Gov. Brown seeks more school funds, campaign finance reform

(Update: Adding House, Senate Republican leader’s comments, KTVZ.COM Poll)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Gov. Kate Brown has unveiled her budget and policy proposals for the next biennium, saying she wants to boost education funding, push campaign finance reform, ensure continued access to health insurance coverage and fund legal counseling for immigrants facing deportation.

Brown is also dedicating another $2 million in funding for legal action against the Trump administration to support what she called Oregon values and prevent retaliatory practices. Brown told reporters Wednesday that Oregon is involved in 15 lawsuits against the current administration.

Increased education funding would pay for more teachers, improve high school graduation rates and increase the school year to 180 days.

In the election this month, Democrats gained a three-fifths supermajority in the Legislature, giving them greater power to impose taxes.

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Gov. Brown’s news release:

Governor Kate Brown Releases Recommended Budget and Policy Agenda Key areas of focus include education, health care, and affordability

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today released her recommended budget and policy agenda for the 2019-21 biennium, driven by the priority of setting a longer-term trajectory of change to address systemic issues and create sustainable economic prosperity.

“Oregon is at a turning point. Hundreds of thousands of people have moved here in the past 20 years, and a million more are on their way,” said Governor Brown. “We’ve done some good things over the years, but our state is changing, and changing rapidly. With the aging of Oregon’s baby boomer generation, and the impacts of recent dramatic federal tax changes and burgeoning federal deficits exacerbating these changes, one thing is clear: we can no longer do things the way we have in the past.

“Our current strong economy gives us the best chance in a generation to address persistent, structural challenges so we can achieve our full potential. We must accept this challenge now, while the economy is good. This budget represents both my priorities for the operation of state government over the next two years, and my policy agenda as Governor. The juncture our state is at demands that our state government act now on the values that all Oregonians share.”

The Governor’s main budget and policy areas include:

Renewing and strengthening democracy in Oregon through measures including campaign finance reform and continued efforts to support voter access Spending state funds wisely and effectively through smart government and streamlined government processes in areas such as IT and procurement Repairing and reforming Oregon’s underfunded education system through program expansion in early childhood, K-12, and higher education, including through an additional, comprehensive investment package Addressing an affordability crisis spanning key areas such as housing, health care, child care, and higher education Preparing Oregon for future challenges through common sense policies to address the root causes of poverty and addiction, to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the least possible cost, and to be better prepared for natural disaster

A condensed budget summary is available in addition to the Governor’s full strategic budget at budget.oregon.gov.

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News release from the Oregon House Republican Office;

House Republican Leader Carl Wilson Reacts to Governor’s Proposed Budget

Governor’s proposal calls for spending over $3 billion more of Oregonians’ tax dollars.

Salem, Ore. – House Republican Leader Representative Carl Wilson, (R-Grants Pass) reacted today to Governor Kate Brown’s proposed budget. The Governor’s proposed $23.6 billion General Fund ($83.5B overall) budget includes record revenues of in excess of an additional $1 billion over the current budget as well as a challenge to the Legislature for an additional $2 billion in spending.

Leader Wilson’s statement on the Governors proposed budget:

“Despite record tax revenues to the tune of more than $1 billion over the current budget, the Governor today ‘challenged’ the Legislature to spend an additional $2 billion on top of that. This is not a challenge to the Legislature, it is a challenge to the wallets and pocketbooks of hardworking Oregonians. This is a call to drastically increase taxes on everyday Oregonians.”

“Governor Brown’s budget proposal is a letdown for working Oregonians and their families. Warmed-over policies that ignore the chronic waste of tax dollars, the PERS crisis, outdated housing policies, and the rising cost of living are not what Oregonians voted for this past election. The Governor and her party have complete control of the legislative process. Should they decide to use that power to reward special interests on the backs of taxpayers, House Republicans will hold them accountable. Now is not the time for a victory lap by Governor Brown paid for by seniors, working families, and small businesses. Now is the time for real leadership that will get Oregon back on the right track.”

“We have a longstanding saying regarding the budget that the Governor proposes and the Legislature disposes. Oregonians should be worried that this year, the Governor proposes and the Legislature imposes massive tax increases on them.”

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News release from Senate Republican Office:

Senator Jackie Winters statement on Governor Brown’s proposed budget for the 2019-2021 biennium

Salem, Ore. – Senate Republican Leader Jackie Winters (R-Salem) released the following statement today regarding Governor Kate Brown’s recommended budget for the 2019-2021 biennium:

“We are still reviewing the Governor’s proposed budget, but a few things stand out at first glance. While I am pleased to see that the Governor is addressing the ever-increasing issue of wildfires by creating the Council on Wildfire Response, a step that is long overdue, her proposed decrease to the fire protection budget by 22.1% does not help diminish the devastation caused by wildfires.

Proposals like a multi-biennium approach to fund OHA services while making cuts to the Oregon Youth Authority and to the Justice Reinvestment Initiative Grant program for counties are concerning. But, most concerning of all are the increased taxes peppered throughout the budget.

Today Governor Brown said that she does not want to increase the burden on hardworking Oregonians and wants to keep Oregon’s economy growing. The Senate Republicans plan to hold her to that statement.”

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News release from the Oregon Education Association:

Governor Brown’s Recommended Budget Prioritizes Education
Education budget holds steady, increased funding recommended

TIGARD, OR — Today Governor Kate Brown released her recommended state budget and investment plan for the 2019-2021 biennium.

The Governor has recommended stable funding to retain current services in K-12 education, with a base budget of $8.972 billion. Brown’s proposed community college base budget is $543 million, which represents a 4.7% cut. Brown has recommended $2 billion additional investment in education, which would result in significant budget increases in pre-K through higher education budgets.

John Larson, high school English teacher from Hermiston and president of the Oregon Education Association, says, ” We are glad to see the Governor has set the K-12 current service level budget at $8.972 billion and has proposed an additional $2 billion investment. These minimum budgets for Oregon public schools mean that our students won’t face cuts to existing services or larger class sizes than they have now, but it is not enough. Simply holding the line will not give our students what they need to be successful.”

These base budgets lay the groundwork for conversations about increasing school funding in the upcoming legislative session. Pro-public education supermajorities in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature make funding increases more likely.

Voters resoundingly elected these officials earlier this month on a tide of campaigns focused on increasing school funding, demonstrating clear public support and urgency for improving Oregon’s public education system.

“We know that Oregon has one of the shortest school years in the nation, one of the largest average class sizes, and graduation rates that must be improved due to decades of threadbare budgets and cuts,” Larson says. “Obviously the status quo defined by these base budgets is unacceptable, as the Governor has made clear with her proposed investment package.

“Governor Brown has recommended an additional investment of $2 billion into education to give our students what they need to be successful. Educators will continue to advocate for our students in the legislature and in our communities around the state to ensure funding is finally increased this year. These recommendations are a meaningful start.”