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January 29, 2009
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Vol 19, Issue 3
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Legislative
Report
 League of Women Voters of Oregon
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The Legislature
Tackles Health Care
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 Along with growing unemployment comes increased numbers of
those without health care coverage. Since its inception in
October of 2007, the governor-appointed Oregon Heath Fund Board (OHFB)
has been working on recommendations to the Legislature for expanding
coverage to more Oregonians. As a result, the House Interim
Committee on Health Care submitted the 256 page HB 2009. Below are
some of the bill's highlights:
- Establishes
the Oregon Health Authority and Board to oversee outreach, and
insurance exchange and premium assistance programs
- Expands
the Medicaid program to capture matching funds from the Federal
Government
- Allows
purchase of health plans by individuals up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines
using a sliding scale to determine premium costs for the purchaser
- Strategizes
ways to contain health care costs
- Addresses
changes to the delivery system
- Outlines
mechanisms for funding
Other bills submitted on behalf of the Governor and the
Department of Human Services (DHS) that are related to HB 2009 are HB 2117, HB 2122, HB 2128, HB 2130, HB 2131, HB 2142.
A public hearing is scheduled for HB 2009 on February 4 at 3:00 p.m. in
HR D (see Agenda) House Committee
Agendas, Health Care).
With the impact of Oregon's fiscal crisis and the wide range of
opinions, this bill is expected to undergo close scrutiny. Watch
for updates in the Legislative Report.
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Budget Update 
Oregon's budget crisis is impacting existing
and future programs. Co-Chairs of the Ways and Means Committee
will provide the Governor two recommendations to rebalance the 2009-11
budget by March 1. One package will include expected monies from
the Federal Stimulus Package and the other without.
Ways and Means Committee members are asking
tough questions about how to link various agency programs that
deal with similar issues to determine if there are administrative and
program savings that can occur. For instance, implementation of
marine reserves, a proposed new program, has about $6 million in
expenditures scattered among 5 agency budgets. Another example is
the proposed establishment of the Oregon Health Authority which would
bring together existing and new health care programs under its
purview.
The Oregon Revenue Coalition is
meeting weekly and will be following the work of the Revenue and the
Ways and Means Committees. The report of the Task Force on
Revenue Restructuring was presented to both the House and Senate
Revenue committees on January 23. Short-term recommendations on
the Rainy Day Fund, the initiative changes and relief for local
governments are being considered.
Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and
Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator
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Natural Resources: 2% of Budget but . . .
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 Followers of Natural Resource issues have already been
busy this session. Members from around the state have been
monitoring hearings so we can effectively address League issues.
Land Use
The League has testified on the history of our statewide land use
planning system at the House Land Use Committee (see testimony of 01-22-09).
We will continue to participate in discussions about the legislation
proposed by the Big Look Task Force (HB 2229). The next
public hearing of the Land Use Committee is February 3 at 3:00 p.m. in
HR E (see Agenda). The League
has grave concerns about opening up our rural lands to an arduous and
expensive process as designed by the legislation.
An item of interest is the Bear Creek Regional Problem Solving
Project (RPS) LINK.
Approximately 4,600 Measure 49 claims have been filed with the Department of Land Conservation
and Development (DLCD), which is processing more than 200 claims
per month and has a target date for completion of July 2010.
That's up from the December 2010 date promised last session.
Climate Change
Oregon continues to be a national leader. Legislation will be
focused on energy efficiency and renewables. (Did you know that
250,000 homes are now powered by clean energy?) Transportation,
the other 40% of greenhouse gas in Oregon, will also be a focus.
The League is supporting a transportation package that includes a
greater focus on alternatives: transit, bicycle lanes and
sidewalks.
Tracking Other Issues . . .
- House
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Communities
Chair Brian Clem is offering a Public Comment period at the end of
each meeting as time allows.
- Natural
Resource agencies' budgets currently
comprise about 2% of the 2009-11 General Fund budget.
Lottery Funds play a major role in agency budgets and lottery dollars
are seeing a decline. This will affect our state parks,
Oregon Salmon Plan, water monitoring--at least 5 agencies will see
lottery funding decline.
- Water:
quantity, quality, use of gray water (HB 2080)
- Energy:
Update building codes for energy efficiency (SB 79), funding energy
efficiency for low income homes (SB 201)
- Solid
Waste:
Bottle Bill update (HB 2184)
Peggy
Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator
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Initiative Reform and Indirect Initiative
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 Both Senate and House Rules committees are hearing invited
testimony about possible legislation on initaitive reform.
Changes from HB 2082 (2007) went into
effect on January 1 and are improving the process.
One idea being discussed is the indirect initiative that
requires initiatives to first be reviewed by the legislature to
either approve the initiative, do nothing and refer to voters, or offer
a counter proposal.
This would help reduce the high number of similar petitions with the
same idea being put on the ballot.
Other ideas include:
- Requiring
fiscal impact statements of the proposal on
current and future programs.
- Transfer
signature verification responsibilities from
the counties to the Elections Department.
- Adding
investigators to the Secretary of State's Office
to handle the large number of complaints being
received.
Kappy
Eaton, Governance Coordinator
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Proposed Election Law Changes
The League testified on the following bills being heard by the House
Rules Committee on January 28 and 29.
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Next Issue . . The League's Bill Matrix is Coming
Look for The League's Legislation Bill
Matrix in the next issue.
Track bills of interest and be a part of the
action in making decisions concerning Oregon's future.
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Calendar
Updates
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February 10: RePower Oregon Lobby Day (OCN): (For mor
information contact Seth Moore at 503-278-1577)
March 13: The Housing Alliance Lobby Day
More information coming to the Housing Alliance web site.
March 17: "Day at the Legislature"
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