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June 2, 2009
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Vol 19, Issue
20
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Legislative
Report
 League of Women Voters of Oregon
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When Is Enough
"Enough"?
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 The Joint Ways and Means Committee has set a goal of $800
million to be raised by additional taxes to help balance the 2009-11
General Fund budget. The House Revenue Committee is charged with
proposing those taxes and appears dedicated to that total. Is
$800 million sufficient, adequate, or essential enough to provide a
large enough portion of necessary state services? The
minority members of the Legislature have issued an emphatic "Too
Much - No New Taxes, Period!"
The debate centers on the premise that the proposed majority budget
should reach the $17 billion needed to continue state programs and
services at the current biennial level. Minority members believe
that there is sufficient funding, using all of the reserves - about
$650 million (left after balancing the current budget to June 30) and
the remaining federal stimulus funds. They would protect K-12
programs and then cut the rest of state services to balance a much
lower budget. However, with the 3/5 majority needed in both houses to
pass any revenue bills, the majority party has enough votes to pass the
proposed taxes and other revenue proposals.
The line has been drawn in the sand. What will happen if the
Legislature passes new taxes? What do those tax proposals
currently look like? Read on to find out.
Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator
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Energy Bills Need More Energy
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 In the last days for policy committees to meet, activity
on some of the energy bills slowed when the final day for policy
committee action arrived. Two bills the League has followed were passed
to the floor this week, HB 2626B and SB 38. HB 2186A was moved to Senate
Rules "for more work." A public hearing resumed in the Ways
and Means Natural Resources subcommittee on May 27 with SB 80A, a bill to limit
greenhouse gases with a sector by sector approach in a stepwise
reduction over several years. Link here for more details on
each bill.
Elizabeth Rathbun, Energy Specialist
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Health Care Reform Soars
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 HB 2009B passed out of the
Human Services Ways and Means subcommittee on June 1 after two earlier
days of hearings and the last B86 amendment. The Omnibus Bill had 589
pages along with another 69 for the amendment. The amendments
took out duplications and added public transparency for insurance
company rate reviews. The Co-Chairs of the Oregon Health Fund Board
testified on May 28 and the Director of the Department of Human
Services and the head of Oregon Health Policy and Research explained
the provisions for health care reform. Senator Bates encouraged the
passage of the Omnibus Bill, which he conceded was not perfect. Bates
commended Representative Greenlick for his work on the bill, and
Greenlik named Bates as the father of the bill. The
official vote was taken after comments by committee members and the
bill passed with one No from Representative Christensen. The bill
will go to the full Ways and Means Committee.
The League submitted a letter in support of HB 2009A
during the Health Care Committee process. The League also
submitted a letter in support of HB 2116A
when it was in the Revenue Committee process.
Karen Nibler, Social Policy Coordinator
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DLCD Budget
Moves to Full Ways and Means
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 With a 12.5% cut
from the 2007-09 budget, the Department of Land Conservation and
Development's (DLCD) budget has moved to the Full Ways and Means
Committee. This cut means a loss of about 11 staff
positions. A budget note was added that requires DLCD to report
to the Legislature by March 1, 2010, on the Land Conservation and
Development's Policy Agenda. LCDC sets its work plans, including
work on rulemaking, after each legislative session. With the
number of policy bills still being considered, such as identifying the
Metolius Basin as an Area of Critical State Concern, changes to Goal 8
(Destination Resorts), creation of a new Transfer of Development
Credits (TDC) program, and pilot projects for specific TDC
developments, the Legislature appears to be following LCDC's work more
closely.
Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources
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Governance Updates
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Provider Taxes to Support Expanded Health Care
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 Proponents and opponents had the opportunity to testify on
the provider taxes to fund the Oregon Health Plan expansion at the
House Revenue hearing on May 28. The negotiations on HB 2116B had
kept the bill off the calendar and this was the first hearing in House
Revenue. The large hospitals have agreed to a 3% assessment in
order to claim the federal Medicaid match to pay for the care of
uninsured adults. The Department of Human S0ervices (DHS)
reported an expected expansion from 25,000 to 50,000 adults. The
private insurance companies, managed care organizations and Public
Employees Benefit Board will pay 1% assessments on premiums in order to
pay for children's health care. DHS expects this match for
federal funds will cover 80,000 children. Providence, Regency and
Kaiser, the large insurance companies, were in agreement.
However, there were objections from Association of Oregon Industries
for some insurance companies and small businesses. A committee member
noted that there are currently 600,000 uninsured so this will not meet
the need, but it is a start.
The Full Ways and Means Committee recommendation on Monday was a do
pass with amendments and for a printed C-Engrossed (click here to read HB 2116C).
The entire Health Care Reform plan was based on new revenue to pay for
this expansion. It was remarkable in the expansion of provider
taxes to pay for health care expansion (that's the big deal),
especially the insurance company assessment to pay for children.
The children's program will be called Health Care for All Children, but
only those below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level will be funded
through OHP; children within the 200% to 300% of the poverty level will
be funded through subsidies in the Office of Private Health
Partnerships.
For more on this bill, link
here.
Karen Nibler, Social Policy Coordinator
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Measure 49 "Fixed"
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HB 3225A has moved to Full
Ways and Means with minor technical amendments. The measure
provides for about 400 Measure 49 (M49) claims to proceed for
consideration that would otherwise be precluded, due mainly to minor
procedural issues. These claimants will pay a $175 processing fee
to help cover the cost of processing. DLCD is also required to
complete M49 processing by June 2010, putting a few
"hardship" cases to the head of the line. In cases
where claims were filed only at the county or only at the state, DLCD
is directed to work with counties to determine if additional claims should
be considered. Such determination will require new legislation.
Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator
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Speaking the Language of the Legislature
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 Referendum: The submission of a measure passed by the
Legislature to a vote of the people. In Oregon, either the Legislature
or citizens, by petition, may cause a measure passed by the Legislature
to be placed on the ballot for a vote. In the case of a legislative referral,
both houses of the Legislature must vote to refer the measure. Such
referrals cannot be vetoed by the governor. In the case of a citizen
referendum, supporters of the referendum must obtain a specified number
of signatures from registered voters. The number of signatures required
is determined by a fixed percentage of the votes cast for all
candidates for governor at the general election preceding the filing of
the petition. Referendum petitions require four percent, currently
44,524 signatures. Any change to the Oregon Constitution passed by the
legislature requires referral to voters.
For more definitions, read the Legislture's glossary of terms.
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Enter the Matrix
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Want to read the League's testimonies? Track the
bills as sine die approaches? Link to audio testimonies? Enter
the Action Matrix!
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Legislature Action Days
June 2 - end of session (Mondays-Fridays): Although policy committees (except for Rules,
Revenue and Ways and Means committees) are not working bills, some are
holding "informational meetings." Listen to discussions
on issues through the Legislature's audio website that
may be a part of next session's agenda.
June 30 or before (Tuesday) Sine Die
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