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April 28, 2009
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Vol 19, Issue
15
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Legislative
Report
 League of Women Voters of Oregon
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Help Prevent
Cuts to Services for Seniors and People with Disabilities
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 SB 5529, the budget bill for
the Department of Human Services, contains the Division of Seniors and
People with Disabilities (SPD). Many Oregon seniors and disabled
persons have relied upon the agency for meals, transportation and
community supports in order to remain in their own homes. This division
and its programs were reviewed by the Human Services Ways and Means
subcommittee during the past week. The reduction options at 30%
were presented and public testimony was received the next day (see report). Link here to read a list of
reductions.
LWVOR finds these reductions to be unacceptable and urges members and
concerned Oregonians to contact their legislators to request that
revenue resources be found to continue necessary programs for
vulnerable citizens. See the 5-Minute
Activist.
Karen Nibler, Social Policy Coordinator
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 5-Minute Activist
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 Please contact your state legislators today with this
message:
Protect Oregon's most vulnerable citizens and maintain basic
infrastructure needs. Although some cuts are inevitable, I would like
you to support an increase in revenue.
I support: [choose one or two of the following to emphasize]
- Increasing
the income taxes paid by corporations; be as equitable as possible
in protecting small businesses and returning fairness and equity
to the system.
- Adding
a 4th bracket to the individual income tax or place a surcharge on
incomes above $250,000 with a sunset date.
- Increasing
certain taxes, such as cigarette and beer, to be used to fund
specific programs.
- Using
Rainy Day and Educational Stability Reserve Funds.
- Using
the federal stimulus funds and account for them in preserving
services and providing jobs.
- Taking
advantage of matching federal funds where possible.
For more information, read the LWVOR Action Alert.
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Children's Mental Health Services
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 In 2005-07 biennium the Children's System Change
Initiative was passed with the intent to treat children with mental
health disorders within their families rather than in residential
placements. This major change in the system provided savings in residential
placement costs but lacked an adequate transfer of funds to the
community.
This session, the Children's Wraparound Initiative, in HB 2144-A, was proposed by
the Department of Human Services to mandate the development of
"wraparound" services. "Wraparound" means a
plan to provide a unique set of community services and support for youth
and their families. The System of Care provides state and local
agencies with services to children, targeting early intervention as
well as high-needs youth.
HB 2144-A passed the House Human Services Committee on April 10,
followed by a House floor vote on April 22. It is headed for a
Senate Committee. LWVOR will continue to track the new
developments and will work toward updating our Mental Health Services
for Children and Youth position.
Karen Nibler, Social Policy Coordinator
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Natural
Resources Is All About Budgets
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 This is the
Natural Resources report, but it's really all about budgets. At
the beginning of the session there were lots of good ideas about how to
change Oregon laws and direct agencies to do good work. Many of
the bills left for consideration still have good ideas, but the
language has become "if resources are available", "shall"
has been changed to "may" and groups that had, in past years,
objected to new or increased fees are now saying "yes" in
order to save programs that benefit them. I have linked an
incomplete list of bills still in
play. April 28th is the deadline for each chamber's policy
committees (except Rules and Revenue) to act on bills.
Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator
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Ways and Means Public Hearings Tour
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 We are beginning
the second week of the Ways and Means Committee hearings around the
state. If the committee has not been to your part of the state
yet, please plan to go and listen to what is being said.
Talking points and background information have been in the last three Legislative Reports.
OUR LEGISLATORS NEED TO HEAR FROM US AS THEY ARE MAKING IMPORTANT
DECISIONS ABOUT REVENUE AND SPENDING NOW.
The remaining hearings are:
Wednesday, April 29th -
Bend
Friday, May 1 - Eugene
Central Oregon Community
College
University of Oregon
Cascades Hall Room
117
Cascades Hall Room 117
5:30 - 8:00 PM
Thursday, April 30th - Ashland
Southern Oregon University - Stevenson Union, Rogue River Room
6:00 - 9:00 PM
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Budget Cuts Challenge People with Disabilities
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 The hearing for SB 5529 (the budget bill for
the Department of Human Services) relating to the Seniors and People
with Disabilities Division had a good showing on Wednesday. A big theme
for both people representing seniors and people with disabilities was
the funding for training. Caregivers and family members were both
represented. The parents want to be able to take care of their kids at
home but also want some help from well trained caregivers. People rely
on respite care to give them some stress-free moments off from the
24-hour care. One parent said this was the only thing preventing them
from sending their child to a group home, which would cost more for the
state.
A representative from the Linn County Developmental Disabilities
Program said there was a 40% increase in kids served but no new
funding. More people need help, but with the 30% budget cut, 1600 jobs
could be lost. Some of the strongest voices were at the end: they were
the people who receive services. People are worried that their
lives, and the freedoms they enjoy, are about to change.
Tracy Johnson, Legislative Intern
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What do these things all have in common?
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What do
natural resources, health care, revenue, ethics, campaign finance
reform, election laws, energy, global warming, Oregon Health Authority,
earned income tax credits, Oregon Rainy Day Fund, greenhouse gases,
land use planning, clean water and air, housing, climate change, bottle
bill, petitions, initiatives and ballots, Ballot Measure 49, budget
legislation AND more budget legislation (whew!) have in common?
They are all subjects of bills that the League has been following. The
League has been tracking more than 180 bills, and the matrix has links
to over 60 League testimonies. We're not done yet; there is more
to come. Enter the door to the Action Matrix!
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Meet Our New Legislative Intern
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 I am really excited to be interning at the League of Women
Voters. I am a senior at Oregon State with a major in Political Science
and a minor in Business. I have only been here for a few weeks and
already have met some wonderful people; it was important for me to find
an internship with people who would inspire me. I have always known
that government was important, but I have learned so much by seeing how
things work in action and being part of an organization that helps
inform the public. I am looking forward to learning more.
Tracy Johnson, Legislative Intern
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Speaking the Language of the Legislature
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 "Gut and Stuff": A slang term
which refers to removing the text of a measure and inserting entirely
new language which, while it may change the nature of the bill
completely, still falls under the measure's "relating-to"
clause.
For more definitions, see the Legislature's glossary of terms.
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May 1 (Friday) - Global Warming Commission
meeting, 9 am to 1 pm, Oregon State Library, Rm. 102-103. Public welcome.
Legislature Action Dates
April 28 (Tuesday) Deadline for
consideration of changes in chamber of origin*
May 4-16 Joint Committee on Ways and Means: public hearings on
policy bills with budgetary impacts
May 17 (Friday) Ways and Means Co-chairs' budgets released
May 20 (Wednesday) Deadline to schedule work sessions in second
chamber*
May 28 (Thursday) Committees close*
June 30 or before (Tuesday) Sine Die
*Except Joint Ways and Means, Senate Finance and Revenue,
House Revenue, Senate and House Rules Committees
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