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Action Priorities for the 2009 Legislative Session

The LWVOR Action Committee will designate which areas of advocacy we will likely focus on for the upcoming 2009 Legislative Session in the fall of 2008.  However, these priorities are not set in stone, since it is always possible that other issues may suddenly take center stage.  We will carefully monitor all issues on which we have positions and continually re-evaluate our priorities as the session progresses.

Below is the list of action priorities for the 2007 Legislative Session.

Citizen Access
Governance
Natural Resources
Social Policy

Citizen Access

• At least 48 hours notice should be given for committee hearings and should include an accurate list of bills to be heard.
• Work groups (appointed to reconcile various opinions on a bill) should be balanced so that all views are heard. At present members are chosen solely at the discretion of the committee chair. Each work group's report should have a hearing.
• Budget notes should be included in the budget only after a full hearing.  Budget notes frequently include important restrictions or instructions on how budget moneys are spent and are often added by the chairs of Ways and Means Committees, without agencies or other legislators being aware of what the notes say and without any public hearing.
• Support legislative reform involving citizen access.

Governance

• Initiative Reform (following the PCOL recommendations)
• Rainy Day Fund and Kicker reform
• Repeal or suspension of the 50/50 (double majority) requirement put into effect by Measures 47/50 (1996/1997)
• Ethics reform (following the Oregon Law Commission's proposals)
• Fiscal policy:  revenue, tax expenditures, school funding
• Campaign finance reform and possible implementation of Measure 47 (2006)
• Monitoring of the new Electronic Disclosure System
• Monitoring of elections law reform

Natural Resources  

• Prevent rollbacks to natural resource agency budgets.
• Prevent changes to key land use policies, including "transferability" of Measure 37 claims and regionalization of LCDC.
• Prevent limitations to "standing".
• Prevent reauthorization of Pollution Tax Credits.
• Support conservation of resources, including energy conservation, electronic waste recovery systems and modernization of the bottle bill.
• Support efforts to improve water quality and quantity, including prohibiting toxic mixing zones, protecting wetlands and protecting ground water. 
• Support conservation including energy efficiency, electronic waste recovery systems and modernization of Oregon’s Bottle Bill.
• Elevate status of climate change initiatives.

Social Policy

• Adult Corrections – support alternatives to incarceration and community based programs, and treatment of mentally ill prisoners in prison or hospital
• Child Care – support affordable quality child care to increase employment and reduce poverty
• Children at Risk – support early intervention and prevention programs through Commission on Children and Families including parent support, youth development, juvenile crime prevention and shelter programs. 
• Education – support adequate funding for K-12, community colleges and the higher education system.
• Health Policy – Physical Care – support health care for all children, expand Oregon Health Plan adult coverage, support prescription drug coverage
• Adult Mental Health – support regional care facilities, and local crisis services and  housing programs
• Children’s Mental Health – support mental health services in home,  day treatment and residential treatment options
• Housing – support affordable housing programs for families, support shelter programs for families with children and for homeless youth and single young adults.  Support Housing Alliance agenda as appropriate.
• Judicial and Mental Health programs – support drug court funding and substance abuse treatment through OHP
• Juvenile Corrections – support community intervention programs and treatment options, restored funding and mental health treatment in youth facilities
• Women’s Issues

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