Friends and neighbors, here are some highlights over the last month and helpful community information for you! 

 - Shelly

Measure 110 – ACTION ALERT

On Monday, December 4, the committee will be accepting public testimony on the drug crisis in Oregon. To sign up to testify in person, or online, click here. To send written testimony, send an email here: JACSR.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov

The public has turned against Measure 110. Poll after poll shows that it’s unpopular and Oregonians want it repealed, or at least significantly reformed. When I say repeal, this is what I mean:

• Repeal the entirety of Measure 110 and start over with a policy that does these things:
  • mandatory treatment for those struggling with addiction
  • criminal accountability for drug dealers
  • doing away with progressive, woke, activist boards that are directing tax dollars to untested “harm reduction” and other failed “treatment” that only enables drug use
  • setting long-term sobriety as the state’s goal for drug policy
  • accepting law enforcement’s role in regulating criminal behavior like public drug use as a way to get people into treatment
  • maintaining funding for treatment that supports long-term sobriety

If you are on the side of “reform” or “fix” you likely agree with most of these items. So, why do I use the word repeal instead of reform or fix?

Because Democrats in Salem can define reform in any way they want to, they can make many bad policies under the banner of “reform.” I want to be very clear what needs to be done. I don’t want people to think Oregonian’s idea of “reform” is the same as a “small fix” possibility that comes out of Short Session unless it includes everything I mentioned above.

When most well-meaning people say “reform” or “fix” they are usually signaling they want to preserve treatment funding for treatment. The problem is, the way treatment is being funded right now is a total failure. I agree we need funding for treatment, but the way its done now can’t continue if we want to see progress on our drug crisis.

For example, twice as much money has been spent on housing than on treatment that focuses on getting people sober. Twice as many Oregonians have accessed “harm reduction” services (think free needles, foil, etc.) than have gotten into treatment that gets people clean and sober.

Plus, the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council (the Governor-appointed body that directs treatment dollars) is filled with activists who have the same drug-enabling approach that is inherent to Measure 110.

Much of the blame on our current drug crisis is correctly put on Measure 110, but a lesser known court case is also wreaking havoc on law enforcement's ability to charge drug dealers. District Attorneys and other law enforcement officials have recently urged lawmakers to make changes to the law and  make it easier for law enforcement to catch drug dealers.

I recently signed a letter with my House Republican colleagues outlining the changes we want to see to Measure 110. Those include rehabilitating those struggling with addiction, restore criminal accountability for possession of deadly drugs to provide a mechanism to get people into treatment, reinvest in proven methods that get people clean and sober, and finally repeal the failed aspects of Measure 110, which included scrapping Governor-appointed boards that have proven ineffective at getting money to projects ready to help people get sober. Read that letter here:

Different Standards in Education

This week, the month-long Portland Teachers Union strike finally ended. Over 40,000 Portland-area students were shut out of the classroom for almost the entire month of November. Many student's struggling to study for tests without the teacher help, while special needs students struggled with the disruption of their routine. We already know the devastating results of lost classroom time has on student learning from our COVID experiment of school lockdowns. I hope district and union leadership will come together to avoid similar strikes in other districts around the state.

My House Republican colleagues have floated a legislative fix to prevent future walkouts like this. After all, 37 other states and Washington DC already have laws on the books to prevent teachers' unions from disrupting student learning by participating in strikes.

Until 2021, Oregonian parents risked $500 fines if they didn’t ensure their students went to school regularly.

Jason Dudash, with the Freedom Foundation, made good points in his recent op-ed in the Bend Bulletin, where he explains the different standards teachers' unions are held to when it comes to obstructing public education:

“In Oregon, public education is funded primarily through income tax. Similar to previous truancy penalties in the state, those who fail to pay income taxes that serve as the financial basis of public education are subject to fines.

Certainly, teachers’ union strikes that intentionally bar children from the classroom indefinitely pose a significant barrier to quality education. If parents and taxpayers could face automatic legal penalties for interrupting public education, why should teachers’ unions be exempt?”

