Today we joined thousands of Oregonians rallying to protect funding for schools, health care, and public safety.
Casey Neill and the Norway Rats played an awesome set, many workers on the front lines of Oregon's critical services spoke about what these budget cuts mean to them. In the words of Ken Allen of AFSCME, "We are better when we're together, and we're staying together."
Many people who couldn't make it joined the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, as you can see below.
Election postmortems continue, with pundits weighing in with their opinions on why some elections went the way they did. An editorial in the Register Guard uses the Fern Ridge school measures to point out how difficult things are for small, rural districts. Under proposed state budget cuts, their budgets are going to be slashed, and local voters don't appear willing to vote for measures that would make up for the lost funding.
New maps are unveiled as the redistricting process moves forward. In an interesting legal strategy, Republicans have filed a lawsuit over the redistricting plan...before there even IS a plan.
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The weather is warming up just in time for this Friday’s rally in Salem! Mostly sunny and 72 degrees is the perfect backdrop for rallying to protect Oregon’s schools, health care, and jobs. We can’t wait to see you there.
For weeks, Oregonians have been standing up and speaking out against proposed budget cuts that would devastate our communities. Oregonians like you and me have demanded that legislators fight to protect the schools and services that middle-class families depend on.
It’s all been leading up to this.
Join us as we speak out loudly to protect the things that make our state great: schools, care for seniors and people with disabilities, public safety, and our natural environment. Legislators need to protect Oregon’s middle class, not give away tax breaks that only benefit corporations and the rich.
The Better Way Rally will have music, food, fun, and the opportunity to join thousands of other Oregonians in a history-making event. Go here for more details and to get signed up.
Our Oregon will be posting photos and videos during the event on Twitter and Facebook. We need you to help tell the story of this historic event by finding us and sharing at twitter.com/ouroregon and facebook.com/ouroregon.
Will you be at the event, with Twitter-capable phone or computer in hand? Use the Twitter hashtag #betterwayrally so that we can use the Twitter feeds to document what happens at the rally.
What: Rally for A Better Way for Oregon
When: Friday, May 20, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Front steps of the State Capitol, Salem
Any questions? Let us know.
While some of the high profile local measures had mixed results in last night's vote count, 20 local measures around the state were approved by voters to fund local schools, critical services, and public safety improvements.
Oregon's improving economy gets more ink, while The Atlantic takes a look at a larger question, using recent data from the Council on State Taxation: Do taxes affect business decisions? (The answer is no, not really.)
In March, Wisconsin’s state capitol became a flashpoint in the battle over the future of the middle class. As Gov. Walker and his corporate CEO backers attacked working people with one hand and gave away millions to corporations and the rich with the other hand, people like you and me all around the country stood up and said “Not on our watch!”
This Friday, thousands of Oregonians and dozens of advocacy groups will come to the Oregon state capitol to rally against budget cuts and to stand up for the middle class. We’ll be there, and we want you to join us.
What: Rally for A Better Way for Oregon
When: Friday, May 20, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Front steps of the State Capitol, Salem
This will be a landmark event in the current budget debate. Make sure you’re a part of this historic event and add your voice to the growing chorus calling for a Better Way Forward.
It’s time to let our elected leaders know that our state budget needs to reflect the values and priorities shared by most Oregonians: schools, health care, public safety, and other critical services. The message is loud and clear: Do not balance the budget on the backs of those who’ve been hurt most by this recession.
We need to stand up for middle-class families and against new tax breaks for large corporations and the rich.
Will you stand with us to deliver this message? Go here to sign up now, and we’ll see you this Friday as we make history.
To make it easier to get to Salem, some people are meeting up for buses or carpools. To find out more, visit SEIU’s website.
Here’s a list of the organizations who’ve signed on to be a part of this event, with more being added!
