House Bills that Build Oregon

“I have one yardstick by which I test every major problem – and that yardstick is: Is it good for America?”
 Dwight D. Eisenhower

Here is some legislation I supported, worked on, and introduced while representing you in Salem!

HB 3674: Growing a “greener economy” and putting rural Oregon back to work with Biomass Power Plants
This bill will invigorate our economy and establish “green jobs” in rural Oregon: This extraordinary bill will help Oregon remove the yoke of fossil fuels and replace with a local environment friendly and lucrative fuel. Biomass can be collected from the forest floor debris, agriculture waste such as orchard removals and wine waste. Construction wood scraps and even broken pallets can be turned into fuel. This bill made this more affordable for the collection and transportation of bio-material. It will enhance our forest and watersheds, improving air quality, energy diversity and security, reducing greenhouse emissions, managing waste, reduce the danger of forest fires and revitalize rural economies. Biomass power plants combust wood waste to produce electricity and is great for our community. Biomass is a reliable, renewable base load electric power source, able to provide a steady flow of 24/7 power regardless of external conditions. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). It is also a “carbon-neutral” power source. When plants and trees grow they absorb carbon, and when they die they release carbon, so when organic matter is used as a fuel, it is utilizing existing carbon, adding no “new” carbon to the atmosphere. Biomass power generates 10x more jobs than found at a typical natural gas-fueled facility. Each dedicated biomass facility provides up to 2 jobs per one megawatt of plant capacity, with another 2 jobs created indirectly for the collection, handling, and transportation of organic fuels by the plant. Each US Biomass power plant contributes about $8-$14 million annually to the local communities where they operate in payroll, purchases and property tax revenue. A typical Biopower Plant employs 120 workers. This is a great “jobs” bill.

HB 3364 – I worked with Judicial Committee Chair and Democrat Representative Jeff Barker to introduce a bill that would encourage the Rapid Repatriation of criminal aliens. This bill is another “tool in the toolbox” for Judges. I worked with custom officials and regional ICE Directors. This bill went before committee and had “no” opponents. This bill is another tool for Judges to use when a non-violent offense had occurred by an illegal immigrant. This program is voluntary on the defendant’s behalf and offered at request if victim gives consent to pursue. We will continue the work we have begun on this bill next session. We worked with Customs officials and this would grant early release to illegal immigrants convicted of nonviolent offenses, provided they return to home country and agree not to return to the United States. If caught in US after agreement, punishment is 20 years minimum in federal prison.

This bill negates the need to spend precious limited tax dollars on housing and appeals for illegal inmates, saving state of Oregon millions while removing the threat of illegal activity by illegal immigrants.

This bill is supported by Oregonians for Immigration Reform.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3364.intro.pdf

HB 3319 – This bill would give the same benefits to small woodlands as those who work in the agriculture industry in reference to vehicle licensing. This reduction in fees for small woodland owner’s vehicle registration by designating their vehicle to be classified under the same category as agriculture is a common sense solution that helps our rural economy.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3319.intro.pdf

HB 3363 – I have brought forth legislation to limit government growth to six percent a year with extra money going into rainy day fund. House Bill 3363 would help the Rainy Day Fund grow, so in the future when we face these hard-hitting times there will be a halo of support for Oregonians that truly in need of help. It is important to limit unnecessary spending during times of prosperity to help deal with the problems that arise from economic recessions such as the one we currently face. Bill limits government growth to six percent a year with extra money going into rainy day fund.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3363.intro.pdf

HB 3655: Expanding the benefits for unemployment declaring an emergency
This bill modifies definition of “emergency benefit period” to begin on first week that begins at least 14 days after effective date of Act, and Adjusts maximum Oregon emergency benefits individual may receive to 23 percent of individual’s most recent regular unemployment benefit claim. We must alleviate the suffering of Oregon citizens during this recession. Although, I feel that the only true cure for unemployment is a job.

SJR 50: Expanding Mandarin in Public Schools
The People’s Republic of China is Oregon’s second-largest trading partner, with $2.469 billion in exports in 2008. Today, over 900 million people on earth are native speakers of Chinese, making Chinese the largest spoken language in the world. The next generation of Oregonians would benefit from having a working knowledge of this Chinese language to increase their opportunities in the growing global economy. This bill would request that School Superintendents encourage consideration for Mandarin becoming a language option in their public schools.

HB 3686: Repeal the Religious Clothing Ban
Oregon is one of the few states (3) that will not accept persons of religious faith where the faith dictates a particular dress, to be excluded from teaching in our public schools. I’m confused why the ACLU upholds a law that has infringed upon the very liberties the organization was created to protect. The First Amendment guarantees the right of religious expression. As a person of faith, I feel that religious diversity should be celebrated as an American way of life. America should continue to be a land with “freedom of religion, not freedom from religion”.

