|
Hello Friends,
Tuesday April 18 was an important date in this session. That was the "deadline day" for bills to be passed out of the originating chamber committee in either the House or the Senate. That means there was much wailing and crying and "gnashing of teeth" as hundreds of bills died or were sent to a certain death in either Rules Committee or Ways and Means. For me personally, most of my bills were already dead but I had hope for a couple of them (specifically some pro-gun bills including one that would have repealed SB 941!) and that was dashed on Tuesday as well. However, thanks to a couple of very kind and generous fellow Representatives, I as allowed to "co-chief" sponsor 4 bills that are still alive! So even though they are not "my bills" as in I was the writer or originator of these bills, I was allowed to sign onto them as "co-chief" so that I could champion them as if they were my own! I wanted to take a bit of this newsletter to tell you about them. (Click on bill number highlighted for a link to each bill)
HB 2598 - Expands offense of vehicular assault to include contact with motorcycle, motorcycle operator or motorcycle passenger. As a biker, I was no aware that there was no law concerning "reckless endangerment" of motorcyclists! So I thank Rep. Olson and Barker for letting me be a "co-chief" sponsor and I have the honor of "carrying" the bill on the House floor sometime next week.
HB 2570 - Directs Oregon Housing and Community Services to establish the Affordable Home Ownership Grant Program (read the summary HERE) This time I thank Rep. Witt for allowing me to "co-chief" sponsor this possible solution to the affordable housing situation in Oregon. The bill is in Ways and Means currently.
HB 2961 - Establishes Homeownership Repair and Rehabilitation
Program within Housing and Community Services Department to provide
grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide financial
assistance to persons in low income households for repair and
rehabilitation of residences. (Read the summary HERE)
Again I thank Rep. Witt for allowing me to "co-chief" sponsor this
possible solution to the affordable housing situation in Oregon. The bill is in Ways and Means currently.
HB 3428 - Enrolls specified public employees in coordinated care organizations. (Read the summary HERE) I thank Rep. Parrish for allowing me to sign on as "co-chief" sponsor. This bill is now in Rules Committee.
So those are what I'm working on currently and now in the House we prepare to face the Senate bills that are on their way over to us in our Committees (again I serve on Judiciary, Economic Development and Trade and the Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committees).
Often I'm asked "what has surprised you the most about going from "radio guy" to legislator?" I have to tell a story about what happened in my Judiciary Committee on "deadline day" that really illustrates how those of you OUTSIDE of the Capitol really aren't aware of all that goes on here.
During that committee meeting on the deadline day, the
committee hearing was interrupted multiple times. The door would crack open and
a hand would poke through, beckoning to the Chair/Vice Chair. They would stop
the committee, go out into the hall and meet with the staff of the majority
party caucus. They would then come back in and either kill the bill, group of bills or work it,
depending on how they were instructed. This is only my third session so I don’t
have a lot to compare to, but I’ve asked some of the senior members and they’ve
never seen anything quite like this. It was very annoying, very "un-democracy" and downright rude!
This is the kind of thing that the average voter has no idea
actually happens. Instead of the 11 people on that committee discussing the
issue, listening to testimony and coming to a decision, the House Speaker in a
backroom makes the decision and runs the proceedings.
I don’t want to sound like I am blaming a particular party
here – either party is capable of bending the rules and hijacking the true
deliberative process we were sent to the Capitol to conduct. In the Oregon
House, 60 representatives are each elected by about the same number of
Oregonians. Should ONE of those representatives squelch the voice of the other
59? This is why elections are so important – again, not to elect a specific
party, but to elect people who have solid principles and are committed to
letting every voice be heard in the democratic process. Here is my agenda sheet for that day where you can see just how confusing it got....marked out, then circled cause it was back, then checked off, then scratched out again...it was crazy
 Here are some random photos from the last couple weeks that I thought you'd enjoy.
 |
|
I received this wonderful plaque for HB 2210 from the Oregon Association of Broadcasters |
 |
|
Speaking to George Fox University students, administrators and alumni at the Capitol |
 |
|
We had a great town hall meeting in Keizer this month |
 |
|
Testifying with Rep. Noble and the Newberg Schools Superintendent in Education Committee |
 |
|
Introducing my friend Rep. Jeff Barker at the NRA reception |
 |
|
Telling St. Paul students about the Capitol |
Well that should be just about enough for this week, I hope you'll go to my Facebook page and click the "LIKE" button if you haven't as I share videos, posts about the session and so much more there. Here's the link: FACEBOOK
Don't forget every other week, Rep. Dan Rayfield and I do a little TV show called "Behind the Scenes with Rayfield and Post". We do a Facebook live shoot every other Wednesday at about 3:45 and then post the produced version on YouTube HERE.
And of course you can follow me on Twitter!
I hope you have a fantastic weekend and enjoy some time with your family and friends, I'll be back here in the Capitol on Monday ready to continue to help Oregon in any way that I can!
 Sincerely,
Rep. Bill Post
House District 25
email: Rep.BillPost@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1425
address: 900 Court St NE, H-373, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/post
| 
