Interim Newsletter: December
Winter is fast approaching, and the holidays are here! While the past month has been eerily quiet inside of the Capitol, there has been no shortage of activity for our office. The next time you receive a newsletter for us will be following January's Legislative Days, so we want to wish everyone reading a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Without a doubt, the main focus in House District 11 in recent weeks has been the dramatic impacts of the deep drawdown at Green Peter Dam. In our last newsletter, we highlighted the beginning of the problems stemming from the historic drawdown, and are now working on building a broader coalition to bring more attention to the issue, with the end-goal being U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez modifying his 2021 injunction that mandated the drawdowns throughout the Willamette Basin.
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Monday was quite a day for Rep. Cate and myself, as we travelled through much of House District 11 to speak with mayors, city managers, and city councilors about the needs of their communities! We began the morning in Lebanon, and then proceeded to Sodaville, Sweet Home, Brownsville, Halsey, and last but not least, Harrisburg. Of course, water was a hot topic of conversation, as were the various projects that our cities are hoping to get state funding for through Capitol Construction funds in 2024.
It truly was a great day, and although we keep in touch with our local communities regularly in emails, there's nothing quite like face-to-face interaction! We look forward to continuing to partner with them moving forward into the new year.
This month we would like to extend a huge congratulations to Central Linn's incredible FFA Chapter! Last month, the competed at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, and had a fantastic showing in a field of over 77,000 kids, advisors, and guests.
Most notably, the Milk Quality and Dairy Food Evaluations team placed silver! Their names are as follows:
Jayne Neal placing in Gold
Isabelle Curtis placing in Gold
Jackson Duringer placing in Bronze
Carmen Ware placing in Bronze
Way to put Linn County on the map, Cobras!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
Lebanon PD's Newest Member
Meet Oak and his handler, Officer Stein! Oak was gifted by Linn County Sheriff's Office, and will assist with tracking, locating items, and fugitive apprehension while serving Lebanon Police Department. He's a Dutch Shepherd Belgian Malinois Mix, and I'm sure a very good boy.
Sweet Home Parade of Lights Tomorrow
Get ready for the Sweet Home Parade of Lights sponsored by Pacific Power tomorrow, December 9th at 6pm! The theme is holiday lights and the more, the merrier!
There is still time to register your float if you plan to participate rather than just watch the parade from the sidelines. Register for just $10 to secure your spot! Details including a parade map can be found with this link.
Jefferson's Holiday Craft Fair Tomorrow
Don't miss out on Jefferson's annual holiday craft fair! Come out to Jefferson High School and shop for items that were handmade with love my local members of the community. This is a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping, and there will also be raffle drawings and food trucks available!
Gingerbread Contest in Scio
The deadline for bringing your gingerbread entry to Scio's gingerbread house contest is approaching! Make sure to bring your entry to the library no later than next Friday, December 15th at noon to be judged on December 18th!
Lebanon Sip N Shop Next Thursday
Don't miss out on an event that will be sure to draw a crowd! Next Thursday, downtown Lebanon will host its first Sip & Shop on the train! Sip on some delicious drinks and listen to live music while you shop some of the best local vendors.
Tickets are $10 at the door. Train will be stationed at the Depot during the entire event. You may come and go!
Vendors can apply at marketing@santiamexcursiontrains.com
Letters to Santa in Lebanon
There's just over one more week to drop off your letter to Santa at Santa's Mailbox at the Lebanon Downtown Association Office. As long as the letter is clearly addressed, Santa will mail every child back!
End of the Year Survey Mailer
Rep. Cate has always done her best when it comes to outreach, and 2023 was no different. You may have noticed a little survey in your mailbox asking about how all of the issues below are affecting you and your family. If you did not receive one, please feel free to fill it out with this link, or just reply to this emailed newsletter with what issues are most salient to you and your loved ones! Your voice will help us understand the top policy priorities for our constituents heading into the 2024 Legislative Session.
House Republicans' Letter on Measure 110
As we highlighted last month, public sentiment has turned against Measure 110, and Democrats in the Legislature are beginning to come to the table to find solutions. While a full repeal does not seem likely, there is at least a willingness to reform from the majority, and all House Republicans signed on to the letter below that outlines common sese changes that ought to be made.
Measure 114 Permanently Blocked
One of the best pieces of news to come out of the past month was a Harney County Judge placing a permanent injunction on Measure 114, which narrowly passed in 2022. The Attorney General surely will appeal the case, so the fight is not yet over, but this decision was another small victory for 2nd Amendment rights. Our office will continue to watch for updates from the courts as we have all year.
Interim Newsletter: November
Interim Newsletter: October
Interim Newsletter: September
Interim Newsletter: August
Interim Newsletter: July
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