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I hope you enjoyed
your holidays and had a Merry Christmas season and are looking forward to a
Happy New Year!
Today, I want to wish
the best for you and your family, as you start the New Year afresh, with new
goals, positive objectives and good things to accomplish.
It is entirely
natural that men and women will reach for the stars in their efforts to achieve
their best and broadest personal development. After all, we were born to
create. It is in our spirit and our makeup. Aristotle identifies humans as zoon
politikon – political animals, or social beings. We are that, but we are
more.
We are creative
beings. We put our noses to the grindstone. We use the sweat of our brow
combined with the strength of our backbone and the innovation of our minds to
invent, achieve and produce prosperity out of the natural resources in our
environment. We are, quite literally, beings made in the image of the Divine.
We know this
intuitively. Most of us find a sense of great accomplishment and joy in getting
things done. In fact, work is often more rewarding when we are tackling big
projects. Each of us takes great pride in carving out a living, by achieving
what few others thought possible, by striving against all odds because we have
an idea that we believe in.
We also know, that
Man’s natural rights are not limited to the political sphere, but his natural
rights have something to do with his place in the world and the stretching
power of his spirit and talent.
The
end of government, therefore, is to secure an individual’s freedom and provide
each person with an opportunity to translate that freedom into his or her own
creative growth.
 Free-markets are
marvelously successful because of this constant striving. There is no coercion
in a free market where all transactions are voluntary. If you want tacos,
t-shirts, or a Toyota, then, you get to choose.
The market provides the mechanism. Additionally, there is always room
for another vendor to produce a better taco or a higher quality car at a lower
price and gain additional market share.
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Unfortunately, over
the last 50 years, occupational licensing requirements have grown dramatically
in both scope and scale. Across America, nearly one in three Americans needs
the government’s permission to work.
This trend has not
resulted in dramatically improved safety and quality standards, or in higher
consumer satisfaction. The only thing it has accomplished has been to limit
access to employment opportunities based upon needless government policy that
limit competitive opportunities.
If you think about
it, you don’t see consumers advocating for more stringent
education and licensing schemes when a new taco truck shows up in town. Most people are just happy to see another option on the corner.
Well then, who
advocates for such things? Answer: government agencies, occupational and trade
associations, and professional lobbyists for business who don’t like the idea
of tough, street-level competition or new market innovators.
Legislators respond
by granting state boards and commissions the ability to determine licensing,
education and training requirements. Yet, this doesn’t actually help people get
ahead. Instead, it makes it more difficult for people to get a leg up.
In an effort to give
people more freedom for advancement, more opportunities in the workplace and
create more productive and prosperous environments for themselves and their
families, Republican’s garnered enough momentum to pass legislation that became
effective law on January 1, 2018. My Republican colleague, Senator Kim Thatcher–District 13 was a chief sponsor of the bill.
This law now designates various professional licensing boards the responsibility of considering relevant work experience in place of a
high school diploma, or any other equivalent education requirements.
It also allows those
licensing boards to substitute OJT - on the job training, in lieu of school
attendance or class-work.
In other
words, if someone without a high school diploma has been working
a job for many years and the licensing or certification requires
a certain education level, this bill directs
the licensing board to consider their real-life experience.
There is no benefit
to the state’s needless saddling of individuals or in the burdening
of businesses with its intricate licensing schemes.
This bill, which is
now Oregon law, recognizes the dynamic circumstances of Oregonians. We all know
folks in our community who never completed high school but went straight into
the workforce. They have been in their trade for quite some time
and have a deep knowledge of their specific craft.
They should not be
barred from advancement because they unfortunately could not finish high
school or couldn't afford college training. This new legislation will help them
reach their full potential without being hampered by needless regulatory
constraints.
This coming year, I
hope to solve more of these regulatory roadblocks where I can gather the needed
Bi-Partisan support for common-sense legislation that will allow the citizens
of our state to achieve their full potential.
I look forward reducing the unseemly roadblocks that have been
erected in the path of those looking for an honest day’s wage for an honest
day’s work in the year ahead. Please keep me informed whenever you see some
unnecessary rule blocking your path. I will strive to tear-down those obstacles
to make life better for you and yours.
The purpose of government is to, “secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” I will continue to strive for that end,
in the Senate, during 2018.
Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year for 2018.
Remember, if we don't stand for rural Oregon values and common-sense – No one will!
 Dennis Linthicum
Oregon State Senate 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-305, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: sen.DennisLinthicum@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/linthicum
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