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Greetings!
It’s deadline season here at the Capitol. We’re working at a furious rate—just since the beginning of the session, the House has passed 128 bills out of the chamber.
Some of our biggest accomplishments protect Oregon’s environment and natural beauty. We’ve passed the Oregon Environmental Protection Act and a ban on fracking, and we removed the sunset on Oregon’s ban on offshore drilling.
I’ve also been proud to vote for bills that would protect public workers’ rights to organize, protect victims of revenge porn, protect renters, and strengthen ethics laws. Some of these bills still need to pass the Senate, but I look forward to seeing them signed by the Governor.
You'll never hear about many of the bills we've passed, but they still might have a big impact on some Oregonians—we’ve made animal control officers mandatory reporters, designated May as ALS Awareness Month, and made some big changes to how onions are inspected, to name a few.
Those 128 bills represent a tiny fraction of the 1,546 (!) bills that have been filed this session in the House. For better or for worse, we won’t be discussing every bill. We’re running up against an important deadline: in order to survive, every bill must be voted out of its policy committee and head to the House floor by next Tuesday the 9th. That means that all 90 members of the House and Senate are scrambling to push their bills through before the deadline, so their ideas can live another day.
Oregonians deserve a better budget
If you read the news, you know that the news is not good when it comes to Oregon’s budget. Despite our booming economy, schools and many other programs are facing cuts this year if we continue on this road.
As a school board member, I see firsthand that what we’re providing our schools is simply not enough. There has been an incredible amount of activism from students, teachers, staff, and parents to advocate for our schools and colleges. They know that simply cutting back every year is not sustainable, and it keeps us from investing in Oregon’s future.
The problems and inequities in our tax system have deep roots—but the time for action is now. I sit on two budget committees, so I’m up to my elbows in budget numbers on a weekly basis. The reality is that we simply can’t fix this problem without making changes to our revenue system. The conversations about revenue are still ongoing, but I want to see new direction that will fund our state’s needs and ensure that the right people are paying their fair share.
Legislators capable of laughter
It’s not all work and no play in Salem. Earlier this month, the House sailed to victory over the Senate in the biannual House vs. Senate charity basketball tournament. While a few elbows were thrown over the course of the game, bipartisanship ruled the day. The real winner was the Oregon Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs—we raised more than $10,000 for their programs!
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We know that paid family medical leave is a needed policy for Oregon families—whether you’re caring for a sick relative or starting a family, you should be able to do that without breaking the bank.
It’s an idea completely endorsed by Caesar the No-Drama Llama, who visited with the crowd at NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon’s rally in support of HB 3031, which establishes paid family medical leave in Oregon.
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Constituent coffee April 27
Our next constituent coffee with Senator Monnes Anderson will be Saturday, April 27th at 10 a.m., City Hall (1333 NW Eastman Pkwy, Gresham--new location!). We'll discuss the legislative session and progress on bills and budgets. Bring your thoughts and questions about what's happening in Salem.
As always, please contact my office with any questions or concerns. My door is always open to you!
Sincerely,
Representative Carla C. Piluso
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