League of Women Voters Testimony

	LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS^® OF OREGON
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	Testimony 2010 Legislative Session testimony and other written lobbying by LWV of Oregon Governance (2010) Natural Resources (2010) Social Policy (2010) If you would like to receive an emailed copy of any of the testimony listed below, please request one through the LWVOR office. 2009 Legislative Session testimony and other written lobbying by LWV of Oregon Governance (2009) Natural Resources (2009) Social Policy (2009) Governance 2010 May 5, 2010 Attorney General John Kroger Oregon Newspaper Publisher’s Association Re: Government Transparency Initiative Public access to government and transparency in government decisions are basic principles in a democracy. The League of Women Voters of Oregon has long supported open meetings with regard to the decision-making process for local and state governments. We also champion every Oregonian’s right to know how the system and processes of governance are being handled, whether in meetings or in records relating to conduct of officials and providers of services. We believe that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens. It also requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible. We have monitored carefully the deliberations that led the Legislature to enact comprehensive changes to the ethics statutes and participated in the debates leading to them. We commend the revisions made in 2007 and 2009 that strengthened the Ethics Commission’s role as the public watchdog for public officials. We will continue to evaluate the ability of the Commission to oversee and act on activities which may overstep the bounds of political influence and special interests. Effective and efficient ethics management requires adequate funding for its operations and personnel. Prior to the 2009 Legislative Session, the League had, for several biennia, protested the problems of access to the hearings process because of short notices for hearings, lack of considerations for witnesses from the public, backroom “work groups”, and difficulty in obtaining amendments. During the 2009 and 2010 meetings, there was (1) better recognition of public witnesses, (2) allowance for public testimony after “invited only speakers”;(3) longer hours for hearing notices, with earlier agenda availability; (4) better access to amendments; and (5) better recognition of witnesses who traveled many miles to testify. The Oregon Legislature is much more open than that of many states. However, particularly in the shorter sessions, there is a perception that too many decisions are made behind closed doors, by only a few people, and with little public input. Also, not all committee chairs adhere to the above mentioned improvements, and we suggest that better orientation prior to legislative sessions would be helpful. The same should apply to local government councils and commissions. We understand the need to protect the privacy of individuals. However, it is important that the public have as much access to public records as possible. Limitations on legal and medical records should not exclude information important to the individual(s) involved; nor to the public if the matter is of general public importance. The recent discussion about public records at the University of Oregon is a case in point. When public funds are involved there must be transparency. One way to keep the public informed about such important issues as the biennial Governor’s Budget and the Tax Expenditure Report, both difficult to understand, would be greater efforts to educate citizens about those documents that involve significant use of public funds. Thank you for bringing this discussion on open meeting and record laws to citizens around the state. The League strongly supports open government and looks forward to your analysis at the conclusion. Sincerely, Marge Easley, LWVOR President Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator ---------------------------------------- March 9, 2009 House Revenue Committee Representative Phil Barnhart, Chair Re: HB 2066, Earned Income Tax Credit I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League believes that basic human services should be ensured for all citizens, particularly those low income families needing shelter, food and health care. HB 2066 would provide additional dollars to those working families in Oregon. The Earned Income Tax Credit affects more than 200,000 Oregon households, providing dollars to pay for necessities. In these difficult economic times, granting additional funds would be a good investment since the recipients would spend these funds in local communities across the state. Poverty is on the rise in Oregon, and in many counties it is in the double digits. These same counties are already finding it difficult to provide services. We know this results in more hunger and homelessness. HB 2066 should be given support as an excellent example of helping both families and communities. The League urges the committee to seriously consider this request for 2009-11. Thank you. Sincerely, Marge Easley, LWVOR President Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator ---------------------------------------- February 24, 2010 House Rules Committee Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: Initiative Reform The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We appreciate this opportunity to express the League’s long-standing support for direct democracy and the continuing need to make it work better for Oregonians. Both the 2007 and 2009 legislative sessions provided improvements to the initiative process. The extension of signatures needed to obtain a ballot title, the improved oversight of paid petitions’ gatherers, the electronic transparency for contributions and expenditures to campaigns, the addition of investigative staff for the Secretary of State and the citizen initiative review panels are examples of those reforms. However, there are others that could significantly improve the system. Currently, about 50% of the General Fund revenues are devoted to costs that were mandated by successful initiatives. Those initiatives require expenditures for which no revenue source was provided. We would suggest the following issues be addressed