Dear friends,

We are truly in the heat of the session. Hundreds of new bills have been read on the floor over the last few days, committee work is in full swing, the Ways and Means co-chairs will announce a preliminary 2007-2009 budget very soon, and in the midst of it all I was able to travel to Bend last week for a field hearing of the Energy and Environment Committee. My assistants, Christy and Leon, are working very hard to help me keep up with the flood of mail, e-mail, and phone calls that our office is receiving from residents of District 46. It is tremendously important for me to continue to hear from you about these important issues, so please keep it coming!

Health Care Forum this Saturday

This Saturday, March 17, Ben will host Senators Alan Bates (D-Ashland) and Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) for the eighth stop on their "Hope for a Healthy Oregon" tour. Senators Bates and Westlund will describe their plan - recently merged with Gov. Kitzhaber's "Oregon Better Health Act" - for universal health care coverage in Oregon. The event will be from 1-3 pm at PCC-Southeast (more info here). Come and participate - improving health care this is a top priority for the Legislature, and we need the public to help sort out the details and push the legislation forward.

In the photo above, yesterday, Ben stood alongside Gov. Kitzhaber and the bill's other co-sponsors at a health care rally on the Capitol steps.

Other Upcoming Events

On Saturday, March 24, from 9 to 11 am, Ben will host an environmental forum at Mt. Tabor Park. Participants, including area environmental advocates, will discuss environmental legislation during the current session and environmental goals beyond the session. More info here.

On Thursday March 29, from 7 to 8:30 pm, Ben will co-host a town hall on state revenue reform with Senators Ryan Deckert (D-Beaverton) and Avel Gordly (I-Portland), and Representative Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland). The town hall will be held at Warner Pacific College, just south of Mt. Tabor. More info here.

Legislative Update

Rainy Day Fund Passes House: Last Thursday, Oregon's House of Representatives made history by voting to establish the state's first rainy day fund. Oregon's rainy day fund will receive its initial funding from a one-time suspension of this year's corporate kicker. The $290 million initial investment will help safeguard schools, human services, and public safety against future economic downturns.

While passage of this bill was a strong first step towards fiscal responsibility, Oregon's Rainy Day fund must grow in order to insulate critical state services against swings in the economic cycle. Ben continues to support asking voters for a permanent repeal of Oregon's one-in-a-nation kicker.

Contraceptive Equity Passes House: On a 49 to 9 vote today, the House passed HB 2700, which expands access to prescription birth control for Oregon women and guarantees access to emergency contraception for victims of rape or incest. Speaking on the floor of the House, Ben told his colleagues:

"Affordable access to contraception is essential to women because it allows them to plan their families and take care of their health.

"Yet, nearly half of all health insurance plans still don't provide this basic coverage, leaving many women to pay out of pocket for these prescriptions.

"Meanwhile, the same insurance companies who deny coverage for this essential part of women's health care provide prescription drug coverage for cosmetics prescriptions...

"Contraceptive equity isn't just about women's health care. It is about the health of our communities. When women have access to basic health care, they are better able to contribute financially, socially and intellectually to their families, their workplaces, and their communities...

"Colleagues, this is an issue of critical importance to women and men in my district and in yours. I urge your aye vote."

After passing the House, HB 2700 is headed to the Oregon Senate.

Other Legislation