SALEM – Oregon Senate Democrats welcomed news from the Attorney General’s office this morning that Oregon will sign on to a multi-state agreement with five of the nation’s largest banks. The settlement addresses concerns about systemic fraud in the foreclosure and mortgage systems brought to light over the last several years.

“This settlement is welcome news for many thousands of Oregonians who have lost their homes or are facing foreclosure,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “But our work is not done. This settlement will set quality standards for the largest lenders, but further legislative action is needed to protect all homeowners and set standards for the wide range of lenders that participate in Oregon’s marketplace.”

While today’s settlement is a breakthrough in addressing the foreclosure crisis, it does not apply to all lenders and does not provide help to the thousands of Oregonians who are already at risk of foreclosure. Senate Democrats have introduced two bills this session that will help homeowners facing foreclosure. Senate Bill 1564 would eliminate the dual-track process in which banks that are in the process of negotiating a mortgage modification with a homeowner are simultaneously pursuing foreclosure.

“Anyone driving around my district can see that we have a crisis on our hands when it comes to people losing their homes,” said Deputy Majority Leader Alan Bates (D-Medford), a chief sponsor on both foreclosure bills. “We need to act this session to help middle class families who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.”

The other bill introduced in the Senate, SB 1552, is based on pre-foreclosure mediation programs that have proved successful in 21 other states. The bill would allow homeowners to meet with their lender in the presence of a neutral third party before a lender can proceed with a foreclosure sale. Advocates hope that a portion of the state settlement money will be used to build and operate a mediation program modeled after those utilized in other states.

“We need a system that clearly outlines the rules for struggling homeowners and their lenders,” said Senator Lee Beyer (D-Springfield), also a chief sponsor on both foreclosure bills. “Too many Oregon families are at risk of losing everything.  This bill will establish clear communication and basic fairness for Oregon homeowners.”

The terms of the multistate agreement announced this morning include apply to nation’s five largest loan servicers: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank and Ally Financial. For eligible borrowers, these terms include:

• Principal reduction;
• Enhanced opportunities to refinance or modify a loan;
• Payments to certain borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure;
• Payments to participating states to fund foreclosure prevention programs;
• Nationwide reforms to servicing standards; and
• Enforcement provisions with strict penalties to assure compliance

Oregonians can find more information about the settlement announced this morning at: http://www.doj.state.or.us/homeowners/faqs.shtml

SALEM –Members of the Oregon Senate Democratic Caucus signed on to a letter to Congress today urging swift action on an extension of unemployment benefits for those who continue to struggle with finding work in the wake of the global recession. Oregon’s unemployment rate for November, released this morning, was the lowest in three years at 9.1 percent, but too many Oregonians continue to look for work. Federal benefits to help them are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts.

“These extensions provide much-needed assistance, helping families keep food on the table and a roof over their heads while they continue looking for work,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland) “Oregon has suffered more than many states in the wake of the worldwide economic meltdown. While we are starting to see more encouraging signs in our recovery, 9.1 percent is still too high. These benefits help Oregonians survive while they’re working to find a job.”

During the 2011 Legislative Session, Rosenbaum was a chief sponsor of Senate Bills 637 and 638, two bills that allowed for an extension of unemployment insurance benefits to many Oregonians who continue to struggle with finding work. Both bills received unanimous support from Senate Democrats.

“Unemployment benefits not only help families make ends meet, they help communities prosper,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham). “These dollars go straight into local economies in the form of rent, groceries, and other essentials. If Congress fails to act, it would be detrimental to everyone’s economic recovery.”

The letter to Congress, originated by the AFL-CIO, outlines the necessity of unemployment benefits for workers who are unable to find work.  Joining Senators Rosenbaum and Monnes Anderson in the letter to Congress are:

Senate President Peter Courtney

Senate President Pro Tempore Ginny Burdick

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Alan Bates

Senator Lee Beyer

Senator Richard Devlin

Senator Jackie Dingfelder

Senator Mark Hass

Senator Rod Monroe

Senator Chip Shields

Senator Floyd Prozanski

Senator Joanne Verger

“Today’s forecast further demonstrates that we continue to face uncertain times in Oregon. Senate Democrats recognize that middle class families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet. This volatility on Wall Street and in Europe means we must diligently monitor the economic situation while we prepare for budget adjustments in the upcoming February session.”

