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February 17, 2009
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Vol 19, Issue 6
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Legislative
Report
 League of Women Voters of Oregon
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In our view OCCF
saves money both in the short term and long term with
such programs as Healthy
Start for children, Juvenile Crime Prevention
programs, the Oregon
Youth Authority and other programs. Public input for
the OCCF is scheduled to be heard by the Ways and Means
committee February 18. The League supports
flexibility in funding programs at the local level. Learn more about OCCF programs
and how these programs save Oregon money.
Karen
Nibler, Social Policy Coordinator
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A Fiscal Dilemma
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Legislators are faced with a Shakespearean dilemma - to
use or not to use the reserve funds, which amount to about $900 million
in the Rainy
Day and Educational Stability Funds. 
For the remainder of the 2007-09 budget period, there is nearly a $600 million deficit,
and agencies are asked to cut 20% in the next four months.
However, a $2 billion (with a B) shortfall exists for 2009-11. The Ways and Means
committee is now considering what the final budgets for
social services, education, and public safety will look like, after
receiving public input in hearings last week.
Meanwhile there are now two stimulus packages -
$176 million for projects in Oregon through Oregon bond sales and
Oregon's share of the $787 billion federal package. We will hear the March
revenue forecast on February 20. Stay tuned for a
discussion of proposals for assisting local governments in the next Legislative
Report.
Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator
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The 5-Minute Activist: HB 2436 Passes the House
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 HB 2436 will now move to the
Senate. The bill establishes a modest fee to be collected by
counties for recording documents in deed and mortgage records and to
transfer the funds to the Housing and Community Services
department for affordable housing programs. More information can
be found at The Housing Alliance web
site.
We need your support to keep this bill moving! Email or
write a letter to your senator and urge them
to support this bill.
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Human Services Budget Hearings
Hearings
are being conducted on SB 5529 which relates to the
financial administration of the Department of Human Services. This
week, the Ways and Means subcommittee on Human Services is
holding public hearings on the DHS Children, Adults and Families
Divsion (CAF). Check the Ways and Means subcommittee on
Human Services agenda for hearing updates.
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Corporate
Minimum Tax
Last Friday's hearing on Corporate
Minimum Tax (HB 2070) brought up a number
of interesting questions: Does
the tax code change a business's behavior? Does the system create
incentives? How easy is the tax code to administer and how stable
is it? Link here for the full report.
Alice
Bartelt, Governance Specialist
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League Supports Online Voter Registration
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 Providing an online
method for registering voters and updating
registrations will make the process easier. Signature verification
would be accomplished by accessing Department of Motor Vehicle
records. Although the fiscal impact of the bill is about
$220,000, funding would be provided by the Help America Voter Act (HAVA).
While we support the bill, HB 2386, the League will
monitor the proposal to ensure that the privacy and protection of
voters' personal information is protected.
Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator
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Water Bills Flowing
A number of bills related to Oregon's water have been
heard the past two weeks.
Part One of our Water Study is
now available and will be shared with legislators.
We have also answered an online survey by the Water Resources Department related
to development
of a water strategy. Of note is the new federal
stimulus package which will provide money for water
infrastructure. We hope Oregon can take advantage of that money
to help with the billions of dollars of backlog throughout
Oregon. Our thanks to the many League members who are following
water issues this session.
Peggy
Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator
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Concerns Emerge
in Health Care Bill
Hearings
on the huge, comprehensive Health Care bill, HB 2009,
continue in the House
Committee on Health Care. Of the three parts
comprising the framework for the health care system - the Oregon Health Authority
Board, the Oregon
Health Authority and the Oregon Health Insurance
Exchange - the last two have attracted considerable
testimony. Comments include:
- The need to remedy
the fragmentation of the health care system, its numerous parts
and its lack of integration.
- Concern for one
entity being in charge of all programs related to health care.
One entity acting as both administrator and regulator.
- The role of
the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange as a facilitator for the
purchase of insurance as well as the role of insurance agents.
- The need for
coverage for all children and concern for the uninsured and the
underinsured.
- The affordability
of insurance for low income people.
- The need for
outreach that provides easily accessible information, easily
accessible applications and help with completing applications.
An omnibus bill such as
HB 2009 will face countless amendments and undergo many changes before
it comes to a committee vote. It is clear that such major changes
will not be instituted all at once. It should also be noted that
HB 2009 has other legislative competition, so many changes are
imminent.
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Speaking the Language of the Legislature 
Relating-to Clause: The clause found just
underneath the title of a bill identifying its subject matter. In
Oregon, a bill may only address one subject, and for this reason the
relating-to clause becomes an important element of the bill.
Relating-to clauses may be broad or narrow.
For more definitions, see the Legislature's glossary of terms.
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