Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ORleg

Most recents (24)

might be time to make a list of all of the requested investments that *didn't* get funding from the GO Bonds from the state legislature because we gave $250m for the Interstate Bridge Replacement.

first up, a $45m health and recreation center at OSU-Cascades near Bend
transportation advocates had requested $50m for fixing up SW Hall Boulevard in Tigard, $100m for ODOT's Great Streets program and were angling for $30m for SE Powell too.

in christmas tree bill there's only $1m for Great Streets, $3m for Hall.

#orleg

olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Dow… Image
doesn't appear to be any money for Bridge of the Gods, either. Another bridge over the Columbia River sorely in need of seismic retrofit. Helluva lot cheaper, too

columbiagorgenews.com/news/funds-sou…
Read 11 tweets
MAJOR ACTION ALERT

IBR freeway lobbyists snuck in language asking for A FULL BILLION DOLLARS (not the $250m originally floated) in general obligation bonds for a BILL GETTING VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE TOMORROW.

We'll have an action alert up ASAP, all hands on deck! #orleg #orpol
the bill is HB 5005, the omnibus General Obligation Bond bill. We're going to be asking you to email legislators to remove Sections 5-7 which allocate $250m of bonding in 2025, 2027 and 2029.

that's not highway money - that's general money that should be going to schools/housing “SECTION 5. In addition to ...
This is ODOT's backroom deal.

Despite overwhelming opposition from the public towards giving the agency a blank check for this big freeway, and significant support for right-sizing this bridge, freeway lobbyists snuck this language into HB 5005: #orleg

olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Mea…
Read 7 tweets
lol, @OregonDOT/@UrbMobilityOfc out here celebrating "national safety month" by showing a photo of the gigantic fucking freeway expansion they are building in clackamas that is robbing the state of money to fix ODOT's actually lethal dangerous streets. complete propaganda #orleg screenshot if the I-205 imp...
@OregonDOT @UrbMobilityOfc seriously, do they have no shame? traffic fatalities are skyrocketing across the state, in large part because @OregonDOT spends all their money on freeways and doesn't fix TV Highway, Se Powell, McLoughlin.

guess hiding that is the point of hiring glitzy PR consultants! #orleg
@OregonDOT @UrbMobilityOfc maybe instead of patting themselves on the back for rebranding massive freeway projects as "safety investments" @OregonDOT should prioritize investments in our orphan highways? #orleg

portlandtribune.com/news/womans-de…
Read 6 tweets
🧵(1/11) Tonight, House Democrats will pass HB 2002B. They will recite phrases like 'life-saving care' & 'basic rights' to hide the truth. But we know the truth: HB 2002B is nothing but an extreme attack on parents & children. Here's what the bill does: #orpol #orleg
(2/11) Allows a child of any age, without parental knowledge, to receive an abortion. This will increase the vulnerability of young girls to be sex-trafficked. Image
(3/11) A doctor may not disclose to the child's parent information regarding the abortion they performed unless the child provides written consent. Image
Read 11 tweets
🧵 If detransition is real, the whole "gender identity" house of cards collapses.

I received confirmation this week from Legislative Legal Council that House Bill 2002-A specifically EXCLUDES DETRANSITION TREATMENTS from insurance coverage.

With this bill, Medicaid and private insurance are mandated to cover treatments when your "gender identity" and sex don't align. But, if you believe you have made a mistake and want a procedure to align with your sex, coverage will not be mandated.
The wording in the bill is intentional.

I proposed a -11 amendment to the base bill, adding coverage for detransition treatments, and it was flatly rejected by the Democrats. Why? Doesn't this seem like the compassionate thing to do?
Read 9 tweets
Oregon is purple - it’s a blue-ish purple sure, but the Legislature acts as if the majority party represents 90% of the voters in this state. They do not.
#orleg
🧵 1/ Image
Facts:
▶️ 3,003,625 voters in Oregon
▶️ Approx 4,500 votes short of Republicans gaining the majority in the House
▶️ Approx 2,900 votes short of Republicans gaining the majority in the Senate
▶️ Statewide races are won by only a few percent
#orleg 2/
…and Republican Dennis Richardson won Secretary of State a few years ago
▶️ Gerrymandering is cheating - and its why there is a majority in the State House, the State Senate and our delegation to US Congress
#orleg 3/
Read 11 tweets
There’s a legislative work session on the domestic terrorism bill this AM.

