 The Oregon Legislature has completed the 2022 Short Session. While less contentious than the 2020 short session, the nearly 5-week gathering of legislators clearly demonstrated the significant problems of one-party rule. The short session was put into the Oregon Constitution by voters in 2010 with the expressed purpose to annually balance budgets and make minor technical fixes to legislation passed during the long session. Instead, it has been repeatedly abused to swiftly pass major policy, not giving the public adequate time to react or weigh in on what is being done at their Capitol in Salem.
My 4th Consecutive Conservative Excellence Award
2022 Legislative Highlights
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Defeated - Oregon Sales Tax proposal : HB 4079 proposed adding a 3% sales tax on specific goods and services.
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Defeated - Washington State’s Gas Tax: Oregon legislators stopped an attempt by Washington’s Legislature to impose a gas tax on Oregonians.
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Continued pressure on the Governor: My introduction of HJR 201 was blocked by the majority party, however it would have terminated the State of Emergency, removing the Governor’s mandates.
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Help for Law Enforcement: HB 4008 passed and allows police to stop riots again with appropriate crowd control measures.
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Help for Struggling Pharmacies: SB 1524, an Omnibus tax bill, passed and in part granted a temporary exemption for struggling local pharmacies from the CAT Tax to ensure Oregonians have easier access to necessary prescription drugs.
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Tax Credit for Small Woodland Owners: SB 1502 passed and granted a tax credit for small woodland owners to help combat new forestry regulation.
- Secured funding for the City of Merrill Water project.
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Visit to my office by the Young Republicans
2022 Legislative Lowlights
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Ag Overtime: HB 4002 passed and will harm farm worker hours and pay as well as hurt small family farms by mandating overtime pay over 40 hours. This bill does not accommodate for Oregon’s unique and diverse agriculture sector.
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Eliminated local control for school boards: SB 1521 passed and will inevitably cause legal fights between school boards, cities, counties and the state over curriculum taught in schools. This bill will only create animosity and lets politics influence the classroom.
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Restricting Law Enforcement: SB 1510 passed and prevents police from enforcing some traffic laws which will endanger drivers and pedestrians. Eliminates expectations for parolees to reform after exiting prison.
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Excessive Spending by Democrats: your legislature spent over $5 billion in less than 5 weeks.
2022 Missed Opportunities - Bills that failed to pass
- HB 4141 (Reschke co-sponsor): The option for self service at the gas station, supported by 68% of Oregonians.
- HB 4108 (Reschke co-sponsor): Appropriate justice for critically injured victims of violent crime.
- HB 4028 (Reschke co-sponsor): Restore Oregon’s reading, writing and math standards for graduation.
- HB 4022 (Reschke co-sponsor): Better school curriculum transparency for parents.
- HB 4142 (Reschke co-sponsor): Protect hospital workers from physical assault in the work place.
- HB 4097 (Reschke co-sponsor): Income tax credit of $1,000 for volunteer firefighters to support heroes that risk their lives while bolstering Oregon’s firefighting response.
- HB 4135 (Reschke co-sponsor): Empower police to tackle illicit drug dealing to reduce criminal activity in neighborhoods.
It is an honor to service the great people of Klamath & Lake Counties. If you need assistance on a state matter or have an idea for legislation, please reach out to my office. Note: the best way to contact my office during the interim, while we are not in session, is to send an email to my office.
Best regards,
E. WERNER RESCHKE
Oregon State Representative, HD 56
Email
Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov
Website
www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke
Capitol Phone
(503) 986-1456
Capitol Address
900 Court St. NE, H-384
Salem, OR 97301
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