“Nothing is more important to Senate Democrats this session than making sure that we’re creating jobs for Oregonians. However, there is no such thing as a magic wand that will instantly erase unemployment and make the challenges Oregon’s families face disappear.”

“Instead, we have to continue working toward recovery. We will do that by making sure those struggling most don’t fall through the cracks and using whatever legislative resources available to get Oregonians back to work.”

“Senate Bill 1017 will help small businesses on Main Streets across Oregon access capital to grow and create jobs. At the same time, we will continue to monitor the job creation programs passed last session to make sure they’re putting people back to work and using resources efficiently.”

“Our priorities are reflected by the first bill we moved through the Senate, giving immediate help to Oregonians who are struggling most. Over 18,000 Oregonians will be able to feed their families and pay rent because of the unemployment insurance extension we passed last week.”

SB 1002 raises coverage for insurance annuities to protect consumers from risk

Legislation passed today in the Senate will provide greater protection to people who buy annuities, a financial product popular with seniors and those planning for retirement.  Senate Bill 1002 raises the benefit limit for annuities from the current $100,000 to $250,000.

“Just as bank deposits are protected by the FDIC, money that consumers invest in annuities is covered by Oregon guaranty associations,” explained Senator Suzanne Bonamici (D-Washington Co./Portland), chair of the Consumer Protection and Public Affairs Committee. “The average amount invested in annuities has grown, but Oregon’s coverage limit hasn’t increased since 1991. This bill raises the limit so that investors will be better protected if an insurance company is liquidated or becomes insolvent.” Read the rest of this entry »

Senate Bill 990 allows six week extension for about 18,600 unemployed

An estimated 18,600 out-of-work Oregonians who were about to lose unemployment benefits will receive a six-week extension because of a bill passed this morning in the Oregon Senate. Senate Bill 990, a key part of the Oregon Senate Democrats’ agenda for the February session, passed the chamber by a unanimous vote.

“The most important thing the Oregon legislature can do right now is to provide meaningful help for hardworking Oregonians who are struggling to survive in this difficult economy,” said Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), who carried the bill on the floor. “The emergency unemployment benefits in this bill will allow thousands of Oregon families to put food on the table and a roof over their heads while they continue to look for work.”

The unemployment extension in SB 990 has the added benefit of providing dollars that go directly into local communities. Checks are often used to pay rent and buy groceries and other essentials.

“The fact that this is the first bill to be voted on the Senate floor this session is an indication of our priorities – getting people back to work,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “During this short session, we will continue to focus on what matters most to Oregonians – creating jobs, helping families make ends meet, and supporting our struggling businesses.”

SB 990 will not affect current employer rates or the unemployment insurance trust fund balance. The extension is estimated to last until mid-April.

SB 1003 modifies requirements for association health care plans

Legislation that gives small businesses and their employees increased access to affordable health insurance passed off the Senate floor this morning. Senate Bill 1003 is a key piece of the Senate Democrats’ February agenda of supporting small business and helping Oregon families get back on track.

“Health care costs are simply too high for many small businesses,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), chief sponsor of the bill and chair of the Senate Health Care Committee. “This bill will give more middle class Oregonians access to health care provided by their employers.”

Senate Bill 1003 modifies provisions in association health plans, which are used by many general contractors and other small businesses to offer health care to their workers. Read the rest of this entry »

Bills extend unemployment benefits and increase small businesses’ access to capital

Two bills that are a major part of the Senate Democrats’ February jobs agenda moved out a Senate committee today. Two bills, one extending unemployment insurance benefits and one making it easier for small businesses to access capital, were voted out of the Senate Commerce and Workforce Development Committee by a unanimous vote.

“These bills are perfect examples of our commitment to getting Oregonians back to work and supporting small businesses this session,” said Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), chair of the Committee.

Senate Bill 990 uses $19 million in the unemployment trust fund to give Oregonians a six week extension in much-needed benefits. The funds are available after a 2009 extension was supplemented by federal stimulus dollars, leaving a remaining balance for a new extension. SB 990 will be voted on by the full Senate within the week.

“Oregonians need to be able to feed their families while they continue to look for work,” said Rosenbaum. “This six week extension will help over 18,000 workers who have already exhausted their Federal benefits.”

Senate Bill 1017 was also voted out of committee today. That bill gives small businesses better access to the capital they need through the Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund and the Oregon Business Development Fund.

“This bill will help small businesses in rural and urban areas across the state and it will further the entrepreneurial spirit that is so important to Oregon,” said Senator Suzanne Bonamici (D-Washington Co./Portland), the bill’s chief sponsor.

Senate committee makes progress on key agenda item, full vote expected Thursday

On the second day of the February session, the Senate Health Care committee made progress on a key item on the Senate Democrats’ agenda, moving a bill that gives small businesses and their employees increased access to affordable health insurance.

“The recession has made providing health care much more difficult for small businesses,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), chief sponsor of the bill and chair of the Senate Health Care Committee. “This bill will give more middle class Oregonians access to health care provided by their employers.”

Senate Bill 1003 modifies provisions in association health plans, which are used by many general contractors and other small businesses to offer health care to their workers.  Under current law, 95 percent of all members of an association must participate in order for the association to qualify for the plan. For many associations that threshold has been impossible to meet. SB 1003 creates exemptions in these all-or-nothing plans, giving more Oregonians access to health care.

“This bill demonstrates our commitment to working with Oregon small businesses who are struggling the most during these tough times,” said Senator Alan Bates (D-Ashland), a practicing physician and member of the Senate Health Care Committee. “Today’s vote is an important step as we continue to fight for access for health care for Oregonians.”

