Friends and neighbors, here are some highlights from the week and helpful community information for you! 

 - Shelly

Floor Courtesy May 17, 2023

Transportation Update – Democrat Leadership Abandon Bipartisanship, Fail to Deliver I-5 Bridge Funding

With a bipartisan amendment to fund Oregon’s portion of the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project on the table, Democrats failed to take up any proposal in last night’s Joint Transportation Committee hearing, the last before the deadline.

We had a chance to show the federal government that Oregon was serious about replacing a dangerous and outdated bridge. I worked tirelessly with the committee on a bipartisan, consensus amendment to protect open and fair public procurement process and ensure we do not rob rural areas of the state of their fair share of infrastructure investments.

Legislative leadership and the Governor chose partisanship over passing a bill, and that is unfortunate. There is no reason that transportation should be a partisan issue. Oregon’s transportation system faces funding challenges, and if this is any indication of how Republicans will be treated in a 2025 transportation package is going to go,  it is going to be very, very challenging process.

In April, the Joint Transportation Committee unveiled the -2 amendment to HB 2098, a consensus amendment to fund $1 billion and would have done several other important things:

• Recommit to the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project
• Identify funding sources that do not rob rural areas of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
• Codify Oregon’s policy outlined in ORS 279A.015(5) to protect the integrity of the public procurement process to ensure minority contractors have an equal opportunity to build the new I-5 bridge and prevent cost overruns for taxpayers

After public pressure from Democratic campaign funders and far-left groups, Legislative leadership gutted the bipartisan compromise to double down on partisan amendments. Make no mistake, they would have preferred to have no bill at all than have a bipartisan bill.

The Ways and Means Committee can still satisfy Oregon’s financial obligation to the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project through the budgetary process.

Why the Bipartisan Bridge Bill Was Important

Transportation has always been a bipartisan effort in Oregon – there is no reason transportation needs to be partisan. But activists in Portland have made it their mission to stop the construction of roads and bridges and unions (Democratic donors) have decided to flex their muscles to stop the bipartisan work that was done on the project.

Part of the bipartisan amendment was to ensure open and fair competition in the public procurement process when building the bridge. Some would prefer there be no language protecting open and fair competition, and some as went as far as to propose the exact opposite and mandate that ONLY union contractors can work on the project. This would have been bad for taxpayers by driving up the cost of the bridge, and it would have been bad for African American and Latino contractors.

Watch my remonstrance about the importance of the bipartisan amendment.

Protect Taxpayers

Equal Opportunity for Minority Contractors

Governor, It’s Time for BOLD ACTION.

The federal and state government’s have suspended all COVID-era regulations on businesses. This week, I wrote a letter to the Governor asking her to cease collecting the fines levied against employers under these rules that no longer apply.

It’s time to move on from the pandemic, and the Governor should forgive and refund all these fines.

Republicans Are Standing Up For Law and Order

This week, House Republicans forced votes on four bills that would have made our communities safer.

It's no secret that Oregon has a serious drug problem. Measure 110 has left thousands of Oregonians behind by increasing access to dangerous drugs, while failing to get those struggling with addiction into treatment. According to a recent statewide poll, 63% of Oregonians support reforming Measure 110 to reinstate criminal penalties for drug possession while still funding services. HB 2310 would have done exactly that. That is why House Republicans in May attempted to force a vote on this bill. I was proud to support the bill, but unfortunately, it failed on a vote of 30-30.

Good News For Taxpayers

As we get closer to the session's end, budget conversations are ramping up. The recent revenue forecast was great news for taxpayers and budget writers alike. If projections hold, Oregon taxpayers will receive a $5.5 billion kicker, the largest kicker refund in Oregon history.

It's hard to say what that means exactly for you, but earlier this year, when economists estimated a $3.9 billion kicker, Oregonians with an income of $33,000-$58,000 could receive about $820 back.

This revenue forecast means that legislators also have more money to invest in critical needs around the state. Budgets reflect priorities, and Democrats have repeatedly blocked Republican efforts to fully fund schools over the last few years.

Representative Tracy Cramer (R-Gervais) introduced HB 3627 this week to fully fund our schools to the tune of $10.4 billion. District leaders and teachers have told the Legislature they need at least $10.3 billion to maintain the current service level. Yet the Governor's Recommended Budget only asked for $9.9 billion, and Legislative Democrats have offered $10.1 billion. It's time to give our students and teachers what they need!

Will Democrats Choose to Salvage the Session?

The Oregonian Editorial Board last week reprimanded the extreme partisanship that has lead to a walkout in the Senate. They wrote: “But as a general rule, the state should not be giving children an avenue for pulling away from parents – their key support system – in such a serious situation, especially since the state won’t be sticking around to help that child afterwards. While Democrats cast this bill as if it keeps government out of patients’ medical decisions, in reality, it helps keep parents out of their kids’ lives.”

Thus far, they have shown no signs of moderating. The Legislature should not be driving wedges between parent and children, and 10 Senators have now possibly disqualified themselves from holding their office after next election to stand up for these parental rights. I applaud them.