Orgs like @ACLU_OR, @PCUNoregon, @ImagineBlack_, @350_PDX, @SunrisePDX, @CLDC, @breachcollectiv & more are raising concerns about rushing a DT law with virtually no community engagement.

#orleg #orpol
There’s no compelling need for this law. There are plenty of state & federal laws that cover damage to infrastructure.

As we’ve seen with the GA cop city protestors, these DT laws can be readily abused to harass, jail, & stigmatize activists for political purposes.
Bill sponsors assure advocates that this is not GA, so we shouldn’t worry about abuse.

This is especially dangerous idea as we know about entanglement of law enforcement with right-wing extremists. We know who is most likely to be targeted using these laws.
Read 8 tweets
We had a long session Monday night to discuss Oregon's House Bill 2002, a bill which greatly expands abortion and so-called "gender-affirming treatment" in this state. This bill removes ALL parental consent for abortion at any age, and greatly expands access to
"gender treatments" without ANY safeguards to protect our vulnerable children and young adults.

We have NO way to tell the difference between a young person who is transgender and a person who is temporarily gender dysphoric, yet we are pushing our youth into permanent,
life-altering hormone and medical treatments anyway, based simply on their feelings, at a time when they are under stress. This is a travesty.

I know this is a difficult conversation to have, but we need to have it.
Read 5 tweets
Today, I’m going to draw attention to 2 bills at the OR legislature that could be used on social, racial, & environmental justice activists: HB 2572 & 2772.

As a long time activist who has directly experienced law enforcement overreach, I'm concerned.

#orleg #orpol
The bill sponsors are trying to solve a real problem: violent, right-wing extremism.

But the process to craft the laws has been limited & the main contributors are prosecutors, law enforcement, & an academic who worked at the NSA.

Few critical & community voices are involved.
These bills assume the main barrier to curtailing the dangerous activities of right-wing extremists is a lack of authority, but the reality & deep structural problem is that a disturbing # of law enforcement officials participate in, protect, & coordinate w right-wing extremists.
Read 20 tweets
Over 30 comments submitted today in opposition to @OregonDOT's proposed $1.45 billion rose quarter freeway expansion!

We'll be sharing some of the best comments in the weeks ahead.

Submit yours at nomorefreewayspdx.com/lidsnotlanes This is not my first commen...
@OregonDOT "Please please please, stop making more room for cars, our kids literally can't breathe. It's not worth it, they are worth more than this."

nomorefreewayspdx.com/lidsnotlanes My 4-year-old kid just got ...
@OregonDOT "The science used to support freeway expansions is inaccurate and outdated and should be reevaluated. Portland has seen a record high of vehicular violence in the last year."