Thank you, Oregon Nurseries for your advocacy!

Thank you to the Oregon Nurseries Association for naming me their 2023 Ag Warrior.

Like all sectors of Oregon agriculture, nurseries are struggling with the weight of constantly increasing taxes and regulations. Most recently, the ag overtime mandate will drive up nurseries' costs and severely impact their workforce from earning as much as they would like and need to survive forcing them to work multiple jobs, sometimes unsafely.

I am a proud supporter of Oregon agriculture and will continue to fight to make sure they will be able to keep working to grow the food, fiber, and plants that keep Oregon green and healthy.

Ag Overtime Tax Credit Program

Speaking of the ag overtime mandate, the Oregon Department of Revenue is reminding farm operations that if you intend to apply for the new Agriculture Employer Overtime Tax Credit, you need to set up a Revenue Online account soon.

Taxpayers who want to apply for the tax credit need to have a Revenue Online account prior to filling out an application. Applications must be filed electronically and will be available by January 1, 2024. No paper applications will be accepted. The application window closes January 31, 2024.

The Oregon Legislature approved House Bill (HB) 4002 in 2022. The measure requires agricultural employers to pay certain workers for overtime hours worked and creates a refundable personal or corporate income tax credit for employers for a percentage of wages paid as overtime pay, starting with the 2023 tax year.

The department provides a YouTube video about how to set up and log in to your Revenue Online account. Details about the tax credit program are available at this website. For general questions about the employer tax credit for agricultural worker overtime, email: Ag.Overtime@dor.oregon.gov

Measure 114 Struck Down as Unconstitutional

Just before Thanksgiving, a Harney County Judge placed a permanent injunction on Measure 114, the gun control ballot measure that barely passed last year.

Unfortunately, we aren’t done fighting this battle. The Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum intends to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals. The case will likely end up at the Oregon Supreme Court, and perhaps even the United States Supreme Court.

But for now, Measure 114 is not in effect, and you may still purchase a firearm without the burdensome regulations this law would have put on you.

Elliott State Research Forest in limbo as OSU steps back

OPB

Oregon State University is stepping back from plans to turn the Elliott State Forest into the country’s largest research forest.

The announcement marks a major roadblock for the 82,000-acre Elliott State Forest. For more than four years, the university has worked with the Oregon Department of State Lands on a proposal that would make the Elliott a “world-renowned” research forest to help better understand how climate change is impacting forests, contributing to sustainable forest products while also allowing public access and timber harvesting.

Oregon first in US to allow law students to become lawyers through apprenticeships, not bar exam

OregonLive

Passing the bar exam is no longer the only way to become a lawyer in Oregon.

Students at the state’s three law schools can now bypass the grueling two-day test by logging hundreds of hours at a law firm and then submitting samples of their work for review under a new system approved last week by the Oregon Supreme Court .

The Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination makes Oregon the first state in the nation to allow students to become lawyers through a post-graduation apprenticeship, though backers believe it won’t be the last.

Child care program faces potential $123 million shortfall and indefinite waiting list

Oregon Capital Chronicle

A record number of Oregon families signed up for child care subsidies this year when eligibility was broadly expanded, but that has led to a budget shortfall that could reach $123 million.

Department of Early Learning and Care officials told a legislative committee last week that they stopped taking applications Nov. 4 for the state’s Employment Related Day Care program, which helps low-income families pay for child care. The pause in applications came months after the Legislature broadened eligibility to more families and increased benefits – but it didn’t allocate enough money to pay for them, forcing the agency to create a waitlist. 

Nursery association honors legislators, members of Congress

Capital Press

The Oregon Association of Nurseries announced its annual Friends of Nurseries Awards.

The awards are given to elected and other officials and partners who demonstrate understanding of Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse industry or support for its advancement, according to an OAN news release. The recipients for 2023 are state Reps. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany; Mark Owens, R-Crane; and Ken Helm, D-Beaverton. Also honored were state Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Pendleton and U.S. Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Cliff Bentz, both R-Ore.

