It’s no secret that Oregon’s schools are in desperate need of increased funding. Reinvesting and stabilizing schools and reducing class sizes are our top priorities this session in Salem. We have a historic opportunity to reinvest in education, and we believe it’s time to embrace the proposals to make that happen. Today, Oregon has the [...]
One of our top priorities this session is getting people back to work and helping small businesses grow in our area. So we were glad to read new data from the US Department of Labor last week that showed Oregon is making strides towards a strong economy and getting Oregonians back to work. The report [...]
I was proud to vote recently in favor of extending drivers cards to undocumented Oregon residents: This is a safety issue, a jobs issue, and helping more qualified drivers get to work, get to the store, and take their children to school safely is simply the right thing to do. This bill will give more [...]
Across the country and across our state, women make less than their male counterparts for the exact same work. Women earn 22 percent less than men, or 78 cents for each dollar, and the problem is even worse for minority women. These aren’t just statistics. These numbers contribute to real problems for everyday Oregon families. [...]
Last year, local farmers and supporters of organic food raised alarms about the effects of genetically modified organism (GMO) crops and collected thousands of signatures to refer a local ban on GMO crops to voters. Their ballot measure would protect Southern Oregon from GMO crops that threaten a growing organic farming industry and our way [...]
Demand for electric vehicles is growing across Oregon and the country. The industry is not only creating jobs, the use of clean energy is reducing air pollution and our reliance on foreign oil, and advancing our environmental goals. Oregon has led the way for years in the development of innovative new technologies in transportation; Ashland-grown [...]
Oregonians sent elected officials to Salem this session with a clear directive: Reduce class sizes, stop teacher layoffs, and prioritize our schools. We heard this loud and clear, and this March Rep. Peter Buckley and Sen. Richard Devlin, our budget co-chairs, proposed adding $1 billion in additional resources Oregon’s public schools over current levels. The [...]
For decades, the Disabled and Senior Property Tax Deferral Program has protected low income senior citizens from being taxed out of their homes by allowing them to defer their annual property taxes. Property taxes are collected once the home is sold, and the program has been both financially solvent and successful for years at keeping [...]
The number of children placed in foster care in Jackson County is down 50 percent, from 400 children per month in 2007 to approximately 200 today. This is a result of the Family Preservation and Reunification Program, created by the passage of SB 964, a bill co-authored by Rep. Peter Buckley and myself and supported [...]
For years, one of the Rogue Valley’s most important and valuable economic sectors has been agriculture. As a former hay farmer myself, I know that farming is a local tradition, an economic driver, and a huge part of our way of life. Businesses like organic food processor Amy’s Kitchen have brought hundreds of jobs to [...]
