On May 21st, Governor Kate Brown called a Special Session of the Legislature for the purposes of passing a tax cut for certain small businesses in Oregon called sole proprietorships. While I voted for this bill, I was disappointed that Governor Brown did not do more to help small businesses during our last legislative session by refusing to veto SB 1528, which had the effect of raising taxes on those businesses by almost $1 billion. In my floor speech, I also expressed my feelings on the extreme partisanship in Salem. You can watch a video of my floor speech here.

From May 22nd through the 24th, legislators continued meeting in Salem for Legislative Days, during which committees held informational meetings on a variety of issues in preparation for the 2019 Regular Session. In particular, both the House Committee on Transportation Policy, for which I serve as Vice Chair, and the Joint Committee on Transportation, received updates from the Oregon Department of Transportation on the progress that road crews are making on implementing the maintenance and congestion relief projects included in the Transportation Package we passed in 2017 (HB 2017) as well as the different tolling scenarios under consideration by the Portland Metro Area Value Pricing Advisory Committee.

ODOT has produced two brochures detailing the summer highway improvement projects with the most traffic impacts, one statewide and one specifically for the Portland metro area. You can download your copies here. Because a lot of road work is planned in the metro area this summer, please be cautious as you enter and travel through a work zone. Slow down and pay complete attention to your driving, riding, or walking. On average, almost 440 people are hurt each year in Oregon work zone crashes. Together, we can reduce that terrible statistic.

On April 2nd, I attended Wilsonville Mayor Tim Knapp's State of the City address, followed by an update from Metro Councilor Craig Dirksen. I appreciated hearing their respective ideas for addressing our region's transportation, land use, and housing needs given the population growth that we are experiencing. While there is still much to do, it is important that we bring everyone together to solve these challenges in a collaborative way. I'd like to thank them, as well as the City Council and the staff, for their service to the community.

April 12th was the Grand Opening of the new Family Justice Center of Washington County in Beaverton. This collaboration of public agencies and nonprofit groups is dedicated to providing survivors of domestic violence, and their families, with comprehensive and holistic healing services to break the cycle of domestic violence in our communities. I want to thank the various public officials and team members who have been involved in making this facility become a reality, and I’d like to give a special shoutout to my constituent, Sarah Smith, for her work as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors.

On May 23rd, Paula and I attended the 4th Annual Equity and Innovation in Education Dinner at World of Speed in Wilsonville. The speakers included several former state legislators and nonprofit leaders who have become experts in education reform that seeks to enhance workforce development, close trade skills gaps, and respond to a growing desire from parents across the country for more diverse schooling options—including high-quality charter schools focused on breaking cyclical poverty. I want to thank Building Excellent Schools Together, the Portland Business Alliance, and the Cascade Policy Institute for organizing this event, inviting me to attend, and asking me to give the opening prayer.

On April 30th, I spent five hours with students and faculty at Oregon State University, as well as key industry representatives and legislative officials, discussing autonomous vehicles, drones, artificial intelligence, and some of the challenges and benefits that these rapidly approaching "technology tsunamis" will bring, ranging from cyber security and privacy to jobs and infrastructure. Innovations like the robot Cassie, named for the Cassowary bird found in Indonesia and Northern Australia, are rapidly changing our world. With students like Sherwood's Brett Stoddard, however, I know the future is bright.

Brett, a junior majoring in electrical engineering and computer design, works in a special lab at OSU where he mentors both students and faculty who want to learn more about applying AI technology in order to solve some of life's problems. When I met him, for example, he was working on a remote sensor for pest and disease detection to be deployed on Oregon’s hop farms. Being able to experience days like this is one of the reasons why it is such an honor to serve as your State Representative. Much of my joy comes from learning new things, and I have never learned more in my life than during these past two years.

On May 10th, I was pleased to join Representative Janelle Bynum at Portland State University, where we spoke to a group of students about health care policy and some of the legislation we’ve sponsored or supported during the last two sessions. The class was made up of some very thoughtful students who are passionate about the legislative process and improving the health care system in Oregon and the United States. Special thanks to the instructor for organizing the session and to the students for having us!

As is the case whenever a problem is identified in the legislature, the next question becomes whether the State of Oregon should do something about it and what that something should be. Expanding upon the climate change example, the “what” is typically requiring Oregonians to reduce their carbon emissions. From all the testimony I have heard on the subject, however, it is clear that we as a state cannot meaningfully improve this situation acting alone. Only when a majority of jurisdictions commit to addressing this issue—as with many others including health care and taxation—will actual progress be achievable. Until that happens, while I am not opposed to reasonable efforts to assume leadership in addressing these issues, such as by encouraging carbon reduction in our communities, I will generally err on the side of ensuring that Oregon’s economy remains healthy, and that any well-meaning efforts from my colleagues do not handicap our ability to improve the lives of those we represent.

I would also like to wish you and your family a Happy Memorial Day. This year, Paula and I had the opportunity to attend the annual Boatnik festival in my home town of Grants Pass. My boyhood friend and mentor, Davis Stanger, was instrumental in starting this event and, at 88 years old, he was honored to act as the Grand Marshal in this year's parade. Dave is a great example of someone who has been active in his local community his whole life, where he's made a real difference. It was my honor to join in supporting and honoring him. The Boatnik parade also held many reminders of why it is we celebrate Memorial Day. As with most years, I found time to reflect on the willingness of so many in our country to lay down their lives for people whom they’ve never even met. Politics aside, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. I hope you and your family have an opportunity to engage in this kind of reflection, as well.

As always, it is an honor to serve as your State Representative.

Sincerely,

Rich