Rep. Larry Galizio resigns to join Oregon University
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The legislation, which authorizes $6.4 billion annually, would:
- Help improve deteriorating and outdated school buildings, and create more than 100,000 well-paying construction jobs;
- Advance AFT-supported goals promoting green, sustainable schools that enhance learning by providing adequate lighting, improved air quality and good acoustics; and
- Provide an assurance that wage protections under the Davis-Bacon Act are extended to construction projects.
Passage of H.R. 2187 would represent a solid step toward improving schools, both by addressing school conditions that compromise learning and teaching, and by providing the safe and modern schools our children and educators deserve.
Dial 866/327-8670 or click here to call your representative today and tell your U.S. representative to vote for the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act when it is considered on the House floor later this week.
Thanks for your advocacy on this important issue.
Proposed full-time benefits for part-time teachers who work at multiple schools, benefits for veterans at public universities and a requirement that minorities be interviewed for vacant head coaching positions are among legislation under consideration.
The legislature appears to favor many bills that impact PCC positively, but their decisions will likely come down to money at a time when few dollars are available.
This year’s legislative session, in which the House and Senate set state policy that will remain in place for at least two years, is scheduled to conclude its six-month course in June.
No other legislation is expected to be introduced. The legislature will not gather again until July 2011, barring special sessions.
Here are some of the bills under consideration:
Teacher’s benefits
House Bill 2557 would require that benefits generally available for full-time faculty at public universities and colleges be granted to part-time and adjunct faculty who work at more than one school. Eligible faculty would be required to work the equivalent of full-time employee who works at a single school. The bill is garnering strong support in the legislature, but may not pass in the face of a severe revenue shortfall.
Oregon Opportunity Grant
Governor Ted Kulongoski showed strong opposition to House Bill 2949, which would make Oregon Opportunity Grant dollars available for students attending for-profit schools. Grant money is intended for students who could otherwise not afford a college education. The bill is expected to face a swift defeat in the current session. “The governor has indicated he would not like to see any changes to the opportunity grant.”
Veteran support
House Bill 2178 aims to create a program to place a full-time aide to assist veterans at public higher education campuses statewide. Called a veterans affairs officer, the aide would be tasked with ensuring veterans have the resources necessary to succeed in school. The bill is gaining momentum, and some say it would likely get a unanimous vote if legislators were not wrangling with a budget deficit. House Bill 2571 proposes in-state tuition for veterans regardless of where they officially reside, but it faces similar budgetary scrutiny.
Minority coaches
House Bill 3118 would require at least one interview of a minority for any vacant head coaching position. The law would require few additional dollars and is expected to pass.
Cutting costs
Senate Bill 442 proposes that the Oregon University System conduct a study to pinpoint areas where higher education could save money. Consolidating schools and a switch from a quarter to semester system are among possible areas of review. The bill was approved by the house committee and awaits review by the state’s budgetary committee, called the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Dental rights
Portland State is technically barred from operating its dental clinic because of a law that legislators are aiming to change. The law was designed to prevent entrepreneurs from separating the dentist and patient relationship. It bars anyone except registered dentists, some labor unions and local government from operating a clinic. Portland State University would be forced to shut down its dental clinic without an amendment to the law that would give this right to public universities, which is expected to pass with overwhelming support.
Click here for Salem, Oregon legislative update
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As you may know,
Cascade Campus hosted a special traveling session of the Oregon
Legislature’s Joint Ways & Means Committee in the Moriarty
Auditorium. This session offered citizens a chance to speak directly to
the lawmakers responsible for shaping the state’s budget and spending
priorities.
Our struggling economy is having an
impact on the level at which the state is able to support community
colleges. Tom Worth, Director of Legislative Affairs for Cascade ASPCC,
testified before the committee on the importance of community
colleges to the people of Oregon, and on the need for the state to support
them as robustly as possible. PCCFFAP President Eddie Lincoln testified as
well. While a number of administrators and instructors testified, it
was disappointing that no student has an opportunity to address the
legislators. Tom Worth did
collect written accounts from students who depend on state funds to help
them attend PCC, as well as from those who rely on the affordability,
accessibility, and availability of PCC to advance their education, but it
would seem to have been prudent to have received testimony from the students
themselves since they are our clients.
Tim Flanagan, PCCFFAP Publicist
HARKER, HOLVEY, HUNT, and TOMEI.
This bill imposes a new 11% top tax bracket on incomes over $250,000/year for an individual.
This way the burden can be shared, rather than the middle class picking up the bulk of the costs.
The bill also increases the level at which the income tax first kicks in. This means for those who
don't have income over $250,000, taxes will decrease slightly. This is a progressive tax that Oregon
needs. It is a tax break for the middle class and a more equitable sharing of expenses.
Please write or email your Oregon state representative, calling on them to support this bill.
The text of the bill can be found at http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3200.dir/hb3272.intro.pdf.
You can locate you state representative here: Contact Elected Officials
or if you are really inspired write a letter to the editor, get active!
Here is the state access page for legislators: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
Multi-Search (Portland, Oregon Friendly search )
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