“This forecast is one piece of the puzzle as legislative leaders and budget writers to work together to create a plan for the February session. The forecast we receive in February will make clear what we have to work with as we re-balance the state budget while fighting to protect the essential services Oregonians rely on – our schools, services to the most vulnerable, and the safety of our communities. Just as we do every session, we will fight to protect middle class families and small businesses when the Legislature reconvenes in February.”

SALEM – Two Senate Interim Committees have small business support and job growth on the agenda for the first of three September Legislative days being held in Salem today. The committees will hear from experts on how to grow Oregon jobs and help small businesses prosper.

“Job creation and business growth continue to be the top priority for Senate Democrats and for Oregon families,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “We are focused this interim on proposals to help Oregon’s struggling families and small business owners. When we convene in February 2012, job creation will continue to be at the top of our agenda.”

This morning, the Senate Interim Committee on General Government, Small Business, and Consumer Protection heard from business owners located in Northeast Portland and McMinnville. They spoke of how small business loans and assistance through the state can continue to help home grown businesses prosper and create jobs.

“These business owners have a firsthand perspective that is crucial to our conversations about how to revitalize our economy,” said Senator Chip Shields (D-Portland), chair of the General Government, Small Business, and Consumer Protection Committee. “We’ll be hearing from local businesses over the months leading up to the 2012 session to better understand how we can work in partnership to make it easier for them to create jobs.”

Following this morning’s testimony, the Senate Interim Committee on Business, Transportation and Economic Development will meet at 2:00 this afternoon to take testimony on several key pieces of the Senate Democrats’ successful 2011 agenda. Items included in that discussion include:

• “One stop shop” for Oregon business registry (HB 3247) – Directs the Secretary of State to create and maintain a “One Stop Shop for Oregon Business” web portal to help businesses start, expand, relocate, or operate in Oregon. Business owners will be able to update, maintain, and track progress on their registration information online through this portal.

• Streamlining industrial lands permitting to accelerate growth and create jobs (SB 766) – Establishes an expedited process for approving significant industrial development projects throughout the state. Senate Bill 766 assures that proposed industrial projects with the greatest jobs potential are able to get fast and definitive approvals for required state and local land use approvals.

• Removing barriers for Oregon’s small businesses, creating jobs (SB 494) — Removes barriers to loans and capital for Oregon’s small businesses by removing the sunset and making permanent the changes in the Access to Business Capital Act, passed by the Legislature in February 2010. This bill frees up hard-to-come-by business capital and has already helped create hundreds of jobs across Oregon.

The Committee will hear from statewide elected officials, including Secretary of State Kate Brown and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler. Brown will be on hand to discuss the the implementation of the “One Stop Shop” legislation and Wheeler will testify on the state’s work to expand access to capital for Oregon businesses.

“We passed significant legislation in the recent session that will help make it easier to do business in Oregon,” said Senator Lee Beyer (D-Springfield), chair of the Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee. “Legislative oversight is key to making sure that our intentions are followed and that legislation is being implemented effectively and efficiently. This hearing gives us the first such opportunity to see what kind of progress we’re making.”

The Business, Transportation and Economic Development committee will meet at 2:00 PM this afternoon in Hearing Room B. The meeting can be streamed live here.

Legislative days are being held three times prior to the start of the 2012 short session. The consolidation of interim work over designated three day periods was implemented in 2009 to save taxpayer dollars and improve government efficiency while the Legislature is not in session.

SALEM – Senate Democrats released today summaries of their accomplishments for the 2011 legislative session. The issue areas span a range of topics including Helping Oregon Families, Jobs and Economic Development, Health Care, Education, Public Safety, and several other important policy areas.

“Oregon Senate Democrats faced the state’s financial challenges this session with a clear set of priorities: growing jobs, protecting our children’s future, and looking out for the most vulnerable,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “In tough times, we never forgot whose side we’re on: the side of middle class Oregonians, struggling families, and our most vulnerable.”