Oregon PTA
AARP Oregon
Oregon Nurses Association
Children First for Oregon
Human Services Coalition of Oregon
Portland Fire Fighters Association Local 43
Rev. Ryan Lambert, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Advocacy Coalition of Seniors and People with Disabilities
Rural Organizing Project
Basic Rights Oregon
Jobs with Justice Portland
KBOO Radio
Tax Fairness Oregon
Alliance for Democracy
Full Life - Companions for People with Potential
Oregon AFL-CIO
Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Oregon
ILWU Local 8
Oregon Education Association
Oregon AFSCME
Oregon Women's Rights Coalition
CWA Local 7901
Jobs with Justice - Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network
Oregon Fair Trade
PCUN
Unite HERE Local 9
MoveOn Portland
US Uncut / PDX Uncut
Northwest Workers' Justice Project
NW Oregon Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
LIUNA Local 483
Oregon Student Association
The Rev. Chuck Currie, Minister, United Church of Christ
Association of Engineering Employees
Climate Justice Portland
Economic Justice Action Group, First Unitarian Church of Portland
Jobs with Justice - Southern Oregon
Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP)
MoveOn-Salem Keizer (SKMO)
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 82
Rev. Lynne Smouse Lopez, Ainsworth United Church of Christ
AFT-Oregon
Center for Intercultural Organizing
Economic Fairness Oregon
Our Oregon
PSU-AAUP
Right To Survive
Sisters of the Road
CAUSA
Jobs with Justice Mid-Willamette Valley
Bus Project
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
UFCW - Local 555
Ecunmenical Ministries of Oregon
Young Oregon Democrats of America (YODA)
It's Election Day! If you haven't already dropped off your ballot, you have until 8pm tonight to get it in.
Speaking of... many local communities around the state are anxiously awaiting the results of local levies on their ballots. The measures would help to limit the deepest cuts to schools, health services, and public safety that will otherwise be devastating, especially to smaller, rural communities.
Meanwhile, the economic news for the state continues to improve, with unemployment numbers dropping into the single digits. That's good news, unless you're a corporate lobbyist trying to argue for big tax breaks on capital gains.
More organizations have signed on to the budget rally/picnic happening this Friday at the capitol building. See the list and more details here.
Monday!
On Friday, dozens of organizations will be rallying on the Capitol steps to urge lawmakers to pass a state budget that protects schools and critical services. Thousands are expected to attend for the rally and picnic afterward. You can sign up here.
Budget cuts continue to come closer into focus, with the Oregonian reporting on the devastating cuts proposed to services for people with disabilities, and the Register Guard looking into what will happen to the school year in Eugene if the local tax measure doesn't pass.
Reminder: Ballots are due by 8pm tomorrow. Need help finding a ballot-drop location? See here.
Happy Friday! Dominating the news is coverage from yesterday's Revenue Forecast, including response from legislators and advocacy organizations. While House Democrats continue to call for reserve funds to be used to limit cuts to schools, human services, and public safety, House Republicans continue to argue for holding aside more funds.
Forecast dulls budget ax, state economists project $129 million more
Register Guard
"A modest boost in projected Oregon state government revenue may allow the Legislature to somewhat lessen some of the proposed curbs to state spending over the next two years, state economists announced Thursday. But the slight revenue bump — which amounts to less than 1 percent of the proposed roughly $14.7 billion biennial budget — means lawmakers and the governor still face a tough task as they try to balance surging expenses against revenues that are not increasing as quickly."
Oregon's fiscal forecast offers breathing room
Statesman Journal
"With $129 million more projected Thursday for state coffers in the next two years, Oregon lawmakers and interest groups are set to begin the scramble for the last remaining money in the state budget. Although most people say that priority for the extra money should go to human services and public safety — as Gov. John Kitzhaber and legislative leaders agreed earlier this week — House Democrats and a coalition of education, labor and social-services groups urged lawmakers to draw more from other reserves."
State unions cautiously hopeful about budget news
Statesman Journal
"Officials from state workers' unions struggled Thursday to predict how a meager predicted increase in Oregon tax revenue will affect the final stage of this year's labor negotiations. On the one hand, the relatively small revenue increase of $129 million means that the state will not have to pursue even deeper cuts to its 2011-13 budget. 'There's a lot of confidence that not every revenue forecast is going to be down,' said Arthur Towers, political director for Service Employees International Union Local 503. 'It gives a general boost to the confidence that we're moving in the right direction.'"
