Posts Tagged ‘Senator Diane Rosenbaum’

SALEM – Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum released the following statement this morning following the release of the December 2011 Revenue Forecast:

“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.”

Small business owners, state leaders testify on legislation from recent session

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.

End-of-session report details policy successes in a wide range of areas

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

SALEM – Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum released the following statement this afternoon following the adjournment sine die of the 76^th Legislative Assembly:

“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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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.

Continue reading “Health Care Transformation bill receives Senate support” »