House has road map to future

DAVE HUNT

Ask Oregon families facing foreclosure if they think the Oregon Legislature should wait until 2009 to crack down on scams that force them into foreclosure homes. Ask parents who bought recalled toys -- or seniors displaced from long-term care homes -- or coastal residents decimated by the recent floods if they are able to wait until 2009 for needed legislative action.

Our world today moves too fast and our economy is too fluid to continue to believe that our state's pressing needs can wait 18 months between legislative sessions. Last year, the independent Public Commission on the Legislature recommended annual sessions in its report to Oregon's Legislature.

Lawmakers from both parties agreed to "test drive" annual sessions in February in hopes to better manage the state's budget, react swiftly to changing economic fortunes and demand the kind of accountability our residents all expect from our state agencies.

Building from the 2007 regular session, House Democrats are releasing an updated Road Map to Oregon's Future. While other issues will be discussed, debated and eventually passed during the 2008 February session, the following issues constitute the Oregon House Democrats' Road Map for 2008.

Keeping seniors healthy and independent: Along with constructing a blueprint for how Oregon will ensure the health and independence of our growing senior population and creating a stable system of long-term care, we will act to increase funding for these programs to maintain continued access to the most appropriate level of care.

Protecting abused and neglected children: House Democrats will protect abused and neglected children by increasing the number of staff devoted to regularly visiting homes to ensure our children are safe, while also reducing the growing backlog of home visits.

Strengthening the Oregon State Police: Continuing our successful efforts from the 2007 session in adding 100 state troopers, House Democrats will move the Oregon State Police toward 24/7 coverage on Oregon highways.

Protecting families from foreclosure: House Democrats will enact stronger laws to provide Oregon families with tools, strategies and assistance they need to avoid foreclosure of their homes.

Improving toy safety laws: House Democrats will ensure the safety and health of our children by prohibiting the sale of toys and other children's items that have been recalled.

Increasing government accountability: Democrats will pass legislation creating an Advisory Committee on Performance Excellence designed to provide guidance and oversight to improve performance and promote greater accountability in state government.

Investing in our future: House Democrats will lay the foundation for infrastructure improvements in water storage and land-use planning to ensure those systems are robust and dependable. Plus, we will continue working on building momentum for a major transportation package in the 2009 session.

Other issues such as driver's license requirements, property crimes and full-day kindergarten are among those we will consider this session. Bipartisan groups are meeting regularly to craft these important pieces of legislation.

Just as in the 2007 session, House Democrats are committed to an effective, short session that will move Oregon along the road to a better future. Oregon House Democrats delivered on our promises in 2007 -- and we'll do the same in 2008.

Rep. Dave Hunt , D-Clackamas County, is a third-term state representative and is currently the House majority leader.

 

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