Oregon Watchdog: Special Session: Dem's leave pressing issues behind

Senate Republican Office
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE, S-223
Salem, Oregon 97301

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michael Gay 503) 986-1950 (503) 781-8559
February 22, 2008

Republican agenda headlines special session
Democrat leadership leaves pressing issues behind: teacher training and state audits

Salem, OR – Much of the agenda that Republicans have championed over the past year was successfully adopted in the 2008 special session, though several pressing issues were ignored by Democrat leadership in favor of more frivolous or pandering legislation.

“Republicans have accomplished much of what they set out to do in the 2008 special session,” said Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “We had a vision for how we could make Oregonians safer, more secure and better off than they were last year. Much of that vision was adopted, thanks to hard work and co-operation with our colleagues across the aisle.”

Senate Republicans were able to make Oregon driver licenses secure, bring 24/7 state police coverage to Oregon highways, restore funding to Oregon’s bi-partisan land use committee, create new water resources for eastern Oregon and fund care for shut-in seniors.

The legislature left Salem without addressing several issues important to Oregonians. Updating the state’s standards for teacher training was a pressing issue in light of the F grade that Oregon earned from Education Week for the state’s training policy. The legislature failed to act on a bill to raise the standards of teacher quality. The legislature also left behind a bill to create the Office of Legislative Audits and Accountability, designed to root out waste and hold agencies accountable for how they spend money.

“What could have been an unqualified success and a bright spot in the mind of Oregonians will probably just be a side note,” said Ferrioli. “The legislature ignored things like auditing to create accountability or giving teachers the tools for success. Instead, we spent time cracking down on dog fighting and working on bills drafted simply for the purpose of election year pandering. I don’t think that represents the priorities of Oregonians or what they expect from the legislature in an annual session.”
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