Why does Oregon do poorly in rolling out new initiatives? Bend Bulletin Many ambitious programs launched by the state of Oregon have had a bumpy rollout. That’s to be expected, we suppose, as there’s always a set of unintended consequences to any program covering such a large population. Measure 110 — the voter initiative reducing drug penalties while hoping users turn to addiction treatment — is a glaring example of unintended consequences. Measure 114, aimed at gun safety, is awaiting a Harney County judge’s ruling on its constitutionality. The Oregon Employment Department estimates it paid $76 million in fraudulent benefits claims during 2021, more than triple the amount identified the prior year, according to an Oregonian investigation. And COVID-19 payments to keep payrolls afloat also had their share of poor execution, delays and fraud, albeit on the federal level. Now comes the state’s paid family leave program.

Dry wells, muddy water: Extreme reservoir drops tax Oregon drinking water, tourism Statesman Journal As the reservoirs transformed back into rivers, the water is flushing mass amounts of built-up sediment downstream into the South Santiam, Middle Fork Willamette and mainstem Willamette rivers. That’s hammered drinking water systems of downstream cities such as Sweet Home, Lebanon and Lowell, and to a lesser extent, Albany.

The Stack of Election Complaints Continues to Grow in Salem Willamette Week State Rep. David Gomberg (D-Otis) happily voted for the extra position. But he is frustrated that even with it, the Elections Division will fall further behind in 2023: It has closed 235 complaints so far this year, but because 431 new complaints came in, the backlog increased by nearly 200 to a grand total of 736.

Marion County DA asks Gov. Tina Kotek to revoke commutations of 57 people Statesman Journal According to the letter Clarkson sent to Kotek, 11 of the 138 people in Marion County who had their sentences commuted by Brown have committed felonies or misdemeanors since their release and an additional 28 are wanted for crimes or violations of their release.

Marion County DA wants Kotek to revoke 57 commutations granted under Brown

KATU

The Marion County district attorney wants Gov. Tina Kotek to revoke 57 commutations granted by former Gov. Kate Brown.

Kotek earlier this year asked Oregon’s district attorneys to contact her office if someone who has received a commutation violates the conditions of their release in a manner that warrants revocation of their clemency.

The Marion County District Attorney’s Office said 11 of those people have victimized others.

Oregon gun control Measure 114 permanently blocked by Harney County judge; state will appeal

OregonLive

A Harney County judge on Tuesday permanently blocked Oregon from enforcing gun control Measure 114, ruling it infringes on the constitutionally protected right to bear arms.

The state plans to appeal the ruling to the Oregon Court of Appeals, and the case will likely end up before the Oregon Supreme Court.

“The Harney County judge’s ruling is wrong. Worse, it needlessly puts Oregonians’ lives at risk. The state will file an appeal and we believe we will prevail,” Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement.

Parents angered over Monroe substitute teacher who gave controversial assignment in Eugene

KEZI9

A health teacher that left Eugene School District 4J earlier in 2023 after giving out a controversial assignment involving sexual fantasies is now a substitute teacher in another district, and parents are not happy about it.

Kirk Miller was put on leave from Churchill High School in Eugene in March 2023 after asking ninth graders to write about their sexual fantasies involving props but no penetration. Students were also given an assignment to spin a wheel labeled with sex acts, and then allegedly would have to write the initials of a boy or girl they would do that sex act with.  

Now Miller is teaching as a substitute teacher at Monroe High School and as a long-term PE substitute for kindergarten through eighth graders at Monroe Grade School, while the permanent teacher is on maternity leave.

$600 million in housing, homelessness initiatives top Kotek’s priorities for upcoming legislative session  The Oregonian Nearly $600 million to boost housing production and shelter the homeless top Gov. Tina’s Kotek’s priorities for the upcoming short legislative session, she said Tuesday. Her highest priority bill would pump $500 million into housing production, she said. Along with covering development costs, the money could be spent on technical assistance for small communities, housing-related infrastructure or other housing-related needs.

