Oregon Lawmakers: Make This One a Session of Hope
Oregon legislators will have more money available for state spending over the next two years. State economists informed members of the House and Senate revenue committees that the state tax collections for the current biennium budget period will be almost $2 billion up from the last forecast in February. At Unite Oregon, we consider this forecast promising as it shows the state’s economy is doing well overall. It also represents an incredible opportunity to continue investing in eliminating the longstanding social and economic inequities that exist in Oregon. Low-income Oregonians, especially BIPOC communities, carried the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their struggle has been exacerbated by inflation and the climate crisis is continuously representing an existential threat to our communities. The 2023 biennium budget presents a vital opportunity to leverage historic federal funding for Oregon and invest in critical public services that will make Oregon communities safer, healthier, more resilient and affordable. Unite Oregon urges lawmakers to consider adopting and fully funding House Bill 2990 and Senate Bill 610. SB 610, Food for All Oregonians, would give access to food to over 62,000 Oregonians who are excluded from food assistance. HB 2990, Community Resilience Hubs, offers an innovative way to address climate inequities. It will allow for the creation of Community Resilience Hubs as places for residents, especially in rural areas, to turn to in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. We also turn to our community members to join forces with us and urge lawmakers to support Community Resilience Hubs.
While there is hope to move forward with ambitious solutions for Oregonians, recession risks still remain, and Oregon’s economy is expected to slow noticeably over the next two years. Unite Oregon urges lawmakers to consider the general reserves (AKA the rainy-day Fund), which has $1.35 billion, to tackle the recession.
The hope of a successful session that introduces concrete solutions hinges on a handful of republican senators who walked out. These senators still do not show any sign of intending to return and must be held accountable for actions.
