Oregon Legislature opens; Brown urges education focus

(Update: Brown’s remarks on other issues; adding video)

Speaking on the opening day of the Legislature’s short session, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown made a case Monday for increased education funding and a focus on technical education.

Brown said one out of every five jobs for advanced manufacturing are filled from out of state, and that state economists project 27,000 high-wage, high-demand job openings each year through 2024. The gap between job skills that Oregonians have and what businesses need should be closed, Brown said.

“A divided and chaotic Washington, D.C., is unworkable, but a united Oregon is unstoppable,” the governor said.

On other topics, the governor promised to fight “to keep our public lands in public hands,” and not let the federal government “take health care away from thousands of Oregonians.”

She also vowed to “fight to keep Oregon a welcoming place for all … including our immigrant families and our Dreamers,” who she called an “integral part of our communities, our culture and our economy.”

Brown also said the state must tackle the opioid abuse crisis and lawmakers need to “pass sensible legislation to prevent domestic violence.”

Some Democrats also want to create a cap on greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s unclear if that can be accomplished in the 35-day legislative session. Republican lawmakers say bills should be limited to those that make small policy adjustments and budget fixes, pointing out that the session must end by March 11.

NewsChannel 21’s Lauren Melink and Chief Photographer Steve Kaufmann are in Salem for opening-day events and to talk with Central Oregon lawmakers about their reactions to the governor’s address and their priorities for the short session. Their reports begin on NewsChannel 21 Fox @ 4, continuing at 5 and 6 on KTVZ.