Dear Friends,
I hope the
start of 2018 has treated you well and you’ve been able to enjoy the days as it
gets warmer. We finished the “short” 2018 Legislative session late last Saturday. These even year sessions were created to take
care of technical issues and tweak agency budgets if necessary. That’s what we
did.
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Rebalancing
the State Budget
The
Legislature’s number one job is to pass a balanced budget. Thanks to Oregon’s roaring economy, this
session we passed a balanced budget that also provided funding for 25 additional
state trooper positions and increased funding for mental health services
throughout Oregon.
Implementing
Cleaner Air Oregon
Oregon has
long been a leader on environmental issues and in passing SB 1541 the
Legislature made the statement that we won’t stop now. The new law will reduce toxic air pollution
in Oregon by directing industry to meet specified air quality standards. I was happy to see this bill unanimously pass
the Senate. Urban or rural, Democrat or
Republican, we all need to breath clean air and this bill will help.
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Reining
in the Unfunded PERS Liability
The amount
local governments must spend to cover their share of the unfunded PERS
liability has already forced some school districts to layoff teachers. Recognizing this problem, we passed two bills
addressing PERS. One of them prevents
public employees who work in higher education from including outside
compensation when it’s time to calculate their PERS benefits. The other creates new funds dedicated to
helping local governments pay down their own unfunded liabilities.
Unhitching
from the Trump Tax Train
Late in 2017,
the federal government passed a bill that completely reformed tax policy in the
United States. Due to Oregon’s
connection with the federal tax code, several of the bill’s provisions would
automatically become part of Oregon’s tax code and cost the state hundreds of
millions of dollars. In response, Oregon
disconnected from one single provision of the federal tax law that is
expensive, confusing and is certain to be litigated.
Getting
tough on Domestic Violence
Domestic
violence is a factor in more than half of homicides against women. This session, the Legislature took two major
steps in addressing it. We passed a bill
that expands the definition of strangulation and elevates it to a felony. We also passed HB 4145, which closes the
“Boyfriend Loophole” and ensures domestic abusers and stalkers are unable to
have guns. We really need to turn the
corner on the alarming number of domestic violence cases in Oregon and I
believe these measures will do that.
I had a blast
talking with a group of fourth graders from Nancy Ryles Elementary.
They asked terrific questions and heard Senate President Peter Courtney
tell them about former state senator Nancy Ryles. It was a clear reminder that the best part of
this job is helping young people.
Please be on
the lookout for a future newsletter announcing a constituent coffee later in
April. It is an honor to represent such
active and thoughtful constituents.
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Sincerely,
 Senator Mark Hass
Senate District 14
email: Sen.MarkHass@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1714
address: 900 Court St NE, S-207, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/hass
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