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To contact me, please click here: Rep.BoomerWright@oregonlegislature.gov
The cherry blossoms bloomed this week! The blooming of the trees heralds the start of spring and brings a little bit of light to the Capitol. Each spring, the blossoms are celebrated during “Cherry Blossom Day” — unfortunately, they did not bloom in time for this year’s celebration. Regardless, the beautiful pink flowers make the Capitol smell delightful, which is a much-appreciated break from the hot tar smell that’s been lingering all week from the ongoing construction.
It was so encouraging to see so many people out and about, many coming to their Capitol to see the trees in bloom!
In the spirit of spring, I want to remind you that the Capitol is your building! While we work hard to make Oregon a better, more affordable place to live, we need your help by making your voice heard. Join us in Salem sometime to testify, tour, or say hello, and be sure to stop by our office!
If you have traveled to the Capitol Mall to view the cherry blossoms and happened to photograph yourself, a pet, the scenery, or any snap that includes the blooms, feel free to enter them to Travel Salem’s Cherry Blossom Photo Contest! The deadline for submissions is April 30.
The Rhododendron Festival is an annual tradition in Florence, Oregon. 2025 is the 118th year of the Rhodies Festival which is held every May as the beautiful Rhodies are blooming on the Oregon Coast.
Rep. Wright was honored to have the 2025 Rhododendron Court visit with him this week in the House of Representatives. The Princess and Princes are outstanding high school seniors. who represent the Festival and the Florence community.
Princesses: Sophia Montoya; Claire Lindell; Ashly Hart; and Macali Lade (not present). Princes: Travis Clark; Storm Engel; Nayt Deleon; Joel Sissel; Charles Nelson.
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Imagine it’s the end of the month — a Friday no less — you just got your paycheck and decide to go out on the town. How would you feel paying up to 8% more for that ice-cold beer on top of the CAT tax you already pay? What in the world is American about a beer tax? Boston Tea Party anyone?
As Thomas Jefferson once said — albeit in the critically acclaimed Broadway Musical, Hamilton — “When they tried to tax our tea, we got frisky; imagine what we’ll do when they try to tax our whiskey.”
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House Bill 3197 would create Oregon’s first ever state grocery and restaurant sales tax at 8% on those buying beer, wine and cider
PORTLAND, Ore. — Rep. Tawna Sanchez released her amendment to House Bill 3197, creating Oregon’s first ever state grocery and restaurant sales tax, which would increase prices on legal-age drinkers in Oregon by 8%.
“With the highest cost increases in generations and no end in sight, a new 8% sales tax would only harm Oregonians trying to make their hard-earned dollars stretch,” said the Oregon Beverage Alliance. “Lawmakers should not be raising prices through a regressive sales tax on constituents when they’re already at record highs. Additionally, the beer and wine sectors are seeing record closures with 70 breweries, taprooms and brewpubs and 60 wineries and tasting rooms shuttering in the past two year as fewer people are drinking.”
HB 3197 states the additional revenue is needed for youth prevention, yet youth drinking is at an all-time low, a trend that’s occurred for more than two decades as existing prevention programs are working. Alcohol taxes are already the third largest source of revenue for the state, yet only 3% goes to funding drug addiction and mental health. The legislature sends the rest to the general fund. Before increasing taxes on constituents, lawmakers should utilize existing revenue if youth drug addiction and recovery services are truly needed.
Last year Oregon brewers, winemakers and cidermakers worked with Sanchez on a taskforce to examine alcohol taxes. The taskforce declined to recommend a tax increase and 87.5% of the public comments submitted opposed tax increases. Instead, the taskforce found the Oregon Health Authority lacks accountability and fails to track spending or results. Oregon Health Authority said it cannot account for $72 million in substance use disorder spending last biennium.
“We’ve showed we’re willing to come to the table and find solutions to Oregon’s drug addiction problem, but this bill ignores findings and economic studies that state alcohol taxes will not curb problem or youth drinking,” said the Oregon Beverage Alliance. “The legislature should instead hold agencies responsible for waste and repurpose existing funds for better use of programs with metrics of success.”
Oregon is home to more than 300 breweries, 900 wineries, 1,300 vineyards, 70 cideries, 100 distilleries, 73 distributors and 10,000 restaurants, creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity for the state. These numbers are down because of record closures and Oregonians who rely on these job creators don’t need higher taxes.
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About the Oregon Beverage Alliance
The Oregon Beverage Alliance is made up of local brewers, winemakers, cidermakers, distillers and their supply and hospitality partners creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating $17 billions of economic activity for Oregon annually. Learn more: www.DontTaxMyDrink.org
SALEM, Ore. – The co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means announced the dates and locations of the 2025 community budget hearings and are encouraging Oregonians to sign up to testify about which projects and programs the state should prioritize this budget cycle. Members of the committee and legislative leadership will attend six public hearings across the state over the next two months as the upcoming 2025-2027 biennial state budget begins to take shape. Individuals interested in testifying before the committee should sign up in advance for the hearing they plan to attend.
This year will be the first time since at least 2005 a community budget hearing has occurred on tribal lands when the committee visits Warm Springs on April 4. The April 16 public hearing will prioritize virtual testimony so everyone in the state has an opportunity to testify on their budget priorities.
In the days before the first community budget hearing on March 22, the co-chairs will release their budget framework, which will outline the state's budgetary outlook and what resources might be available to use. Legislators are constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget every two years. "We have limited resources, many worthy projects and programs, and significant uncertainty due to actions by the federal administration," said Sen. Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. "I'm looking forward to hearing directly from Oregonians about what our state budget should prioritize."
“As we look ahead to balancing the 2025-27 state budget, we know that we are facing uncertain federal headwinds,” said Rep. Tawna Sanchez (D-Portland), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. “It’s more important than ever that we hear from communities about the budget issues that matter most to them.”
The dates and locations of the community budget hearings are:
Astoria | Friday, March 28 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
Liberty Theatre Astoria
1203 Commercial Street, Astoria, OR 97103
Members of the public can register to testify here
Warm Springs | Friday, April 4 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
Old Warm Springs Elementary School
1112 Wasco Street, Warm Springs, OR 97761
Members of the public can register to testify here
La Grande | Friday, April 11 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Union Building #339
1 University Boulevard, La Grande, OR 97850
Members of the public can register to testify here
Salem, Statewide Virtual Testimony Prioritized | Wednesday, April 16 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
Oregon State Capitol Building, Hearing Room F
900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301
Members of the public can register to testify here
Klamath Falls | Friday, April 25 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
Klamath Community College, Building 4 Commons
7390 South 6th Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97603
Members of the public can register to testify here
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