Multnomah County slow to meet goals to house homeless
The Oregonian | By Nicole Hayden
After setting lofty goals to house homeless Portlanders facing some of the highest barriers, Multnomah County officials are learning it’s much more difficult than they anticipated.
The county launched two new programs this year to quickly move people from the streets into apartments, on top of the county’s established longtime housing programs. One was a local initiative called Housing Multnomah Now and another was part of a statewide initiative championed by Gov. Tina Kotek called Oregon All In. Both aimed to provide a year of rent assistance and extra support to landlords as an incentive to rent to people they may have previously had biases against.
Between the two, the county pledged to house 575 households by June.
So far, 74 individuals or families have been housed.

Downtown Portland employers should bring remote workers back to office, mayor says in letter

KGW

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler wants downtown employers to bring remote and hybrid employees back into the office for at least 20 hours a week, starting Jan. 1, 2024.

In a letter sent to downtown Portland employers Thursday, Wheeler said this request is about more than just office productivity, it's also an effort to increase foot traffic downtown, which he said is "critical to the recovery and revitalization of our urban core."

"It activates the streets, and it gives businesses, our downtown restaurants, our bars, our retailers ... more clientele," Mayor Wheeler said in an interview.

Some Paid Leave Oregon applicants complain of lengthy wait times, dysfunctional systems

KATU

Some Paid Leave Oregon applicants are feeling robbed after paying taxes for a program that has been delaying their benefits for weeks and in some cases over a month.

The new program, offering up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family bonding, medical reasons or for people fleeing domestic violence, rolled out in September but began taking payments from Oregonians' paychecks at the beginning of 2023.

GIVE GIFTS TO TEENS IN FOSTER CARE

From our friends at ECLB:

With so many giving trees and toy drives to support young children, often teens are left out. Purchasing a gift card helps to make sure they are seen and feel loved this holiday season, and give them some autonomy when their choices are already limited. Will you join us to help make sure teens in care feel loved this holiday season!?

Send Gift Cards to Every Child LBL 550 S. Main St. Ste. 102 Lebanon, OR 97355

Suggested retailers:

• Taco Bell
• McDonalds
• Burger King
• Dutch Bros
• Starbucks
• Human Bean
• Walmart
• Fred Meyer
• Target
• Visa/Mastercard

Or donate online, here.

BASKETBALL COACH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

From our friends at Boys & Girls Club of Albany:

We still need basketball coaches for our 5th-8th grade leagues! If you are interested in being a coach, please contact Alicia here or fill out the volunteer coach's application, here.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE YMCA

From our friends at the YMCA:

The YMCA is happy to announce that we have partnered with the LBCC Men's Basketball team to put on a co-ed Christmas basketball clinic!

Wednesday, December 27th | $40 per child

Ages 5-9 || 9am- 12p

Ages 10-13 || 1p-4p

Get prepared for the upcoming Winter basketball season by participating in this Christmas clinic, run by LBCC Men’s Basketball players and coaches! 

Details and registration, here.

Lifeguards needed! Gain the skills to save a life!

The Mid-Willamette Family YMCA is offering a FREE Red Cross lifeguard certification class!! DEC 15-17

Our aquatics department hires ages 15+. Come join our YMCA family!

Details and registration here.

DECEMBER ISSUE: LINN COUNTY REPORTER

Read full newsletter, here.

🚨 WINTER WEATHER ALERT 🚨

From our friends at the Linn County Sheriffs Office:

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 10am Thursday, November 30th, until 4am Friday, December 1st, that covers the higher elevations of East Linn County, including the Cascade Mountain passes. A Winter Storm Watch has also been issued for the same area from Friday, December 1st at 4am to Saturday, December 2nd at 4pm.

For the Winter Weather Advisory above 3500 feet, snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches is expected. For the Winter Storm Watch above 3500 feet, heavy snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches with up to 30 inches above 5000 feet is possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

If you do have to travel the passes during this time, please give yourself extra time as the snow could cause travel problems.

For the most up to date information on road conditions, please visit TRIP CHECK, and NOAA.org for the latest forecast.

KIDS S.A.F.E. - FIREARM SAFETY: DEC. 6th 

📣 REGISTER TODAY!

