Local Republican legislators preview priorities for upcoming short session
(Adding video and quotes from Republican Representatives Vikki Breese-Iverson and Mark Owens as well as Senator Mike McLane)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Beginning Monday, the 35 day legislative short session begins.
Among the many issues being addressed are the ongoing ODOT funding, and the major hole within the state budget.
All throughout this week, legislators in our area, as well as across the state, have been holding town halls to meet with and hear from their constituents.
Republican Representatives Vikki Breese-Iverson and Mark Owens as well as Senator Mike McLane spoke to more than two-hundred people, addressing the bills they're working on, and the issues they're following closely.
On ODOT funding Representative Mark Owens said during the Town Hall, "They told us they weren't going to plow our roads in our white lines. Similar conversation, you've heard me say before, are our lives worth less than those living in the metro area? It sure seems like that."
On state budget cuts Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson said, "I think with with that lens, looking at it, it's a great place for us to start looking at real reductions and hopefully shrinking government."
On taxes Senator Mike McLane said, "One is potentially to disconnect from our federal tax code that has the effect of raising taxes pretty significant increase"
With the price of homes continuing to rise, residents all across the state look to their legislators to help address some of these issues.
They range from new legislation on homes, to increasing the exemptions of the estate tax.
The 3 legislators shared their hopes of solving the ongoing housing crisis.
Representatives Vikki Breese-Iverson said, "We have heard for several years now that we need more houses. We need to be able to build in Oregon. Oregon's land use system isn't really built for us to be able to easily build homes or for us to be able to expand our communities."
The 35 day session runs until early march.