Armed Forces Day and Police Week

This week was National Police Week.

Several members of my family serve in law enforcement. I know firsthand the sacrifice they make on a daily basis to keep our communities safe. The Legislature has failed to support them with our policy over the last few years, but I will always stand with our men and women in blue! Watch my courtesy to honor them this week here!

May 15^th was National Armed Forces Day.

The Oregon National Guard held ceremonies on the Capitol Mall to celebrate the sacrifice our military made for us. The events included a F-15 flyover and a firing of a 105mm M119  in a salute to all those who serve.

Editorial: A chance to salvage the session By: The Oregonian Editorial Board Democrats should allow greater public and legislative input on House Bill 2002. The bill, one of the main focuses of Republican opposition, includes some noncontroversial provisions such as protections for medical professionals who provide abortion to visitors from out-of-state. But one of the most divisive aspects of the bill is that it would allow all minors to receive an abortion without parental notification, a change from current practice in which a teen must be at least 15 to do so. … Instead of sending the bill straight to the Senate floor for a vote, as Wagner aims to do, send the bill to a Senate legislative committee instead to take out that provision and explore an alternative, such as a judicial bypass. In addition, Wagner should allow greater public and legislator input on other aspects of the bill. On such highly-controversial proposals, Democrats should err on the side of inclusion.

Shemia Fagan tapped state, campaign funds for White House trip with her kids OregonLive A combination of Oregon taxpayers and campaign donors paid for then-Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and her two children to attend the annual White House Easter Egg Roll last month in Washington, D.C. Ben Morris, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, said Fagan attended the event in her “official capacity,” so her airfare and related expenses totaling about $1,000 were covered by the state. Fagan’s political campaign fundraising committee picked up the cost of her kids’ flights, plus other expenses from the trip, which together topped $2,100. An attorney for Fagan said the campaign spending for her children is permissible under state and federal regulations. But local campaign finance watchdogs say it raises questions, nonetheless.

Rickreall Dairy is calling it quits after 33 years Polk County Itemizer-Observer “Most people will say it’s because none of my kids wanted to continue the business,” he said, adding dairy farming is typically a family endeavor with a succession structure in place to continue the business for generations. “But the truth is, they would have wanted to take it over if the industry wasn’t so volatile.” Low milk prices, high feed costs and ever-increasing government oversight has challenged the dairy industry for decades. “It just keeps getting worse,” Kazemier said. “I wouldn’t want to subject my children to the stress of the industry today. And it really doesn’t matter if you do everything right and make good business decisions — you still have no control over your milk prices.”

Oregon employers still owe $867,000 for COVID-19 violations Statesman Journal The federal COVID-19 public health emergency ended Thursday, and over the next few weeks Oregon will lift its remaining health-protective measures such as masking, isolation and vaccination requirements for certain workers. While pandemic restrictions are ending, outstanding fines for those who violated the rules still must be paid. An estimated 58 coronavirus-related citations, totaling about $867,000, are on appeal or in the collections process, said Aaron Corvin, a spokesperson for Oregon OSHA.

State election officials fine Democratic Party of Oregon for cryptocurrency donation flap OPB State election officials are fining the Democratic Party of Oregon a $15,000 late filing fee after the party changed the donor of a hefty campaign check. The state also plans to monitor the Democratic Party of Oregon’s financial disclosures to ensure campaign finance laws are being followed in the future. The secretary of state’s office initially proposed fining the party $35,000 after a three-month investigation but lowered the amount.

8 OD deaths in 2 days in Portland, fentanyl suspected KOIN6 The deaths of 8 people in 2 days in Portland are believed to be drug overdoses, most of them related to fentanyl, the Portland Police Bureau said late Sunday night. The deaths were recorded in various parts of the city beginning at 11:38 a.m. Friday through 4:31 p.m. Sunday, officials said. The Portland Police Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit said it appears users “believed they were ingesting cocaine, but that it was really a blend of cocaine and fentanyl or possibly pure powdered fentanyl.”

Gov. Tina Kotek knew of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s pot contract a week before it was made public OregonLive Gov. Tina Kotek learned Secretary of State Shemia Fagan had an outside marijuana consulting contract and had recused herself from an audit of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s pot regulation system eight days before Fagan’s side job became public, the governor’s office said late Monday. Kotek’s spokesperson said the governor and Fagan met on April 19 for their first official meeting to “discuss the legislative session and other topics unrelated to cannabis." During that conversation, Fagan “briefly mentioned” she had recused herself from the ongoing audit of the state’s cannabis program “due to a consulting contract,” spokesperson Elisabeth Shepard said in an email.  Fagan told Kotek she had obtained an opinion from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission about the contract, Shepard said.

