|
This past week Democrats unveiled their Transportation Funding Package. Simply put, this plan asks you to pay billions more for ODOT’s failures and get less. Their proposal includes:
- Increases gas taxes by 20 cents (a 50% increase),
- Increases taxes on truckers by nearly 17%,
- Creates a new tax on tires,
- Increases payroll taxes, and more.
A recent poll commissioned by House Republicans found that 80% of Oregonians oppose increasing the Gas Tax while 79% of Oregonians favor cutting taxes to make Oregon more affordable.
LOCAL TAXES
This May, Eastern Klamath County residents will be presented with Ballot Measure 18-139. They will decide if they want to tax themselves more for policing services already paid for in their county property taxes and state income taxes. This new Eastern District Policing District will increase their taxes for law enforcement services, while others in the county — like those in who live in Klamath Falls, Keno, Fort Klamath, Rocky Point, Midland, Chiloquin, Chemult, Cresent, Gilchrist and elsewhere in the county — will not have to pay additional taxes for law enforcement.
Whether it is transportation, education or law enforcement, the answer is either taxing ourselves more or holding our elected officials accountable to manage the money we already send them better.
This May we will see what people in eastern Klamath County think is the best way forward.
FIRE MAP REPEAL
House Republicans celebrated a major victory for rural Oregonians this week when a Senate bill that would repeal the Wildfire Hazard Map advanced to the Senate floor.
Senate Bill 83 draws from legislation that House Republicans introduced (HB 3944) that fully repeals the disastrous wildfire hazard map and all the costly mandates.
This bill provides financial relief and empowers rural homeowners to protect their homes without the threat of government interference, and focuses on practical solutions for wildfire prevention, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent where they have the most impact—supporting local efforts like defensible space, forest thinning, and wildfire readiness programs.
Here is the letter I submitted as testimony during the public hearing in the Senate for SB 83.
This is exciting progress, and I will keep you updated on what happens next.
REAL ID DEADLINE
The deadline to obtain a Real ID is rapidly approaching.
Starting May 7, you will need a federally recognized Real ID to board a domestic flight, although a passport or other acceptable alternative can used as a substitute.
Due to the approaching deadline, the DMV warns that Oregonians should expect longer wait times than usual and to give themselves at least three weeks for their new ID to arrive in the mail.
MORE SECOND AMENDMENT ATTACKS
The attacks on Second Amendment rights continue with three major bills that attack our constitutional right to bear arms. The only thing these bills do is give is punish law-abiding gun owners and small businesses that are in full compliance with federal law.
On Tuesday, two of the bills that significantly reduce the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms, while doing nothing to reduce crime, passed out of the Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 3075 makes it harder to lawfully obtain a firearm by increasing the firearm permit provisions in Ballot Measure 114, including adding additional eligibility requirements, fees, and doubling the wait time to issue permits to 60 days.
House Bill 3076 directs the Department of Justice to create a state licensure program, adding additional, unnecessary oversight to an industry that already follows extensive federal regulations, including background checks, ATF licensing, and strict compliance laws.
These bills are an absurd attempt to target law-abiding Oregon gun-owners with expensive regulations on law-abiding citizens that many of them cannot afford. They will ban standard size magazines, impose fees on the exercise of a constitutional right, and place prohibitive regulations on every local gunsmith and gun store, forcing these small businesses to close.
Furthermore, HB 3076 writes a blank check to the Department of Justice to enforce what’s already codified in federal law is bad policy.
The attack continued on Wednesday, as work session was held for Senate Bill 243 in the Senate. This bill would establish a 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases, raise the age to purchase a gun to 21 years old with exceptions from some hunting riffles and shotguns, ban switch devices, and allow city and counties to bar people, including people with concealed gun licenses, from carrying guns in certain public buildings and adjacent grounds.
977 people voiced opposition to the bill while 165 people supported it.
I will stand steadfastly opposed to any form of these bills that diminishes your Second Amendment rights.
 It is an honor to serve the people of Central & Southern Oregon. If you need assistance with 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
|
