Oregon's Innovation Challenge

If people from other parts of the country know anything about Oregon, they know that we’re a little bit different out here.

We’re the state where everybody votes at the kitchen table. We actually give you money back for old bottles and you can go to the beach whenever and wherever you want. No ticket necessary.

The creativity, innovation, and collaboration that led to the Bottle Bill, public beaches, voting by mail, and many other progressive ideas has made a mark not just here, but throughout America.

But while our history is worth celebrating, it’s time to quit resting on yesterday’s accomplishments. Because the challenges facing our state are all about what happens tomorrow. The world has become an intensely competitive place, and this competition drives what happens in our economy.

So we need to build a government that’s responsive to changing economic realities and nimble enough to adapt when necessary.

The first step is to start focusing on what we can do rather than what we can’t. If we don’t start embracing new ideas in a hurry, we’re going to find that the rest of America, even the rest of the world, has left our state far behind.

From my work at NIKE, I’ve learned a lot about taking chances and innovation and I’m happy to report that we’ve started putting this approach to work in Salem. Now that we’ve established a Rainy Day Fund, our state will weather the next economic downturn without the usual massive cuts to education and other vital services. By 2025, a quarter of Oregon’s energy will come from renewable sources. That’s not just good for air quality and global warming, it will also help us reduce our reliance on foreign oil and create a lot of good-paying jobs in our state.

Still, these innovations are just the start. Oregon faces a variety of challenges that will require innovative thinking. We have to start upgrading our community colleges and universities in a hurry; we’ve already fallen far behind Washington and many other states. We must get a handle on escalating health care costs, which are strangling small businesses and driving families into bankruptcy. We have to invest in infrastructure, like transportation systems, and we must do more to support local, sustainable businesses.

It’s an ambitious agenda, but the state that made it easier to vote, recycle, and go to the beach should be up to the task.

As one of the youngest members of the Legislature, I’m proud to be part of a team that’s leading our return to creative, innovative, and collaborative thinking. However, the ultimate success of our Legislature, and our state, depends on you. We can’t make the changes necessary to take Oregon into the future without your input, without your ideas. I hope you’ll join us.

If you have an idea for the next big innovation that the Legislature should already be working on, let me know.

Thanks.

Tobias Read
State Representative, District 27

» November 16, 2007 - Read More & Comment (0) - Tobias Read

Are You Willing to Step Up?

At the Democratic Party of Oregon Summit earlier this month, our House Majority Leader, Dave Hunt, had a chance to speak to the participants about just how we were able to take back the Oregon House and what it means to our state to put forth and pass a progressive agenda.

He began by doing something very significant—he asked every Democratic candidate who ran for the legislature in 2006 but didn’t win his or her election to stand. And he told the members of the Democratic Party of Oregon that a huge reason we took the majority, and a huge reason that our state is finally investing in education and alternative energy, and leading again on so many issues, could be seen in the people standing up in front of us.

Last election the media covered candidates such as Rob Brading, who forced then-Speaker Karen Minnis into a tremendously competitive race and came close to taking her out. The amount of time, energy and resources Minnis pulled from the GOP side just to keep her own seat was a great asset to our efforts.

But lesser attention has been given to the full roster of Democrats who took on tremendous challenges, putting their Republican opponents on the defensive, drawing attention to the Road Map for Oregon’s Future, making the case against the far right extremist ballot measures that were on the 2006 ballot, and also helping to focus local voters on the Kulongoski/Saxton race as well.

These are candidates such as Jim Calvert in Klamath Falls, Mike Moran in Medford, Howard Owens in Grants Pass and Richard Koopmans in Gold Hill. In the Willamette Valley, we had outstanding Democrats such as Sam Sappington, Brian Grisham, Jim Gilbert and Connie Garcia. Dan Thackaberry made an excellent run in House District 17, as did Jason Brown in HD 23, and Sal Peralta came painfully close to knocking off the incumbent in House District 24.

The story repeated itself throughout the state, with Chuck Lee in Marion and Yamhill counties, Lee Coleman running in one of the Clackamas/Washington districts and Bev Backa running in another. Mike Caudle forced then Majority Leader Wayne Scott to the wall in District 39, Jill Selman-Ringer took on the campaign in District 50, and Ryan Olds ran a spirited campaign against a right wing GOP member in District 51.