Oregon economic forecast looks brighter
KOHD
"The latest economic forecast for Oregon was released Thursday morning. Those numbers reveal a better-than-expected forecast between 2011 and 2013. The state economist says lawmakers should have an extra $130 million at their disposal over the next couple of years. Still though, economists say it's best to be cautiously optimistic."
$130M more in state income next budget
KGW
"Oregon will have more money to spend in its next two-year budget than previously anticipated, state economists said Thursday in an announcement likely to ease expected cuts to social safety net programs. Economists released their quarterly revenue forecast, projecting the state will take in an additional $130 million in revenue during the two-year budget cycle that begins July 1, due in large part to a boost in personal income tax collections."
EDITORIAL: Rising revenue shouldn't trigger a spending spree
Register Guard
"Oregon received some good news Thursday after two years of steady gloom. The state’s chief economist reported that an economic recovery has taken firm hold, with strong growth in jobs and incomes. The result is an upward revision of $129 million in projected revenues for the two-year budget period that begins in July. Legislators should resist the temptation to spend the money. The temptation will be strong. The Legislature already has approved a $5.7 billion budget for public schools — more than Gov. John Kitzhaber proposed, but still not enough to prevent school closures, furloughs and layoffs in school districts across Oregon. Reductions in programs that provide health care, public safety and services to the elderly and the disabled are in the works."
EDITORIAL: Better days are coming
Oregonian
"*-New state revenue forecast shows promising signs of economic growth, enabling lawmakers to close the biggest gaps in Oregon's safety net. The Legislature is so fixated on plugging holes in the budgets of state government and schools that it couldn't even muster a collective smile Thursday at the first truly optimistic economic report it has heard in almost three years. That's because the much-anticipated forecast delivered by state economist Tom Potiowsky didn't bring the large infusion of unanticipated revenue that many lawmakers had hoped. Instead, it brought mixed news of a shortfall in the current budget and a relatively small bump of $128 million for 2011-13. That's disappointing, but it shouldn't obscure the clear signs in the report that the Oregon economy finally is gathering strength again after its long, steep decline."
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Our Oregon joined nine other organizations this morning in responding to the Revenue Forecast. Here's the joint statement.
This morning, the latest Economic and Revenue Forecast was released, showing that Oregon will bring in $128.8 million more for the 2011-13 budget period than previously expected. That is great news, as it will mean more funding available for schools, colleges, and critical services, like senior care, children’s services, and public safety.
As a coalition representing Oregonians of all walks of life, we strongly believe that this funding should be used to protect the priorities and values that all Oregonians share.
That means using these funds now to limit cuts to schools and services that the middle class depends on, like long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, clean air and water monitoring, and youth correctional facilities, which keep our communities safe.
These funds should not be used to fund tax breaks that primarily benefit those who are still prospering, even in this troubled economy. In addition to taking a critical look at the tax breaks that are currently on the books, legislators should refuse to vote for new tax giveaways for the well off.
For weeks, legislators have been hearing from people around the state, who’ve shared powerfully moving stories about how budget cuts will affect them and their families. Oregon’s elected leaders should take these stories to heart and vote to protect those families who’ve been hit the hardest by this recession.
How we respond to this economic crisis is a test of who we are as a people. We urge Oregon’s leaders to stand up for middle-class families and protect the schools and services we all value.
Signed,
AARP Oregon
Children First for Oregon
Our Oregon
Oregon PTA
SEIU
Oregon Health Care Association
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Oregon Education Association
AFSCME Local
AFT-Oregon
It's Thursday. The May Revenue Forecast was released this morning, showing that the state will have $128.8 million more than previously expected for the 2011-13 budget. Advocates from a wide variety of service areas released a joint statement calling on legislators to use the additional funds to protect middle-class services.
Statements about the revenue forecast:
Coalition of advocates
House Democrats
House Republicans
Senate Republicans
Senate President's office
Democrats and Republicans both released redistricting maps yesterday, while the impacts of budget cuts come into clearer focus, particularly for rural Oregon.
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