Legislative Days for November have come to an end, and I have two important items to share with you.
ODOT & Winter
One of the top emails I have received during the past month is in response to a communication from ODOT about lessening service for those in rural Oregon. Obviously this is of great concern to all of us. Well marked and plowed highways are a must for our daily lives.
On Wednesday, as a member of the Joint Transportation Committee, I heard ODOT’s plans for our area this winter. ODOT prioritizes their road service into five groups: Level 1 (Red) is the greatest service and Level 5 (blue) is the least. They then contrasted what 2023 will look like compared to 2018, a year when ODOT was not concerned about their maintenance budget. As you can see from the maps and the chart, ODOT will be focused on HWY 97 and most of the other highways we frequently travel this winter should be maintained to a level of safety and satisfaction. (Click images to see a higher resolution image).
ODOT stressed that safety is their number 1 priority with their maintenance budget. Rest assured, my staff and I will be keeping a close eye on ODOT as we move into winter. Again this is a major priority for my office — to hold ODOT accountable and ensure we are able to get where we need to go this winter.
Surveillance by Secretary of State
Something not on our legislative agendas, but of notable importance, is that Oregon’s Secretary of State is considering a contract with 3rd party to monitor social media posts, blogs and other electronic communications concerning election information. A pilot program was conducted with a UK company during the 2022 elections.
The SOS's request for proposal says it is seeking a company to monitor, report and counteract posts that “…identify and mitigate harmful information online as it relates to elections (mis-, dis-, and mal- information, or “MDM”).
It is critical that such policies are transparent to all Oregonians: what is being monitored, how the criteria is selected and for what reason. The SOS must follow statute or rules, instead of making up policies without public input.
Free speech is a founding principle in our nation. While I understand the SOS’s goal to ensure correct information is communicated about elections — amidst rapidly changing technology — the SOS needs to clearly communicate with the legislature and public for transparency and accountability.
Happy Veterans Day & Thanksgiving
I want to thank all of our Veterans who have nobly served this nation to ensure our freedoms. I also want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. It’s a unique American holiday that allows us to stop our daily routines and take time for gratitude to God, our families, our friends and our national heritage of individual liberty.
 It is an honor to serve the people of Central & Southern Oregon. If you need assistance on a state matter, plan on visiting the Capitol or have an idea for legislation, please reach out to my office.
Best regards,
E. WERNER RESCHKE
State Representative, HD 55
The Crater Lake District
Capitol Phone
(503) 986-1455
Capitol Address
900 Court St. NE, H-383
Salem, OR 97301
Email
Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov
Website
www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke
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