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Greetings!
A top priority of Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon 79th
Legislative Assembly has been to come up with a comprehensive transportation
package, and a 14-member transportation committee has been working on this
effort for months. Monday, they unveiled a ten-year
transportation plan that would raise $8.2 billion by raising the state’s gas
tax and its vehicle fees, creating taxes on bicycle and new vehicle purchases
and implement a statewide payroll tax to fund mass transit. The proposal also opens the door to tolls on
Oregon’s roads.
Oregon has been underfunding our transportation network for
years and it has now reached a critical turning point. The state’s population has grown, there is
increased traffic congestion in the cities and around the state. The transportation plan would help alleviate
congestion by adding lanes on I-5 and Hwy 217, as well as widening I-205. Money would also be used to strengthen bridges
with seismic improvements in preparation for a mega-thrust earthquake.
The package would raise Oregon’s gas tax by 6 cents per
gallon in 2018, followed by 2-cent per gallon increases every two years until
2026. Vehicle registration fee increases
would also be phased in, beginning next year with a $10-30 increase, and with
$5 increases every two years. Vehicle
registration fees will be based on fuel efficiency, with those that get more
than 40 miles per gallon seeing the higher fees, because they contribute less
in gas taxes. Half of the new vehicle
fees and gas tax revenue would pay for state projects, 30 percent to counties
and 20 percent to cities.
The transportation committee was formed last year after the
2015 legislature was unable to agree on a transportation plan, committee
members from both chambers and political parties have been working on this
proposal for months, and it should be considered a framework that the public
and other lawmakers will now consider and debate.
While a lot of attention is focused on the transportation
package rollout, the House and Senate continue to hold floor sessions and
approve legislation. This week at the Legislature, several of the bills I
sponsored on behalf of Oregon Ports completed the process of working through
both chambers. I was joined by other
members of the Coastal Caucus in sponsoring this suite of Port legislation
designed to help streamline port management and operations.
HB
2899
Provides that ports may enter into Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) for any
purpose permitted under ORS 190. Senator
Arnie Roblan carried this bill on the Senate floor on Tuesday, where it was
unanimously approved. Speaker of the
House Tina Kotek signed the bill on Wednesday and Senate President Peter Courtney
signed it on Thursday. It now is in the
Governor’s Office awaiting her signature.
HB
2900
Authorizes port to advertise activities of ports and the activities of others
using the port facilities. This bill was
also carried by Senator Roblan on Tuesday, received unanimous approval, was
signed by Speaker Kotek and President Courtney and awaits the Governor’s
signature.
HB2901
Relates to the appraisal of real property purchased by ports. This bill increases the threshold from $500
thousand to $2 million, of real property value that requires ports to obtain a
second appraisal prior to purchase.
Senator Jeff Kruse carried this bill on the Senate floor on Tuesday,
where it was approved on a unanimous vote, it was signed by Speaker Kotek and
President Courtney and is now in the Governor’s office for her signature.
House
Concurrent Resolution 31 Recognizes December 6, 2017 as the 100th
anniversary of Finnish Independence.
The large migration of Finns to northwest Oregon began about 1870, and
Finnish immigrants were vital to building Astoria’s fishing and timber
industries. By 1920, there were some
4,000 Finns living in Clatsop County, with more than 2,500 in Astoria. To honor their important contribution of
building the north coast economy, I was delighted to Sponsor HCR 31 at the request of the Finlandia
Foundation Columbia-Pacific Chapter President Greg Jacob. Greg and Dave Alford of the Finlandia
Foundation were on hand Wednesday when the House unanimously approved HCR 31.
The resolution now moves to the Senate for consideration.
This Saturday Cannon Beach will celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill.
Fifty years ago Oregon Governor Tom McCall signed Oregon’s landmark
beach bill into law. His son Tad McCall
will be part of the Cannon Beach festivities this weekend to mark the
event. Scheduled activities include construction
of a six-foot tall sandcastle by Form Finders, a master sand sculpting
team. The Haystack Rock Awareness
Program will have tide pool interpretive information, and Geologist Tom Horning
will hold a guided beach tour from Haystack Rock to Silver Point. Spotting scopes will help visitors view
tufted puffins and other seabirds nesting on Haystack Rock, plans for a Beach
Bill-related public art project will be reveals, and lots more. It is a great excuse to spend a day in
Cannon Beach!
On Sunday, take a little time out to remember mom on
Mother’s Day. Being a mother is the
most rewarding and challenging responsibility a woman can undertake. The sacrifices a mom makes for her children
are continuous, but so worth it! If you
still have the chance, let her know how much you appreciate her. Thanks, Mom!
Bouquet for Mom
To best represent House District 32, I need to hear about
your concerns. Again this week the
state email server was flooded with spam messages, and we may have
inadvertently missed a message from you.
If you have a concern or comment about a state agency or proposed
legislation, you can write, phone or email my office. If you are coming to Salem, let my office
know a few days in advance so we can schedule an appointment. I’m in H-481, and my door is always open to
constituents.
It is my privilege to represent you in the House of
Representatives, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Deborah Boone
email: Rep.DeborahBoone@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1432
address: 900 Court St NE, H-481, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boone
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