|
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends,
As you know, the Legislature met over the holiday weekend to vote on HB 3991 - the tax transportation package. I sent out several action alerts asking you to submit testimony for the record and many of you did, so thank you for engaging!
You know where I stand. I stand with 90%+ of Oregonians who are adamantly opposed to raising taxes. The supermajority in the House, however, still passed the bill. 36 votes were needed to pass the bill. If you look at the party numbers of the 60 legislators in the House, there are 36 Democrats and 24 Republicans. The bill passed with just 36 votes - one Democrat voting NO (Rep. Annessa Hartman, D-Gladstone) and one Republican voting YES (Rep. Cyrus Javadi, R-Tillamook).
However, the Senate has yet to vote on the bill despite the session moving on and the bill being in their chamber ready to be voted on. Out of the 30 Senate members, there are 18 Democrats and 12 Republicans.18 is the magical number needed to pass HB 3991. All 12 Senate Republicans are standing firm in their opposition to the bill. So, what's the hold up? Great question.
As of September 2, the Senate Majority office sent out a press release announcing that Senator Chris Gorsek (D – Gresham) is recovering from complications that arose during a planned medical procedure in August. As he heals, Senate votes on the transportation package will be delayed until September 17.
Shortly after this announcement, Governor Kotek announced she was directing ODOT to delay any potential layoffs until October 15. So, I ask you, was having a Special Session to exponentially raise your taxes during a holiday weekend really necessary? Was it necessary to force non-partisan staff, building security, building staff, etc. to work and pay them overtime on a holiday weekend? This was a weekend when families are typically getting ready to return to school and celebrate the end of the summer. Not to mention, Governor Kotek called everyone to work yet she didn't even show up to testify on her own bill.
Emergency Special Sessions are for real emergencies, things like delay of federal reimbursement for wildfire costs, and the need to re-allocate funds from the general fund like was done in the Special Session of 2024. If this was such an emergency, why didn't she direct ODOT to prevent layoffs earlier, but now she can delay it until she has the votes in the building?
What now? Now, we wait until a single Senator, who votes the way the Governor wants, returns to Salem to cast his yes vote. In the meantime, due to House and Senate Rules, we are technically still "in session". This article explains the process and disfunction that has been created as well.
The House will continue, as required by session rules, to gavel in and out every third day, which means it costs the State extra money. Money that we do not have. Money that could have gone to other areas. All because of Governor Kotek's poor planning, poor leadership, and inability to work across party lines in order to better our State.
Thank you for being engaged throughout this process. I will continue to keep you updated to the best of my ability. I hope you find the remainder of this newsletter helpful. As always, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
 Anna Scharf
State Representative - HD 23
I want to bring your attention a major issue for many Oregon grass seed farmers. Oregon grass seed is the 4th largest ag commodity in the state behind nursery stock. Cattle, and hay. It generates millions of dollars for the Oregon ag economy and employs thousands of people.
Family farmers with small, medium and large acres of grass seed are now in a situation where some have not been paid for seed they grew and harvested in the summer of 2024. One large European based seed company is at the center of an Oregon Department of Ag investigation for failure to pay.
Unfortunately, the laws put into place in 2001 and modified in 2011 to protect farmers from this predatory practice, and possible violation anti-trust laws, are not being interpreted by the Department of Ag or the Attorney General in the way the farmers or the Legislature intended. The Capital Press recently wrote a great article shedding some light on a terrible business practice in the grass seed industry.
As the wife of a 5th generation farmer and representing many other farmers in HD 23, I will continue to raise the flag on this issue and work with the Oregon Grass Seed Bargaining Association to push for a timely resolution for these growers. Oregon family farmers should not be the bank for multi-million-dollar international corporations.
The quarterly Revenue Forecast was revealed last week and we learned Oregon’s GDP growth has fallen an average of 0.6 points below the U.S, Oregon’s unemployment rates are increasing and diverging from the national trend which is staying flatter, and the Office of Economic Analysis is tracking impacts of businesses and higher income individuals leaving the State of Oregon.
Since the Close of Session Forecast, Oregon’s projected ending fund balance has dropped $845.5M putting us at a negative $372.7M projected ending fund balance.
Much of this can be attributed to the anti-business practices that Oregon has put into place. When businesses do not want to locate here or are moving out, it strains the economy. Government employment is outpacing private employment, and that model is unsustainable. Government does not make money, they only take it from those who make it. Bottom line, things do not look bright for Oregon's financial future and another Special Session to deal with the projected budget issues could very likely be in order before the end of the year.
DMV PROFITS OFF OF YOUR INFORMATION
As it stands, Oregon state law allows nineteen exemptions which qualify “bulk buyers” to purchase a driver’s personal information from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Exempt entities include insurance companies, attorneys, researchers and private investigators.
Information stored at the DMV is subject to public records requests, so anyone can access an individual’s data by paying a fee. The profit is then split between the DMV and ODOT, its parent agency. The department and agency that are saying they have no money and will lay people off if we don’t bail them out in a special session.
Read KATU’s story here
DMV records indicate that seven million requests have been made since the exemption law passed in 2020 — turning nearly $60 million in profit.
Currently, there is no option for Oregonians to opt out, but there are provisions against information being sold to marketers and solicitors.
Your information is being sold to data brokers. How do you feel about it? Should ODOT and the DMV be able to profit by selling your private information?
Throughout the past few weeks, I was honored to attend and speak at the ribbon cutting for the opening of the Carson Commons in Dallas, and the Good Morning Polk County Networking event hosted by the Monmouth Chamber of Commerce. The Historical Society also hosted a tour of their Vault, which is an amazing warehouse filled with historical artifacts and knowledge.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
TRAVELING WALL
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
| 
