Priority Bills

Education Budget

The Oregon Senate passed the K-12 education budget.

The budget builds on last biennium’s historically high education budget by adding an additional $827 million in resources. Of the total budget, $7.7 billion will come from the General Fund, with another $452 million of lottery money and $67 million of other funds.

“The current budget of $8.2 billion is an 11-percent increase over the last biennium.  It is a good starting point, but I don’t believe it goes far enough.” Sen.Manning Jr. “We need to reform our corporate revenue structure to provide more resources for investments in Oregon education. A sufficient, stable revenue structure would help us fund education at adequate levels and still provide services that some of our most vulnerable Oregonians rely upon. Only with an adequate revenue structure can we do this.”

The session is not over yet. If we pass a revenue package, we can always add to the K-12 budget.

Cracking down on animal cruelty

Cruelty to animals is something Oregonians don’t tolerate, and the Oregon Senate stood by that philosophy by passing a trio of bills recently that will crack down on those who commit these horrific crimes. The bills range from removing animals from those who are abusive or neglectful to stiffening restrictions for those convicted of abuse and cruelty.

House Bill 3177 – carried by Sen. Manning Jr. – authorizes the seizure and forfeiture of hens and chicks associated with cockfighting. Currently, when a criminal conviction related to cockfighting occurs, the fighting birds are forfeited by the owner. This bill expands that to include “source birds” which are intended to produce or become, at some, point fighting birds.

“It makes no sense to simply remove the fighting birds from these people’s possession, while still leaving them with more innocent birds that they can turn into fighting animals, or use them to breed fighting birds,” Manning said. “This is a horrible practice and we must do everything we can to make sure cruelty to animals does not stand in Oregon for some sort of sick amusement. This bill helps to limit cockfighting in Oregon.”

For more information on these bills, read coverage in the Eugene Weekly: http://www.eugeneweekly.com/20170608/news-features/cracking-down-animal-abuse

Good Samaritan Bill

With the passage of House Bill 2732 – which prevailed in the Senate on a 29-0 vote – Oregon joins seven other states with similar laws designed to protect children and animals from heat-related health issues and other hazards that can arise from being left unattended in a vehicle. Sen. Manning Jr.  sponsored the bill in the Senate.

“We should be doing everything we can to protect our most vulnerable, and that includes animals and children,” Manning said. “I also think that the local Girl Scouts who participated in the passage of this bill should be commended. For such a young group to be so committed to protecting other kids and animals who are placed in harmful situations, that is truly commendable.”

Clear Lake Elementary

Sen. Manning had the opportunity to visit the students of Clear Lake Elementary School on June 9th. We would like to recognize Ms. Forester, Ms. Cotler, and Ms. Cox for being outstanding teachers! They are the backbone of our investment in our children’s future.

Staff Information

Kevin C. Cronin Chief of Staff Kevin.Cronin@oregonlegislature.gov

Lawanda J. Manning Legislative Assistant Lawanda.manning@oregonlegislature.gov

Capitol Phone:  503-986-1707    District Phone:  541-321-5082
Capitol Address:  900 Court St. NE, S-205, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email:  sen.jamesmanning@oregonlegislature.gov

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