In an effort to focus on the issues most critical to recovery and stabilization, Republicans in the Oregon House of Representatives last week announced that they would waive the readings of budget-related bills to expedite their passage and the critical funding that they provide for communities across the state.

However, Republicans today stated that they are still committed to using legislative tools at their disposal to voice their opposition on several contentious bills moving forward that would have long-lasting negative consequences for Oregonians.

“It’s our job in the minority party to provide a critical check on the balance of power in the Legislature so that we aren’t passing bills drafted on the fly that would have serious unintended consequences for our communities,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby.) “Several proposals this year have been rushed through committees despite serious opposition from stakeholders and citizens who face hurdles navigating the virtual testimony process.”

Contentious bills moving through the Legislature include:

• HB 2457: Disregards a commitment made by Democrats and Republicans in Congress by taxing paycheck protection program loans that Oregon businesses received in 2020. These loans kept more than 600,000 Oregonians employed, allowing them to support themselves and their families, and gave the state a double benefit of additional income taxes and fewer people claiming unemployment benefits. Retroactively taxing this money now is the opposite of what we should be doing.
• HB 2942: Allows for convicted criminals to work in K-12 schools with kids even if their history includes manufacturing and/or delivering hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth or prostitution – including crimes targeting children within 1,000 feet of a school.
• Repealing Measure 11: Three of four remaining bills in the House and Senate would repeal many parts of the voter-approved Measure 11. The proposals are so alarming that it prompted eight Oregon District Attorneys to issue a joint press release denouncing the ideas that would return us to the days “when a rapist would merely receive a probationary slap on the wrist.”
• HJR 13: Dramatically increases property taxes for Oregon homeowners.

“We are worried that the majority party’s agenda is disconnected from what people need right now. Its policies would kill jobs, make schools and communities less safe, and raise the cost of living in Oregon,” added Leader Drazan. “With the people’s Capitol closed to them, they need us to work on fundamental priorities: balancing the budget, supporting public health, recovering from natural disasters and fixing the damage done by the shutdowns for our kids and communities.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-04-07 18:33:05

Last Update: 2021-04-07 20:17:03