education First SJR-20 Video
Date: Monday, April 24th at The Canby American Legion Building
Location: 424 NW 1st Avenue Canby Or. 97013
Time: 6pm
With; Representative Bill Kennemer
Yours truly,
Senator Alan Olsen
Senate District 20
Email: Sen.AlanOlsen@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1720
District Phone: 503-266-4599
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-425, Salem, OR 97301
District Address: 675 Northwest 2nd St., Canby, OR 97013
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/olsen
Senator Olsen's Committees:
Vice Chair of Senate Committee Environment & Natural Resources
Vice Chair of Senate Committee Human Services & Early Childhood
Senate Committee on Veterans & Emergency Preparedness
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