VOTERS’ REMORSE: Blue state survey shows majority want to re-criminalize drugs: 'We made an enormous mistake' Fox News Support for drug decriminalization is waning among Oregonians as overdose rates and homelessness continue to increase, a recent survey found. Portland-based DHM Research surveyed 500 Oregonians and found that 63% support reinstating criminal punishments for drug possession while continuing to fund treatment programs. "Oregon has turned into an international spectacle and I think we looked at each other and realize that we made an enormous mistake," Portland-based trial attorney Kristin Olson told Fox News. Oregon is the only state in the nation where possession of personal use amounts of hard drugs including heroin, meth and fentanyl is decriminalized, after 58% of voters passed Measure 110 in 2020. ... Oregon's addiction crisis was a major topic during last year's gubernatorial race. Two of the three candidates supported repealing the voter-approved Measure 110, but not now-Gov. Tina Kotek. The Democrat said the law's rollout had been "stuck in a bureaucracy moving at a snail's pace" and vowed to hold the Oregon Health Authority accountable if elected. Kotek's office did not respond to a request for comment on the DHM survey.

LIFEGUARDS WANTED AT THE YMCA

From our friends at Mid-Willamette Family YMCA:

We’re hiring!

The Lifeguard maintains safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck, and surrounding areas. This position creates a safe and positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals and promotes safety in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures. The Lifeguard builds positive relationships with members and program participants through effective listening and verbal skills and creatively finds ways to connect them to one another and the Y community.

Perks + Everything you need to know here

ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP?

From our friends at the ABC House: 

Looking for an easy, yet impactful way to give back? We are low on individually packaged snacks like cookie variety packs, Cheez-its, fidget toys, reusable water bottles, thinking putty and board games.

Visit our ABC House Wish List to see our most current needs here

Thank you so much for your support!

2023 BOAT SAFETY CHECK DATES ANNOUNCED

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office: 

Back again this year, your Linn County Sheriff's Office will be offering free boat safety checks.

The safety checks will be at Bi-Mart locations throughout Linn County. We will have FREE coffee and donuts at Albany and Sweet Home locations in the morning (while supplies last)! We will also have a limited number of FREE life vests available for kids, courtesy of your neighborhood Bi-Mart!

Bring your boat and your families to the following event sites:

Saturday May 20th

Albany Bi-Mart 8AM-12PM

Lebanon Bi-Mart 1PM-5PM

Sunday May 21st

Sweet Home Bi-Mart 10AM-2PM

We hope to see you there!

 2022 ANNUAL REPORT FROM APD

From our friends at Albany Oregon Police Department: 

The long awaited, 2022 Annual Report from APD!

It has everything you wanted to know/didn't want to know/never cared about until now included!

Plus, lots of pictures!

Wonder about our new Mental Health Intervention Specialist? It is in there.

Been pondering about our K-9's and what they do? It is in there.

What does the Park Ranger do in our parks? It is in there.

Check it out here!

PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY

COLD WATER SAFETY

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office: 

With the warm temperatures forecasted for the upcoming weekend, we know a lot of people will be looking towards area rivers as a way to cool off.

This early in the year, our area waterways are still very full of debris and the water is fast running!

We have already had two water rescues this spring where the swimmers were not prepared for the cold water and the fast currents.

Here are just a few tips to keep in mind if you go out swimming this weekend, or any time!

• Always enter unknown or shallow water cautiously.
• Do not enter the water from a height, such as a bridge or boat.
• Be careful when standing to prevent being knocked over by currents or waves.
• Recreate sober.
• Swim with a buddy.
• If you are planning to float one of our area rivers or teams, make a plan! Let others know where you plan to get in and where you plan to get out and wear a life jacket!

Please stay safe if you are out on the water and for more information on cold water safety visit here

ABC HOUSE TRAUMA COUNSELORS 

From our friends at the ABC House: 

REMINDER:

DARKNESS TO LIGHT ONLINE CLASS

From our friends at the ABC House: 

As adults, we all carry the responsibility to protect the children in our lives. Darkness to Light’s 5 Steps to Protecting Children helps us to understand the power that we have in keeping our children safe by teaching us simple strategies to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

To learn more, join us for Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children next Wednesday, 5/24 from 3-5 PM. Register here

National Police Week is May 14-20!

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office: 

National Police Week serves to honor and commemorate law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. During National Police Week, various events and ceremonies are held across the country to recognize the sacrifices made by police officers and their families. These events include a candlelight vigil, a wreath-laying ceremony, a National Police Survivors' Conference, and a memorial service at the U.S. Capitol. National Police Week is an opportunity for the public to show their support and gratitude for the brave men and women who serve as law enforcement officers, and to remember those who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Your Linn County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank ALL of our police certified staff! While most of you may recognize our deputies out on patrol, we also have many men and women working as Civil Deputies and Detectives, who all are police certified!

Thank you to not only the brave men and women of your Linn County Sheriff’s Office, but to all those along the Thin Blue Line throughout the country that put their lives on the line each and every day to protect the communities in which they live.

RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE

Albany Police Officer Michael Norlander awarded the Medal of Valor

From our friends at Albany Police Department:

It is National Police Week this week and a great time to honor our officers, spread awareness about the challenges they face and pay homage to the officers that go above and beyond on a daily basis.

We were honored to present these awards at the Albany City Council meeting last week.

Read more about it, here.

During the 2023 legislative session my office will continue to keep you updated and informed - and is always at your service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any community event announcements, legislative questions, or concerns.

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