Moving north and east, Suzanne VanOrman gathered just under 10,000 votes in the three counties that make up District 52, Bill Smith caused the Republicans significant problems in his Central Oregon District 53, and Phil Philiben, despite being significantly outspent by the GOP incumbent, pulled in close to 12,000 votes, losing by only a few percentage points.

In three of our most rural districts, Tonia St. Germain, a faculty member at Eastern Oregon University, spoke out strongly in her campaign for District 57, as did Ben Talley in the Umatilla/Union county District 58 and Peter Hall in the far eastern District 60.

In District 59, encompassing nine counties, Jim Gilbertson, a local farmer making his second run at the legislature, came within 300 votes of becoming the 32nd Democratic member of the House.

These efforts, in districts with close registration numbers and in districts where we face a long time GOP advantage, are all crucial. Running for office is not only the best possible vehicle to getting out the Democratic message statewide, but is also the key to keeping and expanding our majority. The only reason we now control the House is that we have been willing to build relentlessly. Districts that have been in GOP hands for years now have Democratic representatives. Several of theses members set out against all odds and worked for over two campaign cycles to finally win election. Several of our great candidates from 2006, including Jason Brown and Suzanne VanOrman, are seeking to accomplish this task in 2008.

The point is this—just as Howard Dean’s 50 state strategy is helping to build a long term Democratic majority nationwide, the Oregon Democratic Party must have a 36 county strategy to build a long-term majority here at home. Everything we value—from education to health care to economic development to the environment to social justice—depends on each one of us doing everything we can do, starting right where we live.

We’re currently recruiting candidates in 29 districts statewide. We have some remarkable Oregonians already willing to step forward in many districts. But we need more, particularly in districts that have been held by the GOP for an extended period of time.

We can help realistically analyze the dynamics of your district and help organize a campaign that is practical and will have the greatest impact possible. Are you willing, or do you know someone who cares enough about the future of our state to be willing to step up in 2008, to stand out, speak out, and help us move a progressive agenda for Oregon for years to come? The stakes are huge. The GOP is poised to pour millions of dollars into their effort to retake the House. If we lose even one seat, Oregon falls back.

When we win, we accomplish great things. When we lose, Oregon and all of our communities suffer. We need your help. Work with us so we can compete in all 60 districts, in every part of our state.

Thanks & Onward-

Peter Buckley
Majority Whip
House Democratic Leadership

Contact Michele Rossolo at michele@futurepac.org for information on running for the Oregon Legislature.

» October 22, 2007 - Read More & Comment (6) - Peter Buckley

New Leadership for Oregon

A year before the 2006 election, the Oregon House Democratic Caucus met to discuss the future of our state. It was clear that we needed new leadership in the Oregon House, since 16 years of Republican control had left our great state depressed and searching for hope and new ideas. We decided to spend several months listening to Oregonians in all parts of our state about what they wanted and needed from their state government. Once we gathered these ideas we formed an agenda called the “Roadmap for Oregon’s Future”. Our outstanding candidates then brought this agenda back to their districts and, with strong campaigns, we were able to pull off an astonishing victory and win back the House majority.

Once the election was won it became clear the job ahead of us was daunting. Our caucus again joined together in a truly momentous team effort that produced the most successful legislative session in decades. After 16 years of disinvestment in schools, health care, state troopers, agriculture, infrastructure, and the environment, it would have been easy for our new majority caucus to sit back and just complain about who was responsible for the mess. Instead our caucus did what our State needed them to do: provide strong leadership in rebuilding Oregon for the future.

Leadership means setting forth a clear vision, actively fighting to implement that vision, and making thoughtful compromises to accomplish that vision. And leadership also requires lots of listening: listening on people’s doorsteps, at town hall meetings, in grocery store aisles, and in committee hearings. Listening to the overworked single mom in Junction City, the new business start-up in Hillsboro, the uninsured children in Woodburn, the struggling wheat grower in Pendleton, the under-employed longshoreman in Coos Bay – and people from all walks of life in communities throughout Oregon.

Challenging times also provide an opportunity for true leaders to step to the front lines. Manufactured home residents found an accomplished ally in Rep. Chris Edwards. Rep. Edwards and Rep. Brian Clem successfully fought to protect unincorporated communities and farms. Seniors found a true champion in Rep. Jean Cowan. Business leaders were brought to the table for true innovative thinking and passage of a Rainy Day Fund by Rep. David Edwards. Consumer protection and help for growing school districts were expanded by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. Education and the environment were strengthened by Rep. Ben Cannon. Rep. Sara Gelser fought and won for disabled kids and adults. Rep. Tina Kotek achieved major progress for health and child care. Rep. Nancy Nathanson showed amazing leadership as vice chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Tobias Read demonstrated great leadership on revenue and transportation issues. And those are just our 10 first-term House Democratic members!

