The Legislative Session is over. The
damage is not for some, and relief is for others. Besides OLIS, there are
a few good links below summarizing Oregon’s legislature this year.
First is a list of key bills passed into
law:
Second, is a list of anticipated 2016
ballot measures including tax the corporations, increasing the minimum wage to
$15 per hour, and right to work initiatives:
Let me outline a couple of key points you
should be aware of as an interested party to Oregon politics.
SB 941 universal background checks and
used firearm registration takes effect August 9th.
SB 454 paid sick leave for employers with
ten or more employees takes effect January 1st.
HB 2177 registers 100% of Oregonians in
theory for the 2016 elections.
HB 2960 is automatic retirement pay
deductions to the State for all private sector employees who do not have a
retirement plan effective July 1, 2017.
What failed?
SB 938 encouraging rural economic
development was killed in the Democrat controlled House Revenue Committee.
SB 940 making it illegal to buy votes with
campaign donations was killed first in the Democrat controlled Senate Judiciary
Committee, and then on the Floor of the Senate with every Democrat in
opposition to campaign finance reforms.
HB 2176 sponsored by two Secretary of
States would have allowed lying in voters pamphlet and let directors of
political actions committees go scot-free for elections violations stalled on
the Senate Floor.
HB 2176 the Minority Report which I
requested would have strengthen elections laws was sent back to committee given
the opposition by the Senate Democrats and the Democrat Secretary of
State. Oddly, the Secretary of State supported most of the individual
changes to the law in writing but opposed the bill anyway.
HB 2688 tax increase on small businesses
failed on committee even though several Republicans had joined Democrats in the
proposal to increase taxes along with restoring corporate green energy tax
credits.
SB 925 tax increase on all Oregonians
passed out House Revenue Committee but was returned to the committee when the
House Democrats could not get 31 votes from their caucus.
Again, the best summary I have seen on
bills that passed is in the Oregonian link above. However, I voted
against many of the bills on the list. The Legislature continues to be a
rural verses urban divide.
The only word to describe Oregon’s
political state today is ‘corrupt.’ No party has a monopoly on honesty.
This was the most hostile legislative session in a decade but it was not just
along political party lines. Bills were held hostage by the majority
against the majority as much as the minority. Budgets by House or Senate
District were the same. The Oregon Capitol is more of an oligarchy than a
body of elected representatives of the people.
However, many bipartisan alliances of
several Senators or Representatives from both parties did work together to help
Oregonians in may areas of public concern.
Keep in mind, while the State Budget is
technically balanced, massive billion dollar holes exist in the future Oregon
Health Authority, Department of Human Services, Oregon Department of
Transportation, and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife budgets.
Oregon, like the federal government, is spending well beyond its means.
The future rebalance will be very painful.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Boquist
State Senator
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