Governor Kulongoski releases 2009 legislative accomplishments
2009 legislative session marks a time of great challenge and great progress
(Salem) – Today Governor Ted Kulongoski held a press availability to recap the successes of the 2009 legislative session, including his priorities of expanding health care for all children, enacting a transportation plan for the 21st century, taking the next steps to address climate change, and finally creating more fairness in Oregon’s tax structure by increasing the corporate minimum income tax from $10.00.
“When the legislature convened in January, I proposed an ambitious agenda that was immediately challenged by climbing unemployment, declining revenues and great economic uncertainty,” the Governor said. “Working with the legislature, we did not let a declining economy act as an obstacle to adopting good public policy that will ultimately position Oregon for greater success when our economy recovers – which it will.”
Healthy Kids, Healthy Oregon
Covering all Kids and Rebuilding the Oregon Health Plan: By the end of the biennium, 95% of Oregon’s children will have access to health care, and through a renewed effort the state will begin to rebuild the Oregon Health Plan for the low-income Oregonians it was designed to serve. By insuring more Oregonians, we will slow down the increasing costs for treating the uninsured that are now passed on to the more than two million Oregonians who have health insurance. [HB 2116]
Controlling Cost for Oregonians with Insurance: By reducing the uninsured, standardizing and simplifying insurance paperwork, and streamlining all state health services and purchases under one Oregon Health Authority, costs will be lower throughout the health care system. [HB 2116, HB 2009]
Transportation for the 21st Century
Investing in a Transportation System for the 21st Century: The Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act (JTA) represents the state’s largest long-term investment in transportation infrastructure, putting thousands Oregonians to work, while making sustainable and strategic investments in all sectors of our transportation system, including roads, bridges, mass transit, railroads, seaports and airports. [HB 2001, HB 2186, SB 34]
- Providing 40,000 jobs the next ten years. The JTA will put 40,000 Oregonians to work over the next ten years by constructing and reconstructing transportation projects all over Oregon. Not only will this improve our economic competitiveness, but it will enhance Oregon quality of life by making our transportation system safer, more efficient and more multimodal.
- Continuing ConnectOregon. The JTA also continues Oregon’s successful ConnectOregon program that will invest $100 million in lottery bond proceeds in Oregon’s non-highway transportation system, including Oregon’s ports, transit, airport and rail facilities.
- Greenest transportation package in Oregon’s history. Sustainability was a key component of the JTA with development of a least cost planning model, codification of award-winning environmental standards, planning for greenhouse gas emission reduction scenarios, incentives for electric vehicles, permanent funding for passenger rail, authorization for a congestion pricing pilot project and establishment of the Urban Trails Fund for non-motorized transportation.
- Addressing key bottlenecks on our highway system. The JTA will invest nearly $1 billion in highway bond dollars to fund dozens of highway projects throughout the state, including Oregon 99 in Yamhill County, the Sunrise Corridor and Oregon 213 & I-205 in Clackamas County, US 26 in Washington County, the Belt Line interchange in Lane County, Highway 43 at the Sellwood Bridge and Oregon 62 near Medford.
- Provides funding for local governments for their transportation needs. The JTA will provide millions of dollars for cities and counties to improve and maintain local street systems.
Next Steps in Combating Climate Change
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: To ensure Oregon achieves its ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals enacted in 2007, the state will not allow any new conventional coal plants, require fuel providers to reduce the average carbon intensity of fuels sold by 10% over time while providing companies with flexibility to meet the standard through innovation and new technology and give tax credits to Oregonians who purchase plug-in and all-electric vehicles to encourage the transition to zero-emission vehicles. [SB 101, HB 2186, HB 2078]
Increasing Investment in Energy Efficiency: Establishes a new “reach” code structure to give builders advance notice of forthcoming green building codes that will be required for construction of homes and commercial buildings. [SB 79]
Increase Renewable Energy Production in Oregon: A new program will accelerate and expand the use of solar energy in Oregon by paying for the electricity produced by a solar project in a home or small business rather than for the capital investments - making it more affordable to invest in solar energy. And environmentally-approved wave energy pilot projects will be allowed to connect to the grid – providing another zero-emission energy source. [HB 3039, SB195]
Tax Fairness
Passing a Budget Based on Tough Choices and Fairness: Passed a balanced budget that reflected the tough choices forced by economic conditions and a fairer revenue structure, including raising the $10.00 corporate minimum income tax that has not increased since the 1930’s and increasing the tax bracket for highest earning Oregonians making our tax system more progressive and based on an individual’s ability to pay. [HB 3405, HB 2649]
For a full list of accomplishments, click here.
Contacts:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
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