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Stand For Children Messages from Karen Starchvich and Dana Hepper. Updates on Issues/Bills (Posted 06/22/09)

Karen Starchvich:
Thanks to all who attended this weeks Medford School Board meeting Tuesday! I understand there were around 20 people standing up behind Ted Willhite as he addressed the Board, which is really a fantastic turn out. Well done! We delivered a strong message from chapter membership, and got some excellent press and television coverage. I am hopeful that as union negotiations get finalized with the classified staff, and more information becomes available on the funding side, the Board and the District will prioritize the classroom and draw down on some of those reserves. If not, rest assured, we will be back in the fall.
 
Our chapter continues to grow, picking up 13 new members since the kick off! Even more important, there are 7 team coordinators (including me) to share the load. Welcome and THANK YOU to all our new members and Team coordinators! Those of you who attended the kick-off and have not had time to join, you can do so quickly and easily on line at www.stand.org . Much easier than mailing in the paper work.
 
This weeks update follows.
Karen
 

From:   Dana Hepper, Advocacy Director

Re:      Legislative Update, June 14, 2009

Overview

Whew! This was quite a week. The legislature stopped $800 million in additional cuts by passing reasonable tax increases on the wealthiest Oregonians and profitable corporations and raising the $10 corporate minimum tax. Early next week, the legislature will begin voting on the largest state budgets, including K-12 schools.

Revenue (HB 2649, personal income tax; HB 3405, corporate minimum & income tax) – After initial opposition to HB 3405 by Sen. Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), a late-night compromise with Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) addressed some of Hass’ concerns. Legislative leadership credited effective constituent advocacy by members of Stand for Children and others with persuading Sen. Hass to make the compromise. Sen. Hass voted yes on both proposals this Thursday – which passed the Oregon Senate along party lines (18 Democrats voted aye, 11 Republicans voted nay). If these bills face a citizen referendum, they will likely be on the ballot on January 26, 2010. See attached 1-pager for more information on the referendum system.

 

School Funding

 

(SB 5520, State School Fund), Mentors for New Educators & Quality Preschool (SB 5519, Oregon Department of Education Budget) – The Ways & Means Education Subcommittee is likely to vote on these budgets this week. Key legislators have committed to fund K-12 schools at $6.0 billion and restore some funding to the mentor program and preschool. We’ll work closely with these legislators in the final week to determine exactly how much funding will be restored.

Federal Stimulus Money – Last week, Stand for Children staff expressed concern that SB 767 (a proposal focused on quality & accountability for on-line charter schools in Oregon which creates a moratorium on them) could interfere with Oregon’s ability to compete for federal grants – and for the sake of Oregon’s 550,000 public school kids who could greatly benefit from federal funds, we hope we’re wrong. On Wednesday, SB 767 barely passed on the Senate floor (16-14, with all 12 Republicans, Sen. Walker, D-Eugene, and Sen. Verger, D-Central Coast voting against). Senate & House Leadership intend to move this legislation quickly on the House side, and are unlikely to make any additional amendments. House & Senate Leadership have expressed their commitment to accountability among education providers and we look forward to playing a lead role in the next phase of the conversation about fostering more innovation in Oregon to ensure high-quality, accountable alternatives for kids who for whatever reason are not finding a good fit with their current options.

Anti-Bullying (HB 2599) – The Governor signed this bill into law on June 12th.

Rural Schools & Portland Gap Bond (HB 2533) – HB 2533 passed the Senate Revenue Committee unanimously on Wednesday, June 10th. We expect this vote to pass the Senate floor early next week. Finally, after years of fighting these issues, Portland is permanently allowed to collect $17 million in local property taxes approved by their voters and 4 small, rural high schools finally receive the weighted funding they need.

Full Day Kindergarten (SB 44-A) – SB 44-A has passed the House & Senate and is awaiting the signature of the Governor. The bill allows districts to charge tuition for full-day kindergarten until 2013, and creates a taskforce to make recommendations to the legislature about how to provide free, voluntary, developmentally appropriate full-day kindergarten to all Oregon children.

Healthy Kids (HB 2116: funding for expanded health insurance coverage & HB 2009: cost containment) – These companion pieces of legislation, to expand health insurance coverage for 80,000 children and 50,000 adults paid for by a health care provider tax and enact health care cost containment measures passed the House and Senate this week. On HB 2009, cost containment measures, House Republicans Rep. Jenson and Rep. Kennemer joined all Democrats in support of the bill. HB 2116, which provided the funding for expanded health insurance coverage, was decided on a party-line vote with all 36 House Democrats supporting and all 24 House Republicans opposed. On the Senate side, Republicans Senators Winters and Nelson supported cost containment, and funding was again decided along party lines. Both bills are awaiting the Governor’s signature.

Standing with you,

Dana

Dana Hepper
Statewide Advocacy Coordinator
Stand for Children
cell: 503.724.2611
dana@stand.org
www.stand.org

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Bills:

HB 2070 (Corporate Minimum Tax)

HB 2533 (Rural Schools)

HB 2599 (Anti-bullying)

HB 3405-A (Corporate tax rate)

HB 3000 (Autism insurance mandate)

HB 3468 (Unified Survey)

SB 44 (Full-Day Kindergarten)

SB 5519 (ODE Budget)

SB 5520 (State School Fund)

Federal Stimulus

HB 2469-A (Personal income tax)

SJR 29 (Kicker change)