The Final Days of This Year's Session
The Constitutional end date of this year’s Legislative session is on Sunday! It has certainly been an eventful session, and our final week is proving to be a whirlwind as we try and process the final bills to wrap up session. With the Senate's return to business last week, they are busy processing the hundreds of bills that had been sent to the Senate to be worked, and voting on the numerous bills that still needed to be sent to the House to be worked. To say the least, the mad rush that accompanies the end of session has been turned up a few notches, and will have us all working here until the official “Sine Die” Sunday.
We have heard from many folks around the state as well as some residents of House District 11 that the “deal” struck in the Senate for the Republican Senators’ return was far from perfect, and no one disagrees. Neither side in a compromise ever gets everything they want, and when you serve in the minority, “negotiations” are usually a take-it-or-leave-it situation. While the divisive bills HB 2002 and HB 2005 were drastically watered down and limited in scope, both ultimately passed the Senate last week, and re-passed House Tuesday with their respective amendments.
There were some calling for the House Republicans to resort to our own “walkout” to deny the re-passage of these bills, but despite the beliefs to the contrary, a new walkout would have only “kicked the can down the road”. Without final passage of the state’s budget, a special session was guaranteed, and HB 2002 and HB 2005 would have been back in their original forms, and we would have been helpless to stop it. As difficult as it can be to stomach, serving in the minority is usually a brutal fight where “winning” is making horrible bills “less bad.” It isn’t a reality I like, and why I remain committed to fighting to bring balance back to the Legislature through elections, and truly put an end to hyper-partisan politics that leave behind a majority of Oregonians.
SJR 34: Preparing to Raise Legislators’ Pay
This bill sets the stage for increasing the salary of legislators, but actually makes it a choice of the people for whether or not Oregon should establish the Independent Public Service Compensation Commission, made up of human resources professionals. The biggest issue around rising the salary of Legislators has been having Legislators deciding our own “raise.” That concern is largely eliminated with this approach, instead putting the question in the hands of our “bosses” – the people.
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HJR 16: Impeachment Bill – On to the Senate!
I was proud to carry HJR 16 on the House Floor yesterday where it passed unanimously. In case you missed it, Oregon is the only state without an impeachment process for executive officials—leaving statewide elected officials with less avenues for accountability than any other elected state office. This resolution would ask voters if they want to adopt a Constitutional Amendment that grants impeachment power to the Legislature. You can watch my bill carry with this link.
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SB 85: Gutted CAFO Moratorium – Passed Both Chambers
Our office has closely followed this bill all session. Once targeting the so-called chicken "mega farms" which fall under Oregon’s CAFO program, SB 85 went from a complete moratorium that would have devastated Oregon’s vast CAFO industry, to an ultimately amended down bill mainly targeting Oregon’s “stock water exemption” in drought-stricken areas of the state. Though it will create an uncertain “patchwork” across the state in citing these farm operations, making it difficult for farmers to buy property with any confidence they can pursue a CAFO operation, the main harm inflicted by SB 85 will be our ranches in eastern and southern Oregon. SB 85 passed the House by just a single vote on Wednesday, and you can watch my speech in opposition here.
HB 3229: Fee Hikes for Not Polluting Enough – Passed the House
This bill increases the pollution fees imposed by DEQ on businesses by 80%. On the surface, that may seem like a financial punishment for businesses who aren’t wanting to “go green”, but the reality is DEQ’s revenues have plummeted due to Oregon businesses’ abundant compliance with environmental initiatives, so DEQ wants to increase the fees to make up the lost revenue. This bill had only 30 votes on the floor, until a Democrat was “convinced” to change his vote to provide the needed 31 votes for passage.
HB 3414: Loosening Regulations to Address Housing Crisis
This bill limits the conditions under which local government may deny an application for a variance from land use regulations of a residential development within an urban growth boundary and on lands zoned for residential use. The Governor To meet our housing goals, we must find ways to cut red tape and encourage developers. This bill has garnered opposition on both sides, and it has been a fight to protect farm land while balancing our need for added housing.
SB 498: Estate tax exemption for agriculture
A big win this session for our family farms is shaping up to be SB 498, which creates an exemption so that natural resource properties are not subject to the typical estate tax of 10%-16% for value over $1 million. This exclusion allows for up to $15 million, and will help many family farms remain family farms instead of being forced to sell lands to pay tax after an owner's death.
Scio FFA Alumni Barbeque
Next Thursday, Scio's FFA alumni will be serving up barbeque in Scio High School's parking lot from 4:30PM-6:30PM. For $10, support Scio's FFA chapter and chow down on chicken quarter, baked beans, and coleslaw! You can reserve your meals with the QR code in the flyer below.
Icebox Cookoff in Sweet Home
Next Friday through Sunday, the Icebox Cookoff will be held at the Sweet Home Rodeo Grounds! This free event is a time to enjoy some barbeque with friends and family and rank your favorites. With so many amazing vendors, sponsors, and volunteers, you won't want to miss out on this event!
Chance for Public Input - Lebanon
There will be a public hearing this coming Wednesday at 5:00PM to continue the discussion about an overnight sleeping area in Lebanon. The meeting will be held at the Santiam Travel station on 3rd St.
The City of Lebanon realizes this has been a controversial proposal, and is continuing the discussion so more public input can be heard. You may appear in person or submit written testimony to the city recorder as late as Tuesday at 5:00PM. Additional information is in the press release below.
Sweet Home Visits the Capitol
Sweet Home's City Manager Kelcey Young came for a visit to the Capitol yesterday! Such a treat to see friendly faces from the District during these crazy final days of session. Since her unanimous appointment last year, Kelcey has done a wonderful job serving Sweet Home, and I look forward to all the great things in store for our community! |
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During our chat, we discussed the issues facing Sweet Home—particularly the struggles to update critical infrastructure to support residents and businesses, as well as pave the way for future projects. This is not a unique problem to Sweet Home, and something our office will continue to fight for resources to address throughout our district.
Kelcey also shared the latest about Sweet Home's exciting beautification project, which you may recall reading about in last week's newsletter. A flyer with an updated timetable of the project is below. I can’t wait to see Sweet Home putting its best foot forward greeting all our visitors this summer!
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Senate’s Record Walkout Ends
One Month into the Senate Walkout
Update on the Senate Standoff
Senate Walkout: 13 Days and Counting
The “Walkout” Continues: Follow the Law
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