Hi friend,
Just a few minutes ago, sitting at my desk on the floor of the House of Representatives, I pushed the little green button to cast a "Yes" vote on a
bill to "re-balance" our budget for the two year budget cycle that ends on June 30.
Due to a steep decline in revenue collection resulting from the nationwide recession, we were forced to make program cuts and spend one-time funds
(including federal stimulus dollars) in our effort to end this year with a balanced budget.
Our vote today will result in fewer state services, and includes significant cuts to some programs that are very important to me. This was not an easy vote to cast.
However, I believe that we rebalanced this budget in a way that is fair, effective, and participatory. I am particularly proud that we managed to
preserve a full school year for most public schools, including Portland Public, which just a few weeks ago planned to end the school year eight days
early.
Today's vote ended a process that began months ago -- when it first became clear that the economy was entering a deep recession.
Throughout the process, public opinion and constituent input has had a significant influence on my perspective and, I believe, the perspective of my
colleagues.
Here's how:
The first question we faced was whether or not to allow the Governor to apply across-the-board cuts in order to deal with the budget hole (his only
option under law). Through constituent correspondence, public testimony, and from what I heard personally from my constituents at town hall
meetings, it became clear to me and others that the Legislature needed to participate in making the tough decisions on what to prioritize, what to
cut, and how to prudently use reserve funds.
Next, as we waited to learn how much money Oregon would receive from the federal stimulus package, the Legislature debated whether state government
should intervene with a stimulus of our own. For the hundreds of participants in my first online dialogue, the answer was clear: over 85% of
participants believe that the state has an important role in turning around our economy via job creation or economic stimulus. On the
strength of public support for a shovel-ready state stimulus package, the Legislature passed a $176 million job creation bill in early February, and
the Governor signed it into law soon after. (Click here to see results from my first online dialogue)
After the US Congress passed the federal stimulus bill, we faced our toughest decisions. How much of it should we spend in the current two year
budget? Should we tap our rainy day funds as well? These decisions were complicated by the fact that revenue predictions for the 09-11
budget cycle continued to worsen. I received a great deal of constituent input on these questions, through email and online dialogues.
The majority of folks who weighed in supported using at least some of our rainy day funds to bridge the funding gap this year, and over 80% of
dialogue participants agreed that the Legislature should "fund education first." (Click here to see the results of my budget dialogue)
The Ways and Means co-chairs (the group of legislators who shape budget bills) submitted an initial budget re-balance proposal that would have
resulted in significant cuts to education. Around the same time, thousands of Oregonians, including many of my constituents, joined Stand for Children
and other organizations for an impressive rally at the Capitol, expressing their support for a full school year. The parents, students, and
teachers who came to lobby me in the Capitol, who attended my town hall meetings and coffee shop conversations, and who corresponded with me via
email, made it clear that losing school days was not an acceptable option.
Largely in response to this outpouring of support, legislators supported a new proposal that added an additional $51 million from Federal stimulus
funds (above and beyond the co-chairs' initial proposal) to help keep schools open for a full school year this spring. That's the bill on which I
voted "Yes" today, and which strikes a balance between funding a full school year and holding some of the one-time money in reserves.
While tough economic times have forced us to make uncomfortable decisions about the budget, I believe that citizen involvement has played a crucial
role in giving legislators the courage to stand up for our core principles, protect Oregon's families in the difficult months ahead, and prepare for
better days to come.
It's hard to believe that this is just the beginning of the legislative session; we'll have many more difficult decisions to make in the weeks ahead.
I hope you'll continue to keep in touch with me.
On
Wednesday, March 18th from 7 to 8 pm, I'll be holding another Coffee Shop Conversation at the Touchstone Coffee House in the
North Tabor/Center neighborhood. Click
here for more details.
On
Thursday, April 2nd, from 7 to 8:30 pm, I'll be hosting my second town hall meeting with State Senator Jackie Dingfelder and
Representative Michael Dembrow at Portland Community College Southeast. Click
here for more details.
Of course, you can always call, email (click here or just reply to this email), or come visit me in Salem.
All the best,
P.S. Today's actions represent a small measure to deal with an immediate fiscal crisis. But this situation makes it clear, yet again, that Oregon's
revenue and spending system needs a long-term overhaul to help ensure that we're not back in this position three, five, or ten years from now. That's
why it's so important that legislators have just introduced a bill that would significantly bolster Oregon's rainy day funds. To read more, click
here.
State Representative Ben Cannon
900 Court St NE
Salem, OR 97301
rep.bencannon@state.or.us
http://www.repbencannon.com
(503)986-1446
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