Rosenbaum pointed to legislation like the “Cool Schools” bill, the bottle bill expansion, and the historic agreements on both legislative and congressional redistricting maps as prime examples of legislative collaboration during the session. She noted legislation to extend unemployment insurance, provide loans for small businesses, protect homeowners facing foreclosure, and funding for early childhood education as key examples of Senate Democrats’ 2011 legislative priorities.

The customary “end-of-session binder” created by the caucus office at the completion of each session can be found at this link: http://www.leg.state.or.us/senatedemocrats/2011_accomplishments.pdf

The end of session checklist, outlining caucus agenda bills can be found here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/senatedemocrats/2011_agenda_checklist.pdf

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For more information on the Senate Majority Caucus, please visit www.orsenatemajority.org

“This Legislature achieved remarkable things, which hadn’t been accomplished in decades,” Courtney said. “From redistricting to updating the bottle bill, Legislators didn’t sit on the sidelines. Nobody got everything they wanted. Where we could find consensus, we took action. Where we struggled, we still moved the ball forward.”

Evenly divided House

Courtney praised the work of Co-Speakers Arnie Roblan and Bruce Hanna who presided over an evenly divided House and said willingness of lawmakers to work with members of both parties and both chambers contributed to the success of the session.

“These are unbelievably partisan times in our country. Oregon lawmakers in both the House and Senate recognized the magnitude of the challenge created by an evenly divided chamber. They put aside their partisan differences and focused on getting the people’s work complete,” said Courtney, who presided over an evenly divided Senate in 2003.

Top accomplishments

The Senate President said the list of legislative accomplishments doesn’t end with the creation of an insurance marketplace that will provide 350,000 Oregonians with access to affordable, quality health care; and critical reforms that will change the way education is financed and governed from early childhood learning to post graduate studies.

Other significant accomplishments in the 2011 session include:

• Expansion of Oregon’s landmark bottle bill to include more beverage containers and create regional redemption centers;
• Reforms that will allow the state’s universities the autonomy to better serve students and operate more efficiently;
• Additional education reforms which increase the state’s investment in early childhood education,  remodel the state’s troubled system of Education Service Districts and encourage schools to offer full-day kindergarten;
• Creation of the Cool Schools program which will finance money-saving energy efficiency projects in Oregon classrooms and create thousands of jobs;
• Targeted land use law changes that will create jobs by streamlining the development of industrial lands;
• Expediting approval for linear projects like roads, extending water and sewer lines and construction of power lines for electricity distribution;
• Creation of a “One Stop Shop” Business Portal and Registry to help businesses start, expand, relocate, or operate in Oregon by providing easy access to important business registration information and resources in one place;
• Accountability reforms that change the way agencies evaluate staffing needs and require state agencies to report back the Legislature about progress made in response to official performance audits;
• And passage of both Legislative and Congressional redistricting plans for the first time in nearly a century.

Budget

Courtney said balancing the state budget in the face of $3.5 billion revenue shortfall was a remarkable achievement which shouldn’t be overlooked.

“We kept funding for K-12 schools stable. We did the best we could to protect our seniors and the disabled. We managed to keep the bad guys behind bars and our state police on the road,” Courtney said.

Annual sessions

The 76^th Oregon Legislative Assembly adjourned its odd-year session Thursday after just 153 days (including the 3 organizational days in January), equaling the shortest regular session since 1971. By comparison, both the 2003 and 2005 sessions lasted for more than 200 days and sessions have averaged 192 days since 1999.

Courtney said much of the credit for the shorter session goes to Oregon voters who approved moving to annual sessions in Measure 71 in 2010.

“Annual sessions created a different mindset,” Courtney said. “We know we’re coming back for 35 days starting in February 2012. We know we can adjust the budget. We know we can tackle new challenges. We know the February session gives us another chance to reach the finish line on issues we couldn’t settle in this session.”

“Oregon Senate Democrats faced the state’s financial challenges this session with a clear set of priorities: growing jobs, protecting our children’s future, and looking out for the most vulnerable.  Like most Oregonians, we understand the importance of doing more with less. This session, we took this challenge on as we worked to make Oregon a better place to own a small business and raise a family.”

