House Republican Leader Christine Drazan issued a comment on the recent action taken by the Legislature's Emergency Board to fix budgets holes. “Like with many family budgets, the COVID outbreak has delivered a powerful blow to our state’s finances. As we rebalance the budget, it’s vital that we protect the $9 billion we’ve promised to Oregon schools and higher education and ensure stability for programs that will keep Oregonians healthy and safe during these difficult times. We have the money set aside for a rainy day and now is an appropriate time to draw from our savings. As we do so, we must stay mindful that Oregon’s budget shortfall is a fraction of the losses experienced by families and businesses throughout our state. As we right-size the state budget we have to prevent additional suffering.”

Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Stayton), Co-Vice Chair on the full Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement: “We have some tough times ahead, but because of the walkout on cap and trade, we saved the state about a billion dollars, which created a sizable ending balance. We had to make some cuts in this state budget re-balance plan, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. We had money saved in the Education Stability Fund, and this plan accessed $400 million of it so there’s still quite a bit left in reserves. “If we don’t open up the state for business, the next budget will be austere.”

Neither lawmaker commented on the e-Board's appropriation of $50 million for arts and culture programs -- spending which some have regarded as inappropriate during a budget crisis.

Lawmakers did spar about the legality of allocating $62 million of CARES Act money from the federal government to Black relief. Senate Republican Leader Girod produced an opinion from Legislative Counsel that said, "A law that discriminates between individuals based on their membership or nonmembership in a suspect true class is “inherently suspect” and is upheld only if the law “can be justified by genuine differences between” members and nonmembers of the class."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-07-16 17:58:13

Last Update: 2020-07-16 17:58:28