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Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov
Hello Friends,
My first legislative session has been quite an experience. It reminds me of the meme of what people think it's like, versus what it's actually like.
Being a freshman legislator is a lot like being a freshman in college. I am constantly learning and meeting interesting people. I bring some experience and knowledge to my committees but there is so much outside my areas of expertise that I learn and challenge my ideas all the time. My colleagues and the staff supporting them are earnest, hard-working Oregonians on both sides of the aisle. We are all working to make Oregon a better place. We just don’t always agree on how to do that.
Oregon has a citizen legislature. This means many elected officials have jobs outside of their legislative duties. We have teachers and firefighters as elected officials. We have scientists, business owners, farmers, and more than enough lawyers. No one does this for the money, in fact most people take a pay cut to serve. As one of 90 legislators, there's little fame to be found here. It's honestly a bit inspiring to see so many people working to address the challenges we face.
While we can always improve, I believe that we are much more functional than Congress. I am proud that we can disagree on some issues and work together on others. I am grateful for my colleagues and their staff. I am beyond grateful for my staff, Dan and Grace.
Here is a typical day in my life as House Member:
6:45AM – Leave Corvallis in order to attend 8:00AM committee meeting.
7:35AM – Arrive at the capitol building. One of the perks of being a legislator is a parking space in the basement!
7:40AM – Check in with my staff. Usually this involves updates on things we’re working on and heads up about meetings scheduled for the day.
8:00AM – Committee meeting. The House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water and House Committee On Higher Education and Workforce Development meet at 8:00AM 2x a week so I start almost every day in committee. Committee meetings include Public Hearings, Work Sessions, and Information Sessions.
At Public Hearings we hear testimony about bills under consideration. This includes testimony from supporters, opponents, and neutral parties. People who testify may be invited or may be members of the public that sign up to testify in person or remotely. Learn how you can participate here: Citizen Engagement How to Testify.
In Work Sessions we vote. If amendments have been proposed, they are considered and voted on. A vote is taken on whether the bill should be moved out of committee to the full chamber or to another committee.
Information Sessions are presentations about topics or issues of special interest to the committee.
9:30AM – 10:00AM – Meetings with colleagues, constituents, lobbyists, agencies, and interest groups. My favorite meetings are with constituents and students!
10:00AM – Democratic House Caucus. This is when House Dems gather to talk about issues and bills. These discussions are kept in confidence so we can speak honestly about our opinions and concerns.
11:00AM – House Floor Session. Voting on bills! Walking onto the House floor and sitting down at my desk is an amazing privilege. Floor sessions are when we know where our colleagues are; it is great time to have quick conversations or check ins.
1:00PM – Lunch. I usually grab something and eat at my desk. There is a members lounge where I sometimes visit with colleagues.
1:30PM – 3:00PM – More meetings! I also work with my staff during this time.
3:00PM – 4:30PM – NEW! I’ve been added to the House Committee On Education which meets Monday and Wednesday.
I usually leave the building between 3:00PM and 5:00PM to head back to Corvallis and eat dinner with my family. Often, I work at home in the evening or have remote meetings. Work involves reading bills and testimony to prepare for committee meetings and upcoming floor votes. Sometimes I stay in Salem for evening meetings or receptions.
It’s busy and interesting, every day. Much of this schedule will change as policy committees wrap up our work and we spend more time on the House floor working through all the bills we must consider by the end of the session.
Now let's talk about revenue....
On Wednesday, May 14th, we received the economic and revenue forecast for the funding we anticipate for the next two years and one thing was clear: Trump’s reckless and out-of-touch economic policies are already damaging states, including Oregon.
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Oregon Businesses and Families are Directly Impacted by Tariffs: The president’s ill-considered tariffs have damaged Oregon’s trade-heavy economy. Our state’s economy relies more on manufacturing and trade than most states, and is especially impacted by tense trade relationships with countries like China. We know this because Oregon was hit especially hard during the trade war Trump started during his first presidency.
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Growth is Stifled for Local Business: The federal government has no consistent, coherent economic plan, leaving businesses uncertain of what the future holds. Uncertainty stifles business growth.
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Working Families are Hit the Hardest: Families afraid of losing long-term care for aging parents, federally funded preschool for their children, or simply watching costs rise at the grocery store are considering conserving their household finances instead of spending. This is slowing the economic activity that fuels state revenue.
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Risk for Recession has Increased: State economists said in no uncertain terms that Trump’s actions have increased the risk of a recession. It is bad news when our federal and local economies can be heavily impacted by a single post on Truth Social.
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Oregon Is Better Off Than Many Other States: Strong leadership for decades in Oregon has put us in a better position than many states across the country. We’ve been preparing for this moment by budgeting with an eye on the future.
So, What Does This Mean?: Even though the economic outlook can change quickly (and it has - even in last week), this forecast is what the state budget is built on. And because it is our responsibility to have a balanced budget, we can’t count on “maybes.” This means we have to work diligently to protect core services as we wrap up the 2025 session next month.
Here’s What I Know: Democrats in the Oregon Legislature are fighting for core programs like education, housing, and community safety to make sure Oregon is a place everyone wants to live, work, and play.
What Can You Do?
- Speak up for the programs that mean the most to your community. Your values will guide Oregon's tight budget decisions only if you share what matters to you.
- Contact your federal representatives in Washington, D.C., like Rep. Cliff Bentz (R) who will face votes on national policies like cutting Medicaid (OHP) funding. Tell them to protect health and safety in Oregon.
The Latest On Our Bills:
Coffin Butte Taskforce (HB 3794): We continue to lobby the decision makers to schedule this bill for a public hearing and work session. Last week, we submitted a letter to Speaker Fahey and Chair Sanchez with 15 other House and Senate members signed on, asking leadership to move the bill.
Adair Village Workforce Housing (HB 3939): We also continue to lobby for critical housing infrastructure at Adair Village. They have the capacity to bring on 800-1000 news homes that will feed into the Corvallis School District and provide much-needed workforce housing for places like Oregon State University and Good Samaritan.
If you'd like to help advocate for these bills, please email the following leadership offices and ask for them to be moved!
Ways and Means Co-Chair Rep. Sanchez - rep.tawnasanchez@oregonlegislature.gov
House Majority Leader Rep. Bowman - rep.benbowman@oregonlegislature.gov
House Speaker Rep. Fahey - rep.juliefahey@oregonlegislature.gov
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Yours truly,
 Representative Sarah McDonald
House District 16
email: Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1416
address: 900 Court St NE, H-477, Salem, OR 97301
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website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mcdonald
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