From our friends at Albany Police Department:

In this 1-hour classroom setting, instruction focuses on:

• 4 basic safety rules when no adult is around —
• talking about what children should do if a gun is seen or found
• 4 basic gun safety rules when handling firearms
• stressing the importance of practicing rules (by both students and parents)
• discussing proper handling and storage of firearms
• encouraging students and parents to start talking openly and honestly about gun safety

Each student will receive a Certification of Completion at the conclusion of the course.

Parents play a key role in developing safe practices and are ultimately responsible for the behavior and safety of their child. Lessons and concepts can be quickly forgotten if not practiced regularly. Repetition, along with conversation, help children remember standard safety procedures

Register now!

'FAMILY HELPING FAMILIES' DINNER - DEC. 7th

From our friends at ECLB and CASA:

Don't delay RSVP today! Dinner and more is on us when you come out to hear about how you can make a difference in the life of a child experiencing foster care. One December 7th we are hosting our first Families Helping Families event. Catered by Homegrown Oregon Foods and in collaboration with CASA of Linn County RSVP HERE.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR AT THE YMCA!

From our friends at the YMCA:

Join us for our annual Holiday Craft Fair! FREE COMMUNITY EVENT

Saturday, Dec 2, 2023 10am-3pm @ the YMCA

Come enter and our raffle to WIN PRIZES!

• 36 vendors!
• Gifts, decor, + more!

Photos with Santa!

MILLERSBURG CHRISTMAS PARADE ROUTE

From our friends at City of Millersburg:

Saturday - December 9th

Parade starts at 6pm from City Hall and winds through the City until 8pm.

Want to be a part of the parade? Go here to register.

GO BEAKS!!!

Congratulations to Coach Jayme Frazier and the entire LBCC Roadrunners Women's Volleyball Team for capturing the NWAC Championship at Pierce College last weekend!

This is the third championship for coach Jayme Frazier and the LBCC volleyball program. This year's squad finished undefeated at 36-0! 

Way to go - Champs! 

COMMUNITY GIVING SUCCESS!

From our friends at ABC House:

Thank you so much for making Giving Tuesday a success! You raised $11,605 in vital funds that will help children in crisis! Because of your generosity, a child in crisis has the best chance to heal, recover, and thrive.

Your giving helps make a positive difference for a child in need every single day and that's absolutely incredible! We are honored to have you as a member of the ABC House family.

Thank you for giving.

If you weren't able to contribute to the ABC House Giving Tuesday campaign, you can still make a year-end gift at abchouse.org/donate.

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY IN EXCELLENCE!

From our friends at Jackson Street Youth Services:

These 2 amazing people celebrated their 20th and 10th Workiversaries with Jackson Street in the last month. Kendra (our Executive Director) and Salvador (our Shelter Manager) have poured their hearts into this work, and we wouldn't be where we are today without their labor. Nobody at Jackson Street works harder than these two! Learn more about Jackson Street, here.

CELEBRATION OF KIDS (AND TREES)!

I had the incredible honor to host and MC the annual 'Celebration of Trees' event, once again, at the Boys & Girls Club of Albany on Thursday, Nov. 30.

This spectacular gathering showcases the community's festive spirit and promotes meaningful connections between local businesses and residents.

A magical display, this event featured beautiful fully decorated trees, each sponsored by a local business or individual and put up for auction.

A huge shoutout to our amazing sponsors, donors, board members, staff, volunteers, auctioneer team, and the fantastic attendees and supporters who turned this evening into a major success. Your support is the driving force behind our ability to make a positive impact in the lives of the youth the ABGC serves.

THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY: GIVING

From our friends at Albany Police Department:

Velma Ropp and her quilting friends went above and beyond once again.

It has been sooo cold out! Velma delivered handmade quilts for officers to hand out to kids like a warm hug when they are in a tough situation.

Thank you to Velma and her sewing circle group that makes our community so amazing.

During the session break (interim) - and for the rest of the year - my office will continue to keep you updated and informed with a monthly newsletter. My office 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