CONSTITUENT SHOUT OUT: CARNEGIE HALL PERFORMANCE
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Our local musicians practiced, practiced, practiced!
North Albany Middle School choir and West Albany's soloist, Lena Harrington performed at historic Carnegie Hall last week. Albany was representing in the Big Apple!
Read more: https://bit.ly/2MtbP3h
 NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE
This week, SB 870 cleared cleared the House. It is now awaiting the Governor's signature to become law.
"The agreement established by the states' laws will go into effect only if the cumulative total of the states' electoral votes surpasses the 270 necessary for a majority. The most recent addition, New Mexico, put the total at 189 electoral votes, and Oregon's seven electoral votes would clock in for a total of 196." (CNN)
I voted 'no' on this bill because it puts the interests of Oregonians at risk.
We live in a democratic republic, which is designed to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority.
By rendering the Electoral College useless, it would give large cities and states enormous power over the outcome of presidential elections. Los Angeles and New York City and the like would likely decide who our president is. For a smaller state like Oregon, I did not think this is the right move.
A lot of people say that this bill would likely encourage presidential candidates to visit Oregon. But there is reason to believe this would not be the case. Because the focus will be on those larger cities or states, candidates will likely only visit those places. It would replace our current “swing state” system with a “large state” system of campaigning – which would still not encourage candidates to visit Oregon.
Our republic system of government relies on a system of checks and balances, not only within the federal government, but between states. By keeping the voice that smaller states have in our presidential elections, we may be able to preserve our system of checks and balances.
Read more: Oregon Joins Popular Vote Movement
BASIC NECESSITIES TAX EXEMPTION
 A few newsletters ago, I announced I had introduced legislation to exempt some basic necessities from the massive, $2.8 billion commercial activities tax. It took awhile, but it is finally in its official bill form as HB 3446.
Make no mistake, life *will* get more expensive for all income levels after this legislative session, but I believe it will hurt the worse for those living paycheck-to-paycheck.
"Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, a chief sponsor of the necessities bill, said Tuesday she was trying to ease prices on consumers, who she believes will be hurt by new taxes and assessments passed in the Legislature this year."
“I’m a mom of three girls,” Boshart Davis said. “I know how expensive diapers were years ago. I know how expensive tampons are today. We shouldn’t be taxing groceries … We should also not be taxing basic necessities.”
Read more here: Oregon's Brand New Business Tax Could See Meaningful Changes
#DontTaxMyTampons
OREGON CLASSROOMS COULD SUFFER FROM CAP & TRADE
 As currently amended, Cap & Trade:
✅ Puts Highway Trust Fund at risk
✅ Makes projects in the Transportation Package more expensive
✅ Unconstitutionally diverts money away from the Common School Fund
✅ Harms Oregon's bond rating
Read more: Legislative Counsel Says Revenues From Cap and Trade Could Be Limited and Constrained By Previous Laws
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
 On Thursday, the House approved SB 320, which abolishes the switch back to standard time after the current daylight savings time. Now Oregon will be on permanent daylight savings time, if the Governor signs the bill. Concurrently, the House passed SJM 6 which encourages Congress to allow states to stay on daylight savings time, something that current federal law prohibits.
The good news: If you don’t like switching your clock twice a year, you now won’t need to if Congress approves.
The bad news: Our kids will be in the dark longer during the winter months. This is concerning for riding the bus to school, and for all the kids walking to school in the early hours of the day. Driving in the dark presents serious safety concerns. I am also concerned about family time in the evening for farm workers, construction workers, and all others who work outdoors during those dark months as they will start later in the day in order to work during the daylight.
For a full explanation on why I voted no on this bill, read here: Daylight Savings Time or Standard Time??? by local farmer Brenda Frketich on her blog Nuttygrass.
A HISTORICAL WEEK
WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE
 A century ago [Wednesday], Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote across the country. It took until August 18, 1920 for the states to ratify the amendment.
Oregon granted women the right to vote in 1912 after decades of struggle by Abigail Scott Duniway and other activists. Evidence and proof of the struggle is displayed at the Benton County Historical Museum in Philomath. In the 1884 election on the question of women's suffrage in Oregon, the vote lost by more than two to one in Benton County. ...Of course, only men could vote! The question was also on the Oregon ballot in 1900, 1906, 1908 and 1910 before finally passing in 1912.
These colorful images are just a few of the more than 50 included in The Oregon Blue Book exhibit about women's suffrage in Oregon. Check it out at:
https://sos.oregon.gov/…/…/explore/exhibits/woman-intro.aspx
For more facts like this, check out the Oregon State Archives' Facebook Page!
