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To contact me, please click here: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov

Dear Friends, Being in the Super Minority is more than challenging and often it's hard not to think, "what's the point?" I am reminded that even if I feel like my voice isn't being heard, I am here for the thousands of voters that feel the same way I do and I must use every resource available to me to try to make a difference.  As I referenced in last weekend's action alert, HB 2548 received a public hearing earlier this week. As a reminder, this bill proposes a sweeping, one-size-fits-all mandate that would transfer critical decisions about staffing, wages, benefits, and training to an unelected, unaccountable, bureaucratic body, and disregards the significant protections already in place for farmworkers. I would like to thank Chair Grayber (D-SW Portland) for extending the committee time to the best of her ability. There was a long list of testifiers, and I believe only seven people that were signed up to testify were unable to fit within three and a half hours that the committee heard testimony. That is well over double the normal committee meeting time.

As you can imagine, I am very passionate about this topic and it hits close to home. I don't know why this legislature continues to pursue policies that will further devastate our family owned and operated farms. You can watch a short newsclip from Koin News here. You can also watch my testimony in committee on HB 2548 here AND my remonstrance on the House Floor here where I read a letter from Noble Mountain Tree Farm. I am not alone in my outrage to this legislation as you can see by the list of written testimony submitted and posted to OLIS.   Many of my colleagues stood up in opposition to this bill. Rep. Mannix (R-Keizer) compared this to Stalin's 1920 Farm Collectivization Act; “I’m firing a red flare to warn all of us that we are facing the first stage of Stalin’s actions as to our farms in Oregon” said Representative Mannix. “I do not have a single farm or ranch in my district, but I know that 97% of the farms in Oregon right now are family owned, and as representatives of the people, we need to stop throttling these families with our own version of Stalin’s “collectives” where we create a government commission that basically will start running those farms.”  “This Workforce Labor Standards Board will increase its power over time and the argument will always be we want to do more for the workers, but if you follow the history those workers will end up as serfs of the state rather than workers of independent family-owned farms.”  So, friends, I, along with many of my colleagues, will continue to fight for the preservation of our family farms. Which in-turn contribute to many of our other local business, or local school fundraisers, our churches, our communities and our very way of life. As always, thank you for your continued support.  Sincerely,

Anna Scharf
State Representative - HD 23

Gun Control ALERT

Earlier this week, an Oregon appeals court upheld Measure 114, which tightens permitting requirements for gun purchases and bans standard capacity magazines. According to the Attorney General's Office, this measure will now go into effect immediately unless an appeal is filled within 35 days to the Oregon Supreme Court.

This decision was “conveniently timed” with an informational hearing on gun violence in a joint Senate and House Judiciary Committees on Thursday, March 13th. 

Not surprisingly, the House Judiciary Committee has also scheduled a public hearing on HB 3075 for Monday, March 17th. This bill aims to further clarify and define Measure 114 into law with respect to most standard capacity magazines, attaches a TBD "permit process" to purchase firearms and transfers, and establishes that challenges to the law can only be done in MARION COUNTY!   

This is just one of several gun control bills attacking our Second Amendment rights, but is the most immediate threat. Want to get involved and have your voice heard? Here's what you need to know:

WHEN: March 17, at 3 PM
WHERE: Oregon State Capitol, Hearing Room F
HOW: Sign up to give in-person or remote testimony by clicking here, and finding the "Register to Testify" button under the 'Public Hearing' section. If you can't spare a few minutes to give live testimony, you can submit written testimony here.

Government Control ALERT

You have read my comments about the Democrats' bill to force a bureaucratic takeover of the agriculture industry. Now take all of that information and apply it to nursing homes, in-home healthcare providers, small private adult care homes, senior living facility, etc. We have a “silver tsunami" headed at us, a provider shortage, and this is the answer? 

On Monday, the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee will take up a proposal for the government takeover of the home health care and nursing home care industry. House Bill 3838 would hand the regulation of this care over to unelected bureaucrats’ authority. They would regulate staffing, wages, benefits, and training in Oregon’s nursing homes, residential care facilities, adult care homes, senior living facilities, etc.

The proponents of the bill say this is about ensuring workers are treated fairly, but Oregon already has some of the strongest worker protections in the nation. The bill would impose wage and benefit mandates without ensuring adequate Medicaid reimbursement rates to cover these new expenses. For many providers, who are already operating on tight margins, these unfunded mandates will force difficult choices—reducing services, limiting Medicaid admissions, or even close.  The resources that are left will only be for those that can afford services; those not on Medicaid.

Since the 2018 Janus vs. AFSCME decision, Americans increasingly have left unions, and union membership is at a historic low. Unions are getting desperate to maintain their grip on power. That's why they, and the politicians they fund, are pushing bills like this. 

Here are the details on how to make your voice heard in Monday's hearing:
When: Monday,  March 17, at 3 PM
Where: Oregon State Capitol, Hearing Room D
How: Sign up to give in-person or remote testimony by clicking here, and finding the "Register to Testify" button under the 'Public Hearing' section. If you can't spare a few minutes to give live testimony, you can submit written testimony here. For more detailed instructions, go here.

House Republicans have proposed three major bills that seek to help ease the financial stress that Oregonians are feeling.

HB 3753 – Income Tax Cut

• Increases the Oregon standard deduction allowed for personal income taxpayers. By cutting taxes for working families, nearly tripling standard deductions, HB 3753 is a direct way we can help the most tax-burdened Oregonians keep more of their paycheck. While House Democrats look for ways to take more money from Oregonians to fund an ever-growing and inefficient government, House Republicans stand with families desperate for relief.

HB 3914 – No Tax on Tips

• Creates an Oregon personal income tax subtraction for tips received by the taxpayer during the tax year. Eliminating taxes on tips helps thousands of Oregonians working in the hospitality and service industries keep more money in their pockets as they face inflation and rising costs.

HB 2234 – No Tax on Overtime

• Creates an Oregon personal income tax subtraction for overtime pay received by a taxpayer during the tax year. Oregonians who work extra hours to support their families deserve to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks. No Tax on Overtime is a great way to give working Oregonians real, tangible, relief from rising costs.

Oregon ranks as the 10th most expensive state to live in according to Forbes while another report by Finance Buzz found that Oregonians pay the highest rate in state income taxes in the country. A recent poll commissioned by House Republicans found that a whopping 79% of Oregonians favor cutting taxes to make Oregon more affordable and 70% favor eliminating state income taxes on tips and overtime pay. The same poll showed that Oregonians see the cost of living as the top issue they face with 56% of Oregonians saying that taxes are too high.

It was an honor to have two state champions from the Dallas High School Wrestling team join me on the House Floor this week. Polly Olliff is now a three-time 5A/6A girls wrestling state champion and 4.0 GPA student. Carson Langford is just a freshman, and in 8^th grade, he was a national champion and a champion at the Pan Am Games. He can now add state champion to his list of accolades. Congratulations to these two impressive young student athletes and to the entire Dallas Wrestling team. Well done and great job coaches!

You can watch my courtesy here.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1423
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-387, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/scharf