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Hello Friends and Neighbors,
I wanted to start my newsletter with this quote of encouragement from first lady Abigail Adams:
"These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties.
Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman."
This period of time is stretching us all in different ways. We are learning lessons that will last a lifetime.
Clackamas County has been approved to move into Phase 1. Starting May 23rd, we must remain in Phase 1 for a minimum of 21 days, reopening no earlier than June 13th, before we can apply to move into Phase 2. I am eager for our county's businesses to reopen safely.
See the infographic below for a breakdown of what each phase means for our community.
You can also feel free to review my legislative "COVID Initiative" page, HERE. This page is updated regularly with the latest press releases and reopening guideline drafts.
On May 20th, the Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) released the June 2020 revenue forecast. The leisure and hospitality was the industry notably hit the hardest, which is no surprise considering that the Stay Home order focused on enforcing social distancing and restricted movement due to public health protocols. The Forecast estimates that by the fall, over 1/3 of Oregon's jobs will be back to what they were pre-closure.
Oregon families are hurting and have been forced to make significant budget cuts. Now the state must take reasonable actions to bring the budget in line with declining revenues. The best approach going forward is for the legislature to do all we can to support a full economic recovery for hardworking Oregon families across this state, who were disproportionately harmed by the governor’s executive shutdown orders.
For the 2019-2021 biennium, revenue is -$2.69 billion under the previous projections. As far as reserves, Oregon's reserves amount to 8.1% of the General Fund. We have close to $1.6 billion in reserves available, however as costs for state programs go up, they will become more difficult to cover. The OEA reported that the last biennium's ending balance would be enough to help cushion the blow, at $1 billion.
You can read more about the forecast at these links:
Link to the Slide Presentation
Link to Forecast Document
Link to Forecast Video Presentation
We are a country forged of war; committed to peace; and ever-indebted to the sacrifice of generations of servicemen and women who fought to uphold the ideals of a just and free nation; one war, one conflict and one firefight at a time.
We remember those who died in service to our country, and in remembering we resolve to honor them, not just with our words, but with our actions. To stand fast for those same ideals, to require of ourselves a tireless commitment to freedom, liberty and equality.
In remembering we honor their faithfulness to country. We honor their courage in battle. And we remember their place in the hearts and lives of the families and communities they left behind; who love and miss them still.
A people’s liberty, a nation’s freedom, cannot simply be observed and certainly cannot be preserved without cost, to governments, to soldiers and families in every generation.
We enjoy the sweet, gentle breezes of a nation at peace because of the sacrifice of those we honor on Memorial Day. We must remember that the relentless battle for true peace must be continually fought at home and abroad.
I am continuing to hear daily from my constituents who are struggling with their unemployment claims, and I want you to know that you are heard.
The Department announced Thursday that it is now providing benefits through the CARES Act Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program.
PEUC is a 13-week extension of unemployment insurance benefits for people who have run out of regular benefits. If you’re approved, PEUC provides the same amount of money as your regular benefit amount. You are also eligible to receive the weekly $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit for each eligible week between March 29 and July 25, 2020. Find out if you are eligible and apply for the PEUC HERE.
We are past the time for excuses and business as usual. The Oregon Employment Department must acknowledge the urgent human suffering that is happening across the state and respond not simply with empathy, but with action. Leadership and decision-making, both past and present, at the agency and in the executive branch have failed OED staff and the thousands of Oregonians who desperately need relief. I am out of patience, and our vulnerable Oregonians are out of money.
As always, it is my pleasure to serve my community. Please reach out to my office anytime.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1439
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-395, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ChristineDrazan@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/drazan
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