“This session’s budget challenges gave us an opportunity to change the way government works for the people of Oregon. Despite tremendous obstacles, we balanced the budget, passed many jobs and economic development measures, and approved some of the most significant reforms in our state’s history. From health care to higher education to tax credits, the amount of monumental work that was completed in 153 days to improve Oregon’s future is noteworthy and commendable.”

“In tough times, we worked across the aisle while never forgetting whose side we’re on: the side of middle class Oregonians, struggling families, and our most vulnerable. Legislation like the “Cool Schools” bill, the bottle bill expansion, and the historic agreements on both legislative and congressional redistricting maps are shining examples of collaboration. At the same time, we fought for unemployment extensions, loans for small businesses, protections for homeowners, and funding for early childhood education.”

“When we return in February, Senate Democrats will maintain their commitment to improving our economy and looking out for those struggling to get ahead. We are confident of our track record this session and confident of our ability to get the job done in future sessions.”

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]]> http://www.orsenatemajority.org/media/statement-senate-majority-leader-diane-rosenbaum/feed 0 http://www.orsenatemajority.org/press-releases/health-care-transformation-bill-receives-senate-support http://www.orsenatemajority.org/press-releases/health-care-transformation-bill-receives-senate-support#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:41:52 +0000 admin http://www.orsenatemajority.org/?p=2581 HB 3650 will transform Oregon’s Health Care system

SALEM – The Oregon Senate approved landmark legislation this evening that creates a new approach to health care, improving the way Oregon serves the state’s 600,000 Medicaid beneficiaries while also cutting costs. HB 3650, often called the Health Care Transformation bill, is the product of many health care experts, the public, and a bipartisan group of legislators who met weekly throughout session with the goal of achieving better health outcomes by integrating and coordinating health care and using a global budget to control costs.

“By coordinating physical health care with mental health, addiction services, and oral health, this bill will save money, save lives, and redirect the state’s focus to smart, preventative care,” said Senator Alan Bates (D-Medford), a practicing family physician of 35 years who helped lead the transformation movement from its inception. “This transformation will keep more Oregonians out of costly emergency room visits for chronic conditions and allow patients to receive better, more comprehensive care.”

HB 3650 is the blueprint for a new delivery system that will provide care to Medicaid beneficiaries through locally accountable coordinated care organizations (CCOs). The CCOs will be responsible for managing fixed global budgets to provide health care to individuals within each CCO’s area. The CCO criteria that will be established include:

• Provide choice, independence, and dignity;
• Provide assistance in navigating the health care delivery system and accessing community and social supports;
• Provide services that are geographically located as close as possible to where their members reside; and
• Provide a choice of providers within the CCO’s network, including specialty providers.

“This transformation of how health care is provided in Oregon will save taxpayer dollars while providing greater comprehensive and preventative care for low-income and elderly Oregonians,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), a retired public health nurse who chaired the Special Joint Committee on Healthcare Transformation. “This is a major step toward addressing the spiraling costs of health care that have put tremendous pressure on all other public services.”

Together with SB 99, creating Oregon’s Health Insurance Exchange, the health care transformation bill is critical to streamlining health care, lowering costs by coordinating care, and ensuring access for more individuals and small businesses. These health care reforms are a major piece of closing Oregon’s $3.5 billion budget gap for the biennium.

“These are significant measures that build on Senate Democrats’ work over several sessions to expand access to affordable health care for all Oregonians,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “During the 2007 and 2009 sessions, we made monumental progress toward expanding access to health care while addressing the systemic flaws that drive up costs. Today, we take another major step forward in addressing the health care crisis that affects all Oregon families and small businesses.”

The Legislature will closely monitor the transformation effort and, if it works as anticipated, it could be a model for reducing costs and improve care beyond the Medicaid system.  The bill now goes to the Governor.

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For more information on the Senate Majority Caucus, please visit www.orsenatemajority.org

Congressional redistricting is required every 10 years to account for shifts in population. Earlier this month, the Legislature adopted a Legislative redistricting map that was signed into law by the Governor.

