State House Dems roll out 'Map' for 2009

Oregon House Majority leaders announced their plans for the 2009 legislative agenda on Monday in what they are calling the "Road Map" to Oregon’s future.

“Looking back on the beginning of the 2007 session, it seemed like the ship of state had been stuck,” House Majority Leader Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas) said. “We felt like we had to get the ship of state unstuck and going back in the right direction.”

Each page of the Road Map booklet features a compass, but, assuming they maintain control of the state legislature after the November elections, the Democrats’ navigational beacons will be focused on five different points: education, health care, new jobs, environment and accountability at the state level.

“We know there will be many issues debated during the next session. This Road Map represents agreement from all 31 House Democrats on issues we will move forward during the session,” said state Rep. Betty Komp (D-Woodburn).

The 2009 Democratic legislative Road Map is made up of 14 legislative priorities classified under those five agenda areas, including attracting jobs in the renewable energy sector and providing every Oregon resident with the opportunity to attend college. The unique thing about this road map, Komp says, is that all 31 Democrats currently in the Oregon House approve of every point.

And while Democratic leaders acknowledge that a lot of Oregonians’ well-being is dependent on lawmakers in Washington, D.C., they have plotted the course to provide help closer to home.

“We can’t completely insulate ourselves from events happening across the country, but we can continue the fiscal responsibility and the targeted investments that have made us one of the healthiest states in the nation as we head toward 2009,” Hunt said. “Frankly, despite the challenges ahead of us, there’s no place we would rather be than right here in Oregon."

State Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland) agreed that even in the face of shrinking budgets, because of the work Oregon Democratic legislators have done the state is in a lot better shape than others, such as California.

“Even though we’re headed into what looks like less than calm revenue waters, we are determined to go forward,” Buckley said.

Democrats also touted their successes during the 2007 legislative session, and accused Republicans of rolling back health and safety measures for Oregonians.

“They had cut state troopers and rolled back health care choices for our citizens. They had refused to enact a Rainy Day Fund to save for our future and they had spent every penny they had,” Hunt said. “We turned the ship of Oregon around last session. We funded education. We doubled the money for Oregon Opportunity Grants for Higher Education. We added 139 state troopers. We helped schools and small businesses by allowing them to pool together to buy health care. We passed legislation to improve health care options for Oregonians on many levels. Now we are ready to continue moving Oregon toward a better future.”

All this hinges on if the Democrats will keep or increase their 31-29 majority in the House. Hunt said that with more Democrats in the house, the more priorities they could adopt. Both Komp and Hunt were optimistic about increasing their number of seats.

“There will definitely be more than 31,” Hunt said.