nomorefreewayspdx.com/lidsnotlanes : I am writing today to dem...
Read 14 tweets
A Black defendant has his convictions reversed by the Oregon Court of Appeals because the DAs excused the only 2 Black jurors over the defense objection & this hasn't made a single local news outlet? Portland murder trial reversed - trial was under then MultCo DA Rod Underhill.
Oregon was the VERY LAST state to stop the racist practice of non-unanimous jury verdicts. COA says in its opinion, "We begin with the axiom, no longer subject to reasonable debate, that racial discrimination in the selection of jurors is harmful."
This should be a big deal.
COA ends with, "That implausibility is evidence of purposeful discrimination which, in light of “all of the circumstances that bear on racial animosity,” leads us to the conclusion that the trial court clearly erred in excusing jurors number 6 & number 9 from the trial jury."
Read 22 tweets
If PDSC wants to overhaul the system a good first step would be to take the claims of disparate pay by gender & retaliation seriously. After all, attorney Tara Herival won her case against OPDS paying her less in June 2022:
What is the status of the investigation?"Multiple women defense attys have spoken w/ ACLU of Oregon about their experiences...(1) they have faced serious situations of retaliation from OPDS, including multiple situations of retaliation by a leadership-level male employee of OPDS"
"It is extremely concerning that attorneys who are versed in the law and vigorous advocates for their clients are expressing significant levels of fear about sharing [these] concerns," said Sandy Chung, director of @ACLU_OR -- August 2021
portlandmercury.com/news/2021/08/1…
.
Read 13 tweets
If a defendant is being routed through a "social service navigator" that works for the DA - they are working w/ an agency w/ a conflict of interest. This is a terrible idea. Stop throwing $ at DAs & law enforcement!
Prioritize funding public defense & social services.
#orpol
No questions in this article about the studies that show non-prosecution of low-level misdemeanors leads to safer communities. That the court backlog could be immediately reduced by better charging practices by DAs - less overcharging of cases & better settlement offers.
#orpol
DAs are not social workers. Neither are police. What is it going to take to stop throwing $ at LE for issues that there are community-based services for but who lack adequate funding? This 🧵 breaks down juvenile justice reform successes:
#orpol
Read 7 tweets
Debate with 12 Republican candidates for governor hosted by Timber Unity is starting shortly. I’ll share highlights in a thread here. #orgov #orpol
Debate will have eight questions, all about the economy, natural resources and jobs. Because there are so many candidates, they're split into odd and even groups and each group gets four questions with 60 seconds to answer. At the end, candidates can answer a fifth question
Almost done with introductions. Brandon Merritt got some in the crowd to cheer "Let's go, Brandon," which doubles as a cheer for him and an anti-Biden chant.
Read 62 tweets
As #orleg, we have an opportunity to #PassHB4142 and give hospital workers protections from violence. The message is simple: now is the time and #HB4142 is the path to stronger protections for Oregon's health care heroes. 1/
#HB4142 expands current ORS 163.165 to provide protections currently afforded to public safety officers, pre-hospital emergency response personnel, public transit vehicle operators, taxi drivers, flaggers or highway workers, to hospital workers. 2/ #orleg
This is not a new felony statute. It already exists. This adds another group of people - hospital workers. And if you read through this thread, I would hope you would agree. Read the stories of assault victims. 3/ #orleg #PassHB4142
Read 7 tweets
"I was working in the ER, I was 7 weeks pregnant. My husband & I were so excited. I was helping with a patient who was being violent and a danger to self/others. They were able to kick me in the abdomen. 3 wks later, we lost the baby." #orleg #PassHB4142
2/ "My coworker was assaulted last June. She had multiple closed fist hits to her head/neck, resulting in a significant head injury that kept her out of work for months & up to now can only work for a short time due to lingering problems from the assault." #orleg #PassHB4142
3/ "The passage of HB4142 is critical. Healthcare workers are leaving the profession in droves." #orleg #nursetwitter #PassHB4142
Read 22 tweets
I'm checking in from the Oregon House, where in a half hour, we'll learn more about the fate of the state's redistricting maps. It's been suggested to me Republicans could show up today, though that does not guarantee passage of any proposal. #orleg #orpol
If Republicans do show up, they could decide not to grant rules suspension, which would push passage of new maps past today's deadline. Or they could agree to speed things along, taking what's likely to be a more favorable legislative map than they'd otherwise get. #orpol #orleg
It does not appear that there's yet another congressional redistricting map on the table, meaning if lawmakers do pass a map today, it would likely be the proposal from Saturday. If the House passes it, the Senate is coming back this afternoon to take it up. #orpol #orleg
Read 21 tweets
New: There’s a new proposed Oregon congressional map. We might well see a deal today. It’s currently unclear. #orpol #orleg Image
I have been told the state Senate is prepared to come in this afternoon if the House can find agreement. The Senate had formally adjourned but would need to pass changed map #orpol #orleg
Here's the map. An initial analysis suggests this could lead to a 4-2 split in the state's Congressional districts -- not the 5-1 split Democrats had been insistent on. Still looking at it. #orpol #orleg

oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting/…
Read 16 tweets
NEW: House Speaker Tina Kotek is about to back down on her deal to grant Republicans parity on redistricting. She told her caucus today she'll appoint a new committee, with Dems in the majority, to pass a Congressional, plan. #orpol #orleg
Kotek would also add members to a committee that would take up new legislative maps. That committee would still have an even number of Republicans and Democrats. #orleg #orpol
This is all contingent, of course, on Republicans staying in the building, which is not something any #orleg watcher is banking on. Remember, House Dems fled the Capitol in 2001 over a redistricting fight. #orleg #orpol
Read 8 tweets
Signing in from Salem, where the special session on redistricting has convened. The Senate has reached an agreement on rules suspension, meaning it can move quickly. It's not at all clear the House will get to the same place. #orleg #orpol

opb.org/article/2021/0…
2.5 hrs in, we're still waiting for... any legislative action at this #orleg special session. The Senate redistricting committee has now delayed a 9:30a hearing twice because things are "not quite ready."
And @Kathleen4Oregon announces another delay for Senate Redistricting Committee. I tried to ask what's going on, and she would only say "I'm good" as she awaited an elevator. Which is an interesting response. #orleg #orpol
Read 9 tweets
There's a lot to take away from Oregon Democrats' preliminary redistricting plan. Among its biggest changes is a new U.S. House seat for Oregon in Congress. #orleg

It may not radically reshape partisan politics in Oregon, but it could shake things up for incumbents: a thread
Oregon's grown a lot in the past decade or about 10% in the time since the past 2010 Census.

Each U.S. House District must have around 706,209 ppl based on Oregon's 4,237,256 people per the 2020 U.S. Census.
Districts must be contiguous or share a common border. They must also be equal in population.

There's some rules that also require them to respect existing political boundaries and communities defined by various criteria, including race.
Read 25 tweets
1/ "Hospital staffers & public health managers in southern Oregon say it’s never been this bad. And it’s apt to get worse as the super-contagious delta variant of COVID19 spreads through a region where fewer than 1/2 the residents have been fully vaxxed"🧵
apnews.com/article/busine…
2/ I completely agree with The Oregonian here:
“Oregonians need local leaders to step up their efforts to share vetted, accurate information, improve vaccination rates and encourage measures that help control the spread”
#orleg #orpol
oregonlive.com/opinion/2021/0…
3/ I know a handful of Oregon Republicans who are doing the right thing & encouraging folks to #WearMasks & #GetVaccinated - the two things that will help get this Delta surge under control. I'm grateful for their leadership - it's no small thing in this environment
#orleg #orpol
Read 6 tweets
Former state rep Mike Nearman pleaded guilty to first degree official misconduct this morning. He received 18 mos probation, $2700 in restitution for damage done to the Capitol and an 18 month ban from Capitol grounds. #orpol #orleg
As part of a plea deal, a second charge of second-degree criminal trespassing was dropped. Nearman needed some coaching from his attorney to appropriately admit guilt for the judge to accept. Story coming #orpol
Nearman also must complete 80 hrs of community service. He and his attorney refused to even acknowledge the presence of media outlets seeking an interview.
Read 3 tweets
Oh look OPDS trying to tell attys & public defense providers the 4.5% budget cut is no biggie b/c they'll comply w/ #orleg requirements necessary to release withheld $100 million. Just like they've addressed the issues from the 6th Amendment Center report!
oregon.gov/opds/SiteAsset…
Oh wait, OPDS *hasn't* addressed the problems outlined in the Sixth Amendment Center Report - which came out in December of 2018:
opb.org/news/article/p…
Why does this matter? The budget for the Trial Criminal Division is $186,458,931 to start July 1, 2021.
OPDS ran out of $ for the month of June 2021, so attorneys, investigators, experts are not being paid for completed work, even as they continue to work & go to trial.
Read 5 tweets

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