State Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Southern Oregon), who serves as a member on the Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services, issued the following statement today in response to The Oregonian article titled: Oregon never publicized a study it funded that found higher beer, wine taxes would barely stem heavy drinking.

“As a member of the newly formed Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services Task Force, I do not want to see people suffer from alcohol abuse and addiction; moreover, I want to find ways to prevent others from traveling down that road.”

“It is appalling to discover the Oregon Health Authority has key data concerning this issue which they are not only hiding from the public -- but from this task force. Keeping such information secret erodes my confidence that OHA will provide the Task Force all the data in an unbiased way. Our Task Force is supposed to weigh all the facts to make informed and effective recommendations to the legislature. It appears that OHA is placing their thumb on the scale to manipulate the legislature into choosing a predetermined outcome.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 3610, which formed a Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services. Its goal is to study and report to the Legislative Assembly by September 15, 2024, on alcohol addiction and alcohol addiction prevention; distribution of resources for alcohol addiction treatment; current overall funding for alcohol addiction treatment programs; cost of alcohol addiction to state; benefits and drawbacks of imposing taxes on beer and wine; and additional funding options for alcohol addiction treatment. Representative Reschke was appointed as one of the four legislative non-voting members.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-25 15:54:26