The separation of church and state will continue to be upheld due to the fact that religious views will not be taught in public schools. All teachers must follow the approved lesson plan. That “separation” should not extend into the personal expression of teachers as long as their actions are within the school district dress code.

Oregon’s current law ignores the realities that many faiths are active and present in our society, and upholding this law only continues to foster religious misunderstanding. This bill will open the job market to all Oregonians without discrimination and upholding the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.

HB 3614: Core principles of State Government
Rep Thatcher has an interesting bill that would solve many questions by addressing what actually constitutes the “core functions of state government”. This bill can clarify what exactly should and can be done on behalf of the people of Oregon. I’m sure that this topic will merit diverse and passionate debate, but codifying the exact wording could resolve numerous future misunderstandings.

HB 3644: Economic Gardening
This bill establishes the Task Force on Stage Two Business Development. The economic gardening model seeks to create jobs by supporting existing companies in a community. Economic gardening connects entrepreneurs to resources, encouraging the development of essential infrastructure and providing entrepreneurs with needed information.

HB 3603: Repeal the 1% provider tax on individual policy holders
I carried this bill to revisit the funding mechanism for the Healthy Kids program and repeal the 1% tax, not the program itself.

I agree that Oregon should find economical viable solution to provide insurance for Oregon’s uninsured children. I just feel that HB 2116 raised too many inequalities. In essence, I found that the funding mechanism for providing insurance for Oregon’s uninsured children was unduly placed upon the backs of small businesses, while those with influence (large self-insured corporations & large self-insured Unions) remained exempt. I felt that we should revisit the revenue stream and take a closer look at those exempted and revisit the idea that state employees could pay into their health insurance at the same rate that our public teachers do. I felt that these questions have merited another discussion that deserves additional attention.

In addition, I have received overwhelming concerns from my many of you about the continual rise in their health care costs. In spite of the intention behind HB 2116 that would increase revenue to cover Oregonians’ uninsured children through a 1% tax on heath insurance providers, I fear the unintended consequences. Section (5) of HB 2116 clearly indicates that this 1% tax will fall on the policy holders, not the insurance companies. Again, it exempted large self-insured corporations and unions and forced the small businesses to carry the burden of Oregon’s uninsured children alone.

We are in one of the worst recessions in Oregon’s history and to raise the cost of health care during this time is disastrous. Those unintended consequences include small businesses greatly reducing or eliminating their employee insurance benefits, allowing working families to fall further behind financially as they scramble to afford private insurance, and may even force additional children onto the uninsured roster. In addition, I have yet to hear this impact on entrepreneurship. As people work for companies that provide health insurance benefits, but still harbor dreams of starting a business of their own, they are now less likely to do so as the risk has increased along with the rise in insurance.

The 1% tax is not to be scoffed at. 1% may not sound like a large figure, but let’s take a closer look. This tax is compounded by the continual rise in insurance premiums due to: increasing insurance mandates, diminishing pool of policy holders which drives cost up for the remaining individuals, young healthy adults opting out of purchasing personal health insurance, and additional taxes and fees like this one. HB 2116 was estimated to raise $100 Million dollars with this 1% provider tax. That amount of money derived from the pockets of working families will not go unnoticed.

Small business health premiums have more than doubled over the last nine years, cutting profits, wages and jobs. If a small business still has insurance benefits for employees, they may have to move to a health care plan with fewer benefits and bigger deductibles. During this economic recession we are enduring, this is a burden too heavy to carry. Remember, these are real people whose families rely upon the insurance their employer provides.

Many companies have already reduced benefits in their employee health plans to contain costs. Some are even paying 42 percent more today than they did a year ago. Small businesses are working on razor thin margins to keep the basic benefit packages they already have. For families working with diminished home budgets, this tax only raises the cost of health care and threatens to push more Oregonians into being underinsured and uninsured.

HB 3314 – This bill will increases the number of situations when mandatory reporting of sexual delinquency and abuse must be reported and strengthens those already in place.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3314.intro.pdf

HB 3316 – This bill offers a tax credit for parenting classes. Our goal is to encourage better parenting therefore decreasing need for state intervention.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3316.intro.pdf

HB 3317 – This bill offers a tax credit for marriage classes. Our goal is to promote strong families without government legislating behavior.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3317.intro.pdf

HB 3318 – This legislation would offer a tax credit for completion of a first aide class. When more citizens are trained in First Aid our community will become safer. I wanted to reward their initiative in learning life-saving skills.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3318.intro.pdf

HB 3320 – Encourages speedy harvesting of downed trees in areas at risk for fire, disease, insects and other considerations.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3320.intro.pdf

HB 3321 – Graduated reduction to compel rapid mastery of the English language for ESL students
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3321.intro.pdf

HB 3362 – Offers tax credit for legal residents to learn English langue through certified classes. Goal is to integrate legal immigrants into American society
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3300.dir/hb3362.intro.pdf