The combination of strong vision, active listening, diligence, and amazing teamwork resulted in the many accomplishments of the 2007 Legislative Session. But we are just getting started.

Many people have asked what we have left to accomplish next session. We have only begun to rebuild Oregon’s schools, health care, public safety, infrastructure, environment, and public trust in their state government. Much remains to be done. For the first time in years, however, there is a sense of hope that we are moving forward again.

During the next few weeks you will meet each member of our House Democratic Leadership Team as they share their hopes with you. These individuals have been chosen by our caucus to listen and to lead. Please let us know what you think.

Thank you for the honor of representing you in the Oregon House of Representatives during these challenging and exciting times.

Dave Hunt
State Representative
(D-Clackamas County)
House Majority Leader

» October 9, 2007 - Read More & Comment (0) - Majority Leader Dave Hunt

On the Road to a Better Future for Oregon

After 16 disastrous years of Republican control, the Oregon House Democrats wrapped up the most successful legislative session in decades.

With the Roadmap for Oregon as their policy guide, check out their proud list of accomplishments.

Restoring Fairness & Accountability to the Legislature
√ Restoring the rights of the minority party
√ Setting clear timeline for the work of the legislature to end by June 29th
√ Ensuring proportional representation on committees
√ Providing 72-hour notice before committee hearings
√ Banning lobbyist gifts over $10
√ Closing the Revolving Door to restrict legislators from lobbying their former colleagues
√ Fully funding the State Ethics Commission

Saving Before We Spend
√ Creating the Oregon Rainy Day Savings Account for the next economic downturn

Building a World-Class Education System for Our Kids
√ Establishing a health insurance pool for school workers to put more dollars in the classroom
√ Making school food more nutritious
√ Building a world-class education system by reinvesting in K-12 education
√ Funding a strong, statewide Head Start program

Attracting Good Jobs and Investment to Oregon
√ Investing in higher education, community colleges and opportunity grants
√ Passing Connect Oregon II to build multi-modal infrastructure
√ Making government more accessible to business through regulatory streamlining

Protecting our Environment While Growing our Economy
√ Passing biofuels package to boost the rural economy and reduce dependence on foreign oil
√ Positioning Oregon as a leader in research and generation of wave energy
√ Creating a free, statewide recycling program to keep consumer electronics from landfills

Supporting Women and Children’s Wellness
√ Requiring insurance companies to cover contraceptives as they do other prescription drugs
√ Guaranteeing victims of rape and incest access to emergency contraception
√ Ensuring unpaid breaks and privacy for breastfeeding, working mothers

Making Health Care More Affordable, Transparent and Accessible
√ Requiring insurance companies to provide out-of-pocket cost information to consumers
√ Guaranteeing access to health insurance for all Oregon children
√ Reducing prescription drug costs using the state’s bulk purchasing power

Keeping our Families and Communities Safe
√ Passing package of consumer protection bills that curb the practices of predatory lenders
√ Closing lending loopholes with a 36% cap on all consumer lending
√ Providing greater tools to Oregonians for protecting themselves against identity theft
√ Adding 100 state troopers to Oregon highways to combat the meth epidemic
√ Cracking down on internet predators who prey on our children
√ Ensuring fairness under the law for all Oregonians regardless of sexual orientation
√ Requiring cigarettes sold in the state to be manufactured as ”firesafe”

» September 6, 2007 - Read More & Comment (0) - News

Congratulations to everyone who helped build the new Oregon House Democratic Majority!

The Oregon House Democrats welcome ten new members to the caucus bringing our total to 31 seats!

* Jean Cowan, House District 10
* Nancy Nathanson, House District 13
* Chris Edwards, House District 14
* Sara Gelser, House District 16
* Brian Clem, House District 21
* Tobias Read, House District 27
* David Edwards, House District 30
* Suzanne Bonamici, House District 34
* Tina Kotek, House District 44
* Ben Cannon, House District 46

» November 8, 2006 - Read More & Comment (18) - News