I read this post on the House floor. Watch here:
 D-DAY
 "[Thursday] marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion by Allied troops of the Nazi-occupied Normandy coast of France during World War II. This has been described as the largest seaborne invasion in history. It combined extensive planning, ingenious deception and no small part of luck, especially in relation to the weather. Without this massive invasion, the war in Europe could have dragged on for much longer.
The colossal effort had many complicated components, including bombardments and paratroopers, but most well known were the beach landings into the face of heavy enemy fire. Landing craft doors opened into the surf as Allied troops ran headlong toward blazing machine guns. Almost 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel that day. Over 4,400 Allied troops died.
Numerous movies have dramatized the D-Day invasion. Perhaps the best known is Saving Private Ryan, the 1998 film starring Tom Hanks. I’ve never been anywhere close to combat but the opening scene from that movie gives me chills. The courage of those men stepping off the landing craft is beyond my comprehension.
The D-Day invasion has been called as the “tip of the spear of democracy,” in the fight against fascism but its success would not have been possible without millions of supporting players, both in the military and in society generally.
Some of these unsung heroes are documented in a chapter of our Life on the Home Front Web exhibit entitled “State Auditors Go to War.” Through letters, cards, newsletters and photos, the sense of adventure, the humor and the fear of several Oregon state auditors come into focus. Check out this glimpse of World War II military life at this address:
https://sos.oregon.gov/…/exhib…/ww2/Pages/life-auditors.aspx
It’s trite to say that freedom isn’t free but the D-Day invasion is a prime example of how true it is too.
About the photo: Entitled "Into the Jaws of Death," this image by Robert F. Sargent shows American troops of Company E leaving a landing craft and heading onto Nazi-held Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6, 1944. During this initial landing, two-thirds of Company E became casualties."
See the original Oregon State Archives post here.
JOB SHADOW
This week, I had the privilege to welcome South Albany student and constituent, Pippa Richardson, to the Capitol. She was a participant in the Albany Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership program. Pippa came up for the day to job shadow.
During her visit, she was able to meet members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Pippa engaged with neighboring Representative Rob Nosse on the House Floor, who offered his veteran and bipartisan perspective on the legislative process.
She has been a member of her school's debate team and participated in Student Congress. It was a pleasure to have you, Pippa!
#FutureLeaders
 Today, The Oregonian published an Op-Ed I wrote about the lack of media coverage about the women who were involved in the Cap and Trade vote in the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction a couple weeks ago.
If it wasn't reported on, did it really happen?
I have worked in agriculture and business for the majority of my life - to some, still considered a "man's world" - and earned respect internationally through education, experience and opportunity... and a whole lot of grit.
Then I go to the Oregon Legislature and the media shows more bias than anyone in the Ag or Trucking or Business world ever has. This op-ed had to be written.
“World War II, Apollo 11, and Oregon’s 80th Legislative Assembly… If it wasn’t reported on, did it really happen? More appropriately, if it wasn’t reported on, will young girls know the impact women had in historical moments? If it’s not reported on, had a young girl read or heard about it, would it have changed the course of her life?
This quote has always stuck with me: “You have to see it to be it.” I have three daughters, and I want them to see, read, and hear that they can be anything – including intellectual people who break codes to help win wars, to be instrumental in humankind’s first steps on the moon, and yes, a state legislator. Who knows, maybe the first female President of the United States.”
Read it all here: Opinion: Female legislators’ work not reflected in media coverage
#orleg #orag #orbiz #ortrucking #momlegislator
OREGON BUSINESS CLIMATE
Last Friday, Stimson Lumber announced that they are planning to lay off 60 employees at their mill near Forest Grove.
As a business owner and job creator, I am sick to my stomach, and know the angst of cutting even one job.
As a mom, I worry for every mom and dad losing their job, and what that does to their family.
As a fellow Oregonian, I feel anxious for changing times to come and what that looks like for all of us.
As a legislator, I am furious.
My number one reason wanting to run for office was to try and communicate how the policies and legislation coming out of Salem affect working families in my district and across this state. I bang the drum every day worried about how each policy will affect a business's day-to-day operations, and more importantly their long term decisions on capital investment on whether to invest and stay in a heavily-regulated state like Oregon.
If companies are choosing to downsize in a thriving economy, man... we are all going to be devastated to watch what happens to business in Oregon when this economy turns. Dads, moms, employment opportunity, communities - all at risk.
Every regulation on its own can be debated on its merit. But it's the *culmination* of too many regulations too fast. The working Oregonian will ultimately be the one that loses.
Sick to my stomach, worried, anxious... but mostly just pissed off to hear this. Every Oregonian should be concerned.
Read more: 85-year-old sawmill company in Forest Grove announces closure resulting in the loss of 60 jobs
Talk soon,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1415
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-389, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boshartdavis
| 