“This congressional agreement is the capstone of a historic session on redistricting,” said Representative Shawn Lindsay (R-Hillsboro), co-chair of the House Redistricting Committee. “The congressional plan is the product of bipartisan negotiation, perseverance and compromise. It ensures that all Oregonians will have equal representation in Washington, D.C. over the next 10 years.”

“I am pleased that once again we have defied the odds and agreed on a Congressional redistricting map that will provide us with a bipartisan path forward in meeting our constitutional duty. It’s a great way to end a productive legislative session,” said Representative Chris Garrett (D-Lake Oswego), co-chair of the House Redistricting Committee.

“This is another example of what the legislature can accomplish when Republicans and Democrats work together.  This map is a result of a lot of hard work and thoughtful compromise.  As a result we now have legislative and congressional districts that I believe can give every Oregonian good representation,” said Senator Chris Telfer (R-Bend), vice-chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee. “This agreement also avoids spending more than a million dollars of taxpayer money in court litigating this issue.  One million dollars can go a long way towards helping vulnerable Oregonians in these tough times.”

“For the first time in nearly a century, we have found bipartisan agreement on a map to ensure fair, Congressional representation for all Oregonians,” said Senator Lee Beyer (D-Springfield), who led negotiations for Senate Democrats on the Congressional map.  “This is an amazing bipartisan achievement. I am proud of the Redistricting Committee for their hard work on this historic compromise.”

Senate Bill 990 will be considered by the Joint Redistricting Committee at 5 p.m. today and is expected to be heard on both Senate and House floors on Thursday. The proposed Congressional redistricting map can be found at State of Oregon Redistricting Information or http://www.leg.state.or.us/redistricting/.

SALEM – Landmark legislation that implements sweeping reform of Oregon’s tax credit system was approved in the Senate this afternoon. HB 3672 will rein in over a dozen tax credits, saving the state $368 million between now and 2017.

“Every dollar we save on a tax credit is a dollar that can go to our classrooms, our most vulnerable, or other worthwhile causes. This bill keeps intact the incentives that create jobs and help Oregonians, while ending those that are outdated or infeasible in this economic climate,” said Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland), Senate Co-chair of the Joint Committee on Tax Credits. “We recognized that our tax credit system was out of control last session. This bill is the next step in reframing the conversation about how to use tax incentives for the greatest good.”

In 2009, Senate Democrats approved HB 2067, establishing a uniform treatment of most income and corporate excise tax credits by assigning each credit one of three sunset dates. These sunsets prompted the Legislature to convene a joint committee this session to closely examine the benefits – particularly with respect to job creation – of each incentive. Combined with a measure earlier this session to bring greater transparency to the tax credit system, this session has seen the greatest sea change in tax credit policy in years.

“We went back to the drawing board this session when it comes to tax credits,” said Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), a member of the Joint Committee. “We’ve increased transparency, re-tooled credits to increase their impact, and ended incentives that aren’t meeting their intended goals. This is the most significant change in how the state evaluates and offers tax credits in decades.”

The Joint Committee examined the full spectrum of tax credits, choosing to allow half of the credits scheduled to expire this year under HB 2067 to do so, and made policy changes designed to ensure taxpayers get the biggest possible bang for the buck.  For example, HB 3672:

• Streamlines and focuses the Business Energy Tax Credit by replacing it with three smaller credits for conservation, renewables, and transportation. The changes save about $9.5 million in the next biennium and ensure that Oregon continues to invest in green tech projects that create jobs.
• Extends the sunset on the research & development credit while also reducing the amount of the credit. These changes save $800,000 in the next biennium while maintaining an incentive for businesses to invest in research, a key driver of high wage jobs in Oregon’s economy.
• Restructures the residential energy tax credit by allowing the Oregon Department of Energy to reduce the incentive for solar electric and fuel cell systems according to market conditions, raising requirements for eligible appliances, and requiring precertification for the third-parties who install solar devices in residences. The bill also eliminates alternative fuel vehicles from eligibility. These changes improve accountability within the program and target funds to the most effective investments in home energy efficiency. Savings are $7.6 million in the next biennium.

HB 3672 now goes to the Governor for his consideration.

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For more information on the Senate Majority Caucus, please visit www.orsenatemajority.org