Senate Bill 1003 is expected to reach the floor later this week for a vote by the full Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin and Senate President Peter Courtney join with House leaders to share session priorities

Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin, House Majority Leader Mary Nolan, Senate President Peter Courtney, and Speaker of the House Dave Hunt joined together this afternoon to discuss their caucus’ agendas for the February 2010 session. Shared priorities include focusing on creating jobs to get Oregon’s economy back on track and helping families that are struggling because of the recession.

“You’ll see agreement between the House and Senate Democrats on a number of agenda issues because we recognize what is most important to get done in our short time here,” said Devlin (D-Tualatin). “Given the challenging times we’re in, it’s crucial to continue focusing on what we can do to help small businesses, middle class families, and those Oregonians who are still looking for work.”

“This session is about taking action now to help Oregonians who are struggling in these difficult times. It’s about providing for the unemployed and working with small business to create jobs. It’s about giving Oregon the opportunity to work her way out of this crisis,” Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn) said.

Democrats’ agenda for February’s session includes helping small business get the capital they need to grow, extending unemployment benefits for those Oregonians who are out of work, and making sure the investments made in healthcare, transportation and affordable housing during the 2009 session are putting people back to work.

You can view the February 2010 Agenda here.

Senate committee will hold hearing Monday, move bill on Wednesday

This coming Monday, on the opening day of the February session, the Senate Commerce and Workforce Development Committee will hold an informational hearing on extending unemployment insurance benefits to an estimated 18,600 out-of-work Oregonians.

“While job creation remains the number one priority in this building, we have a responsibility to make sure that those Oregonians who are struggling to find work are able to put food on the table and take care of their children said Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), chair of the Committee.

A legislative proposal utilizes $19 million in the unemployment trust fund from a similar extension passed in the 2009 session. Federal stimulus dollars supplemented that extension, leaving a remaining balance for a new extension.

“The February session is about responding to emerging issues and looking out for the unemployed continues to be a priority of immense importance,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “Supporting Oregonians who are looking for work is a cornerstone of the Senate Democrats’ priorities for the February session.”

The Senate Commerce and Workforce Development Committee will meet Wednesday, February 3 at 3:30, to consider action on SB 990, a bill that extends unemployment benefits. The bill will not affect current employer rates or the unemployment insurance trust fund balance. The $19 million is estimated to last until mid-April with eligible claimants receiving no more than 6 weeks of additional benefits.

A number of laws passed during the 2009 session puts Oregon amongst the top states for animal protection. From today’s Oregonian:

A number of new animal laws will take effect Jan.1 in Oregon, which the Animal Legal Defense Fund ranks among the nation’s top five states for going after animal abusers.

This year’s legislative session debated 16 bills concerning animals, an unprecedented number. Some bills — the umpteenth attempt to ban pit bulls, for example — died on the vine. Some deal only with the finer points of enforcing animal law.

But six of the bills the governor signed are of direct concern to animal owners. Here’s a look at the most profound changes.

The bills mentioned include the following:

• S.B. 391 modifies existing law regarding private ownership of primates, large exotic cats, canines that aren’t domestic dogs, bears and crocodilians.
• S.B. 280 makes it a felony to participate in events that feature “combat between animals” in any way, shape or form. Previously, doing so was a misdemeanor.
• Under S.B. 398, it will now be illegal to leave a domestic animal or an “equine” someplace without minimal care. And leaving an animal tied outside a shelter or vet clinic is no defense against the charge.
• S.B. 298 mandates agencies that receive a confiscated animal from authorities — such as humane societies — to place restrictions on those who subsequently adopt the animal.

Read the entire story here.

Federal agreement follows 2009 legislation to phase out chemical in Oregon

SALEM – Senate Democrats welcomed news yesterday that the Environmental Protection Agency had reached an agreement with chemical manufacturers to phase out a toxic, endocrine- disrupting chemical, deca brominated diphenyl ether, otherwise known as Deca-BDE. Oregon’s Senate Bill 596, passed in the 2009 session, phases out use of the Deca-BDE in products bought and sold in the state.

“We made the case during the 2009 session that using this chemical was an unnecessary risk for the health of our children and safety of our environment,” said Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), chief sponsor of the bill. “When we heard this bill in committee earlier this year, the industry said that we should wait for a national standard, but in the end it was the states that led the way. This proves that legislation passed at the state level can make a big impact on the standards we set across the nation.”

Brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) migrate from their host products into the environment and eventually into our bodies, where they build up in the fat tissue of people and animals. Studies show that Deca-BDE breaks down over time into more toxic forms, Penta-BDE and Octa-BDE, both of which have been determined to have serious negative health effects and were similarly phased out of the market in Oregon through legislation passed in 2005.

Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, credited the work of state legislatures like Oregon for putting pressure on industry to change their practices.

“This decision never would have happened at the federal level if the states weren’t pushing to get this chemical out of products,” said Dingfelder.  “The chemical industry spent millions of dollars lobbying to maintain the status quo, but as states stepped up to ban this product it made more sense for the industry to stop making this harmful product in the first place.”

According to the EPA, the two largest American producers and largest American importer of Deca-BDE have “committed to end production, importation, and sales of Deca-BDE for most uses in the United States by December 31, 2012, and to end all uses by the end of 2013.”

“Senate Democrats have a commitment to protecting the public health of our families,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “SB 596 is a good example of how we can set a standard for environmental excellence nationwide.”

While Deca-BDE is currently used widely as a flame retardant in a number of products, resorcinol bisdiphenyl phosphate (RDP) is a safer, technically feasible alternative to Deca-BDE. With passage of SB 596, Oregon followed Maine and Washington in their restrictive use of Deca-BDE.