All of Oregon needs safe streets, accessible public transportation and timely maintenance of our roads and transportation infrastructure. This need is clear in every community in our state, including ours. Oregon's transportation systems are critical to our economy, emergency response systems, and the daily lives of all community members. Oregonians deserve a robust, multimodal transportation system that allows us to get where we need to go safely, and these are many of the transportation priorities I’ve been advocating for this session.  

Currently, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation ReInvestment is finalizing a package that will address much needed investments in our state’s transportation system and this will require identifying stable funding sources. The primary way that Oregon currently pays for its transportation system, the fuels tax, is no longer sufficient due an increase in more efficient vehicles and EV's. If we do not fund our transportation system, we risk laying off transportation workers, continued deterioration of streets, and further cuts to public transit and programs like Safe Routes to School.  

I’ve been working together with other members of the Legislative Environmental Caucus to advocate for a variety of investments that include electrifying our economy, improving access to a robust transit system, and prioritizing programs and infrastructure that ensure all Oregonians can safely travel where they need to go regardless of it they walk, bike, ride the bus, or drive. We have a generational opportunity to make Oregon’s transportation system is safer, more equitable, and more sustainable.    

On Wednesday, May 14th, Oregon state economists released the most updated revenue and economic forecasts for our state. This is the revenue forecast that Oregon lawmakers use to finalize the budget for the 2025-2027 biennium.  Over the past three months economic growth has slowed, and the state’s expected revenue has fallen by half a billion dollars. This is a result of how tariffs and chaos at the federal level are slowing our national economy. Oregon is particularly sensitive to the impacts of these federal policies since our state has a trade dependent economy. 

As a result, conversations around the state budgeting process will be more challenging than usual this year. The May forecast means the legislature will have fewer resources available to support the many programs and services Oregonians rely upon. 

Lawmakers have the responsibility to draft a balanced budget in the face of this economic uncertainty and our focus will be on minimizing impacts to the people who call Oregon home and to hold the line on critical services and supports. We are committed to protecting the core programs our communities need and agencies have been directed to find savings & targeted reductions that avoid impacts on those who need services the most. 

Across all levels of government, there has been strategic planning for months in response to the recklessness that is occurring at the federal level, and in some ways, Oregon is in a better position than many other states across the country.  

Some budgeting priorities include: 

The governor’s budget is always a starting point for the process that occurs at the state legislature and currently the legislature’s joint budget sub-committees are working through final budgeting proposals. My office will continue advocating for stable education funding (both K-12 and Higher Education), programs that prevent homelessness, investments in affordable housing production, and strategies to create pathways to affordable homeownership.   

Our decisions as legislators will not be easy this year in the budget process, but we will continue to prioritize decision making that puts the needs of our working families first and protects Oregon’s most vulnerable communities. We still have a lot of work to do.     

In this session, I’ve worked to address corporate control of our healthcare system and have been a chief sponsor on SB 951. This bill means that Oregonians can rely on their healthcare providers to make informed decisions based on expertise, not the pressure of corporations who may own the clinic. It directly works to address the significant loss of primary care providers in Eugene with Oregon Medical Group’s (OMG) takeover by OPTUM.  

Healthcare for All Oregon is working to ensure comprehensive, high-quality care for all and advocates for a healthcare system that is based on patients needs not profits. Check out their website for more information about how to get involved. You can find great information there about the work they are doing and about how to engage with the Universal Health Plan Governance Board.