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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you well and that you are enjoying the long-awaited springtime. As the 2017 Legislative Session pushes onward, I would like to take a moment and update you on some of the progress we’ve made on our priorities:
Oregon’s ERPO – Combatting Suicide and Helping People in Crisis
I am proud to say that Oregon’s Extreme Risk Protection Order, Senate Bill 719, passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Senate Bill 719 is a measure to prevent suicide and other harmful behavior, similar to Washington’s Extreme Risk Protection Order – a ballot measure that passed statewide with about 70 percent of the vote last November. It allows a process for obtaining an Extreme Risk Protective Order that keeps deadly weapons away from a person whom the court finds to be at imminent risk – or risk in the near future – of suicide or being a danger to others.
Extreme Risk Protective Orders will save lives by keeping guns away from people at risk of harming themselves or others. The suicide rate among veterans is alarming, with an average of 20 veterans each day dying from suicide, often by gunshot. By identifying signs that a person may be suffering trauma and temporarily separating them from their firearms, we can effectively protect veterans and others in crisis so that they can receive the help they need.
Under the bill, a peace officer, family member or household member may petition the court for an Extreme Risk Protective Order. At the initial hearing, the petitioner must prove by a clear and convincing standard that the order should be put in place. If an order is enacted, the person who has received the order will have be able to request a hearing within 30 days to reverse the decision.
Meeting With Stakeholders In Senate District 18
I have had the pleasure of meeting with many of you from District 18 this session and have appreciated the opportunity to learn about what matters most to you. In February, I hosted a constituent coffee in Tigard with Rep. Doherty that many of you attended. Members of the ACLU, students at PCC, REACH Community Development, educators from Tigard-Tualatin School District and many others have visited my office to inform me of their work and what they hope to get out of this session. Together we discussed the implications of the Legislature’s work on education, transportation, housing and other issues that are so critical to the vitality of Portland, Tigard, and our state.
Fighting Congestion in the Southwest Corridor
I am proud to be one of the chief sponsors of HB
3202, a legislative starting point for a MAX extension in Portland’s Southwest
Corridor. Introducing light rail in this fast-growing area will make
significant improvements to the commute for those of you traveling through Tigard
and Southwest Portland. I am proud to stand with OHSU, PSU, PCC, the Westside
Economic Alliance and the Tigard Chamber of Commerce in supporting this project
that will carry almost 37,000 riders each day.
Affordable Housing and Renter Protection
Our housing problems in Oregon have created hardships for residents in Portland
and Tigard whose budgets are being thinned out by exorbitant housing prices.
Many of you have expressed concern about renter displacement and the need for
affordable housing and rent stabilization. In the 2016 session, I supported protecting tenants through requiring advanced notification about rent
increases to month-by-month renters. In addition to offering more stability to
month-by-month renters, I voted to both increase funding for and preserve
existing affordable housing. Undoubtedly, more work must be done to protect
renters and resolve Oregon’s housing crunch. This session, I am committed to supporting
legislation that will give Oregonians fairer access to housing.
Senate Bill 532: The Oregon Left Lane Law
I continue to focus on measures to make Oregon's roads and highways safer. SB 532,
which affirms that the left lane is the passing lane on our state’s mainline
freeways, has passed the Senate and is being considered in the House. The Oregon Left Lane Law will give our state troopers clear authority
to move slowpokes out of the passing lane. Although many know that common
courtesy dictates that the left lane is for passing, many Oregonians are
unaware that proper use of the passing lane improves road safety for everyone. Slow drivers in the left lane have a larger adverse
impact on road safety than what we may realize. This wonderful video from Vox illustrates the real
problems that happen when slow drivers clog up the left lane. As the video puts
it: “The truth is, when drivers hang out in the left lane, it makes it more
dangerous for everyone involved.” I could not agree more!
Success with Legalized Cannabis
Earlier this year, the Oregon
Department of Revenue came
out with a report that revenue from cannabis sales had exceeded initial
expectations, bringing in $65.4 million in the first year alone. Marijuana tax revenue
will fund crucial programs that support education, public health and public
safety. I am encouraged by the success of legalized marijuana, and it seems
many Oregonians are on board as well. As Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Marijuana Legalization, I am proud of the committee's work on SB 1057, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support on May 10.
Stay Engaged
I want to hear from you this session. Please follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date
with my work or call my office at 503-986-1718. You can also email me at sen.ginnyburdick@oregonlegislature.gov.
Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in my work. It is an honor
to represent Senate District 18, and I will continue doing the work that best
serves the interests of Oregonians.
All the best,
 Senator Ginny Burdick
District 18
email: Sen.GinnyBurdick@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1718
address: 900 Court St NE, S-213, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/burdick
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