Legislative Priorities for 2019; Joint Committee on Student Success in Coos County

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you had a wonderful summer. Arlene and I have been able to spend some time with our kids and grand-kids and enjoy a wide variety of community events in the district. I am so grateful to be able to serve all of you along the Oregon Coast. In my travels, I am constantly reminded that we truly do live in a one-of-a-kind region with great weather, exceptional outdoor opportunities, stunning natural beauty and the greatest people you’ll ever come across.

While the Legislature has not been in session since March, my office has been involved in crafting policy and discussing the pressing issues facing everyday Oregonians. This newsletter will focus on just a few items that are emerging as the big policy questions for the 2019 Session. Still, my first priority is helping constituents like you. If you’re having a problem in your interactions with state government, please call my office or send me an email and I will do my best to help. I’m always on the lookout for new ideas for changes to make the laws of our state more fairer and more reasonable. What issues are most important to you? Contact my office to share your thoughts.

Improving Student Success

I am honored to lead a bipartisan committee made up of members of the State Senate and House of Representatives that has been traveling throughout Oregon to meet with students, teachers, parents, local school boards and civic leaders. We have held public meetings to everyday Oregonians the opportunity to participate in the conversation. I expect this process will result in major legislation to provide needed support for Oregon schools. We complete our statewide tour exploring the best practices employed in Oregon’s most successful schools and addressing the gaps that are limiting student success in other schools, with a series of site tours and meetings in Coquille and Coos Bay Oct. 10-11.

Members of the public will have a chance to address the 14-member committee in a public hearing set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 in the auditorium at Marshfield High School, 972 Ingersoll Ave. in Coos Bay.

Health Care Costs

I regularly receive feedback from constituents who are concerned about rapidly increasing costs of health care and health insurance. Last session, we passed a prescription transparency law that requires drug manufacturers to submit justification for price increases greater than 10 percent. We think this will cause companies to think twice about unnecessary price increases. Our families deserve quality health care at an affordable cost, but unfortunately many working people have insurance that they can’t afford to use because of high deductibles and copays. We need to close that gap. We can do better than that. We have to do better.

Addressing Climate Change

After many years of seeing worse droughts, more frequent forest fires, ocean acidification, worsening air quality and rising temperatures, I am convinced that climate change is one of the most significant issues facing humanity today. I am very concerned about the world we will leave our children and grandchildren. The Legislature has debated approaches to reduce pollution, and I believe there is strong consensus that climate change is a real problem that must be addressed. This issue is affecting our ocean, through acidification that is destroying shellfish populations. The solution, from my perspective, must include some version of carbon sequestration so that we are looking at multiple angles of attack to address climate change and its disastrous impacts on future generations.

Protecting our Ocean

For those of us who live on the coast, the Pacific Ocean and shorelines are among our greatest state treasures. We must continue to show our value for this natural resource by taking care of it. I am pursuing legislation in  the upcoming session to place a permanent ban on exploration, development and production of oil in our state waters. This  is an important step forward to protect our pristine shoreline and preserve our coastal way of life, as well as protect existing fishing industries. The path to the future includes investing in wave energy development and other forms of clean energy. Extracting oil and natural gas off our coastal shoreline is a step backwards when we need to be moving forward.

Warm regards,

Sen. Arnie Roblan Senate District 5

October 27, 2018 – Coos Bay, Oregon: Southwestern Oregon Community College
Brought to you by Oregon Sea Grant

Each year the State of the Coast conference (http://www.stateofthecoast.com/) occurs in October in a coastal community. This year it’s happening in Coos Bay on October 27th.

The event attracts 250 students, public, agency, legislators, NGOs, industry, and local community leaders, providing a great opportunity for folks to get a glimpse into the latest issues and opportunities regarding Oregon’s coastal place and people. The theme of the conference and the topics covered are generated by a conference planning committee made up of the same blend of folks who attend. 

The event is sponsored by Oregon Sea Grant serving the state, region and nation through an integrated program of research, outreach, and education that helps people understand, rationally use and conserve marine and coastal resources.

State of the Coast is a chance to have fun and learn while listening to informative talks on current marine science and policy issues, participate in hands-on activities, and network with research, industry, and community leaders. This is Oregon’s coastal conference for everyone!