by the 2011 Legislature: Upfront indication of costs for any proposal requiring General Fund expenditures Application of a balanced budget rule to ballot initiatives, whereby revenue sources would be identified for proposed General Fund expenditures A timeline to indicate how long before twice defeated initiatives may again be placed on the ballot, such as one election cycle A restriction on proposals requiring General Fund expenditures A restriction on types of proposals that amend the Oregon Constitution Use of the indirect initiative process, which would require legislative review and public discussion of initiative proposals We continue to believe in the importance of the citizen’s right to initiate legislation that would improve the quality of life in Oregon and address important issues not considered by the Legislature. We will continue to oppose initiatives that do not serve the public’s interest and are counter to the League’s member-enacted positions. We look forward to future discussions on improving the initiative process. Thank you. Sincerely, Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator ---------------------------------------- February 19, 2010 TO: House Committee on Rules Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair RE: SB 1062 A, Language on Envelopes of Imitation Ballots SUPPORT The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League supports an elections process that encourages maximum voter participation and insures ease of ballot access and use. We are strong proponents of Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, which depends for its success on clear procedures and the voters’ trust that their votes will be counted. We therefore support SB 1062 A, which strengthens elections law concerning the use of imitation ballots that are mailed out to voters. It clearly spells out the exact wording and format of the language that must appear on both the outer and return envelopes as well as the imitation ballot itself. We feel that these changes are a substantial improvement over current law and should eliminate any voter confusion over whether the imitation ballot is an official one or not. The League believes that SB 1062 is an important safeguard to maintain the integrity of our elections process, and we strongly urge its passage. Thank you for the opportunity to provide our views. Sincerely, Marge Easley, LWVOR President ---------------------------------------- February 16, 2010 TO: Senate Committee on Rules Senator Richard Devlin, Chair RE: SB 1058, Setting limits on contributions to candidates and political committees The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long advocated improving election campaigns by limiting campaign contributions. The League believes in comprehensive campaign finance limits similar to the original version of SB 1058 and HB 3009 of the 2009 session. The League is strongly in favor of the kind of limits on pass-through campaign contributions like those in the amendment to SB 1058. Pass-through campaign contributions are an insidious distortion of our campaign finance system because the original purposes of the contributor may be lost. However, this bill would also repeal Measure 47 (Oregon Laws 2007, Chapter 3), and the League would not be in favor overruling a vote of the people of Oregon without at least replacing it with a comprehensive reform of campaign finance limits. The League believes that this hearing on SB 1058 is an important step toward the needed comprehensive campaign finance limits. However, we do not believe that we have enough time in this short session to adequately debate the needed reforms. Thank you for the opportunity to provide our views. Sincerely, Marge Easley Norman Turrill LWVOR President LWVOR Campaign Finance Chair ---------------------------------------- February 16, 2010 TO: Senate Committee on Rules Senator Richard Devlin, Chair RE: SB 1062, Language on Envelopes of Imitation Ballots SUPPORT The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League supports an elections process that encourages maximum voter participation and insures ease of ballot access and use. We are strong proponents of Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, which depends for its success on clear procedures and the voters’ trust that their votes will be counted. We therefore support SB 1062, which strengthens elections law concerning the use of imitation ballots that are mailed out to voters. It clearly spells out the exact wording, color, and format of the language that must appear on both the outer and return envelopes as well as the imitation ballot itself. We feel that these changes are a substantial improvement over current law and should eliminate any voter confusion over whether the imitation ballot is an official one or not. The League believes that SB 1062 is an important safeguard to maintain the integrity of our elections process, and we strongly urge its passage. Thank you for the opportunity to provide our views. Sincerely, Marge Easley LWVOR President ---------------------------------------- February 12, 2010 Senate Finance and Revenue Committee Senator Ginny Burdick, Chair Re: SB 1044, Earned Income Tax Credit - SUPPORT I am Alice Bartelt, Action Committee Chair for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League believes that basic human services should be ensured for all citizens, particularly those low income families needing shelter, food and health care. SB 1044 would provide additional dollars to those working families in Oregon. The Earned Income Tax Credit affects more than 200,000 Oregon households, providing dollars to pay for necessities. In these difficult economic times, granting additional funds would be a good investment since the recipients would spend these funds in local communities across the state. Poverty is on the rise in Oregon, and in many counties it is in the double digits. These same counties are already finding it difficult to provide services. We know this results in more hunger and homelessness. SB 1044 should be given support as an excellent example of helping both families and communities. The League urges the committee to seriously consider this bill, which is to be implemented over the next four years. Thank you. Marge Easley Alice Bartelt LWVOR President Action Committee Chair ---------------------------------------- (Testimony given February 11, 2010) February 9, 2010 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin. Chair Re: SJR 41 Annual Sessions - Support The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League welcomes this opportunity to express its strong support for Annual Sessions as outlined in SJR 41. Our member’s support for annual sessions is long-standing, dating back to 1963 and our study of Oregon’s Constitution. The League continues to believe that the biennial system is outdated, given today’s technological society and the need for rapid responses to governmental interests and problems. The 2008 Special Session underscored the importance of legislative attention to fiscal policy and budget readjustment between regular sessions. Individuals would find it very difficult to manage their resources responsibly based on a 26 month income projection. It is even more critical for a state, which must provide essential services to its citizens. Annual sessions have been discussed but not moved in several recent legislative sessions. The League believes the time has come to make the case to Oregonians. We urge the committee to pass SJR 41 to the Senate floor and support its passage to the people for a decision. Thank you Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator ---------------------------------------- Natural Resources 2010 April 13, 2010 Jim Billings Compliance Specialist WQD Surface Water Management Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 811 SW Sixth Avenue Portland, OR 97204 Re: Town Hall Meeting, Proposed Changes for In-Water Mining Permit The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been interested in maintaining the water quality of Oregon’s water. We support water quality standards, regulatory laws to guarantee standards and effective enforcement. The League also believes that democratic government must protect citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions. The League received the “News Release” for the Town Hall Meeting regarding “Changes for In-Water Mining Permit”, issued on April 7, 2010. We called and asked what changes were proposed and were told by you that we should watch for news releases by your agency around the 22nd of April, in time for the beginning of the public comment period. An additional notice, sent on the 9th of April does describe “the changes”. The League does not believe this is adequate notice period for either the first notice without the changes nor the second with the changes, particularly in as much as most of the rivers affected by the “In-Water Mining Permit” are in southwest Oregon and a significant distance from Portland. It really is not clear what the intent of the Town Hall Meeting is. It is apparently not an on-the-record hearing. Seven days is inadequate notice even for a “town hall” meeting. It is also not clear that the public-at-large was ever noticed. Please add the League to notice of the time, place and date for the official public comment period. Thank you for your consideration. Marge Easley, President Liz Frenkel, Action Committee Member Cc: Mike Carrier, Governor’s Office; Dick Pedersen, Director, Department of Environmental Quality; Louise Solliday, Director, Department of State Lands ---------------------------------------- February 16, 2010 To: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Email: Beth.Patrino@state.or.us for Committee distribution Re: HB 3613A Oil and Gas Lease Moratorium – Territorial Sea - SUPPORT Chair Dingfelder and Members of the Committee: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. In 1990, the League adopted positions related to Offshore and Coastal Management after an extensive study of the issues. In the years since 1990 we have provided testimony to both the state and federal government related to this important policy. The League opposes oil and gas exploration and development within the state’s territorial sea. The ecological integrity, renewable natural resources, and beneficial uses of Oregon’s ocean water must be protected. The League’s 1990 study was prompted by possible action of the federal government. The League attempts to be preemptive in its studies to assure we understand potential future actions and have developed positions with members so we can advocate for their wishes. We have scheduled an update of this study for 2010 so we can more clearly address issues surrounding marine reserves, other energy potentials of our oceans and assuring we have protections of our fishing and crabbing industries and our important tourism industry along our coast, as well as protecting the ocean’s ecological values. The newly amended Territorial Sea Plan recognizes the increasing demands made on our territorial sea. We encourage your passage of this important legislation to protect the renewable natural resources in our territorial sea. Sincerely, Marge Easley Peggy Lynch President Natural Resources Coordinator ---------------------------------------- February 9, 2010 To: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: SB 1031, Destination Resorts – SUPPORT with -2 Amendments The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been involved in supporting Oregon’s statewide land use planning program with local implementation. We are pleased with the work that was done during the interim by a wide range of interests to address some of the issues that local jurisdictions have with our current destination resorts legislation. In particular, we are pleased to see a recognition that our cities may be affected by nearby resorts. The public invests greatly in our cities, paying for a wide range of urban infrastructure. We need to be sure that development outside of our cities does not negatively impact that public investment. We are also pleased to see recognition that resorts may well be located at the edge of one county and may impact the transportation infrastructure of another county. We understand the potential impact of these resorts on counties—both positively and negatively. Lastly, like the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association, we support future discussion and resolution on issues not included in this legislation—issues listed in their letter of February 5th to this Committee. We ask the Committee to SUPPORT SB 1031-2 and recommend a “do pass” to the full Senate. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator -------------------------------------------------- February 9, 2010 To: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: SB 1059, Livable Communities and Land Use/Transportation Connection SUPPORT Task Force Recommendations The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been a supporter of our statewide land use planning program with local implementation. No greater example of this symbiotic relationship exists than the proposals listed in the report by the Oregon Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Greenhouse Gas Emission Task Force. These proposals require state agencies to provide the overall framework for land use and transportation planning. At the same time each MPO will begin a conversation with its citizens to discuss the reduction of greenhouse gases in its transportation sector while improving the livability of the community. A clear link between our land use designations and our transportation system has existed for a long time in Oregon. With this legislation, we have an opportunity not only to improve on that link, but to place ourselves in a position to receive federal dollars to lead in this area. Our MPOs need transit dollars to improve alternate transportation choices. They need planning dollars to help insure we provide not only roads for freight, but sidewalks and bicycle transportation infrastructure for our citizens. This proposed legislation moves us a small step forward in eventual reduction of greenhouse gas pollution that threatens the health of our citizens and provides an opportunity to continue to support the most livable communities in the U. S. We ask that you SUPPPORT SB 1059 with amendments that reflect the recommendations of the Task Force you created as a part of HB 2186 (2009). Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator -------------------------------------------------- HB 3613 Joint Letter of Support by LWVOR and other organizations. -------------------------------------------------- February 2, 2010 To: House Environment and Water Committee Rep. Ben Cannon, Chair Re: LC 99, Exempt Wells - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League provided oral testimony in January in support of this legislative concept. There are over 230,000 individual home domestic wells that supply drinking water to Oregonians. Over 90% of rural residents rely on these important sources of water. Yet we have limited scientific information related to the amount of high quality groundwater available for use. In the 1950s, when it became clear that groundwater sources may be hydraulically linked to surface water, regulation of “critical ground water” and “limited ground water” areas began. These designations allowed some regulation of well construction and water extraction. As rural residential development increased in the 1990s, counties heard from rural residents that their older wells seemed to be affected by that new development and began asking for protection. Instead, under current law, they are told to just “dig deeper” or “truck it in”. There were also requests that the Water Resources Department increase its study of groundwater so that better protection of groundwater could occur. That information would also help local governments as they develop local development codes and make good land use decisions. But budget constraints have limited that research. Since 1955, the Water Resources Department has maintained a record of well logs. You have heard from previous testimony that SB 788 (2009) is somehow linked to this proposed legislation. However, SB 788 simply requires payment of a recording fee for new wells, along with a map of where the well is located on the property. The fee is to be used to improve management of groundwater by the state. Nothing in SB 788 changes the current laws related to the quantity of water that can be drawn under the exemption. nor did it address the very real issue of more exempt wells being placed in areas known to have limited or critical levels of groundwater. See these websites from the Water Resources Department explaining the effect of SB 788 on wells and the actual rules adopted to implement SB 788: http://www1.wrd.state.or.us/pdfs/exempt_use_788_faq.pdf and http://www1.wrd.state.or.us/pdfs/OAR_Ch_690_Div_190.pdf LC 99 simply changes the allowed water use under a single exempt well from 15,000 gallons a day down to 5,000. Since the current law allows up to 3 homes to use that 15,000 gallons, one could argue that the new proposal doesn’t really change that allowance. This allowance should provide more than enough water for drinking and for gardening/landscape use. As to how this would be enforced, many of our water laws are complaint driven as is true of the current exempt well law. Often, a neighbor has a problem with their own well or they see someone watering a much larger area or doing some action that the neighbor believes is outside of the exempt use and calls the Watermaster. Only then would any action be taken. A more important part of LC 99 is the recognition that we have a very real issue of groundwater depletion in some areas of Oregon. We have acknowledged that there are groundwater restricted areas in Oregon, but we continue to allow unrestricted exempt wells in many of these locations. As our climate continues to change, groundwater will become an even more important source of water for agriculture and industry as well as for human consumption. We need to support current wells while protecting groundwater in those restricted areas where water is scarce. We urge your SUPPORT of LC 99. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Alice Bartelt Peggy Lynch LWVOR Action Chair Natural Resources Coordinator Additional reference: League of Women Voters of Oregon’s 2009 Part One Water Study, section on regulating groundwater, including map of current restricted areas: http://www.lwvor.org/documents/WaterPart12009.html January 12, 2010 Rep. Tobias Read, Chair Members of the House Interim Committee on Sustainability and Economic Development Re: LC 123, Combusting Solid Waste as Renewable Energy DELETE SECTION 1 (6) and Section 2 (6) (a-c) The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We have strong positions on global climate change and on the predominant use of renewable resources in the production of energy. We also support government actions, such as mandatory standards, to encourage the use of these resources. The League strongly urges you to delete Section 1 (6) – lines 28-31 of page 2 and lines 1-6 on page 3 of LC 123 and Section 2 (6) (a-c) – lines 7-19 of page 5 of the 1/5/10 draft. In our opinion it would defeat the purpose of Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that requires Oregon utilities to provide 25% new renewable energy by 2025. We take issue with allowing utilities to include existing solid waste facilities in the count toward meeting their RES goals. The purpose of the goal is to encourage new action, using new technology in order to move forward toward a new energy future. Thus, we feel that the inclusion of existing solid municipal waste facilities in LC 123 seriously erodes the definition of “renewable resource”. The League supports policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid waste. LC 123, in effect, rewards utilities for burning solid waste instead of encouraging its reduction, reuse, and recycling. We do not believe that burning garbage is the highest and best use of this resource nor does it fit with the intent of the standard passed in 2007. We also believe there is another critical consideration regarding older solid waste facilities. After a study of solid waste in connection with the Covanta Energy Plant in Brooks, the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties developed a position that states, “Of primary concern are the public health and environmental impacts of solid waste disposal. These impacts should be given priority consideration over dollar cost impacts of solid waste disposal.” Ongoing research points to a real concern about CO2 emissions as well as dioxins and other toxic elements that affect our air, water, and soil, as well as the fact that incinerators are a major contributor to global warming. The League urges the Legislature to take into account the many competing objectives when crafting legislation related to alternative energy. Alternative energy sources should be carefully evaluated in light of a wide range of factors, including environmental and economic impacts as well as total carbon footprint. We believe that a holistic approach can best govern our energy future. Thank you for the opportunity to provide our input on this legislation. Sincerely, Marge Easley President Peggy Lynch Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top Social Policy 2010 February 9, 2010 Chair Senator Floyd Prozanski Senate Committee on Judiciary Re: SB 1007 Chair Prozanski and Committee Members: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The LWVOR has a position on Adult Corrections that favors increased use of alternatives to incarceration where possible and strongly supports community based programs. LWVOR joined the Promise of M 57 Coalition in 2009 and supported HB 3508 efforts to provide drug treatment, expand earned time credit for prisoners and save funds in the Department of Corrections. LWVOR supports SB 1007 in the modification of the class of ineligible inmates for earned time credit. It is reasonable to add violent crimes to the list of ineligible inmates, but it is not reasonable to repeal the earned time credit expansion. An analysis by the Criminal Justice Commission of the effect of earned time on recidivism should be allowed so that a rational decision can be made in future legislative sessions. LWVOR remains concerned about the cost of the current Department of Corrections operations and believes that alternative programs should be utilized to decrease the numbers of inmates or time served by inmates. It is in the communities’ interest to incentivize good behavior and encourage the completion of pre-release programs. The majority of inmates return to the community, and transition programs can prepare them for a successful readjustment. The League encourages the committee to continue the earned time credit options and to allow the study of the recidivism rates after at least a two year trial. Thank you for the opportunity to submit our position. Sincerely yours, Marge Easley Karen Nibler LWVOR President Social Policy Coordinator Back to top Governance 2009 June 26, 2009 TO: Senator Peter Courtney, President of the Senate Rep. Dave Hunt, Speaker of the House FROM: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator RE: HB 2414 B The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We have strong positions regarding the initiative process and believe that ballot titles should be stated in clear, concise language. HB 2414 B modifies requirements for ballot titles referred to people by referendum petition. The League believes it is important for voters to be able to understand the affect of their "yes" or "no" vote. Legislation referred to the voters by petition is often confusing. What does "yes" mean? What does "no" mean? Any legislation you offer that will help voters be better able to determine how THEY want to vote and the consequences of their vote should be considered. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this legislation. Back to top ---------------------------------------- June 11, 2009 Joint Committee on Ways and Means Sen. Margaret Carter, Co-Chair Rep. Peter Buckley, Co-Chair Re: HB 2386B, Electronic Voter Registration - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. One of our primary principles is ensuring that voting be as simple and efficient as possible to allow access to democratic government. Therefore, we strongly support making the process of voter registration as simple and accessible as possible to the greatest number of eligible voters. The League supports HB 2386B, which requires the Department of Transportation to provide the Secretary of State with a digital copy of the driver license or state identification card signature of each person who registers electronically. The League believes the easy access to voter registration proposed in HB 2386B will improve voter registration efforts, particularly among young people, and will be even more secure than the current paper system. We strongly support the current version of this bill. We appreciate this opportunity to comment on HB 2386B. Sincerely, Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- June 11, 2009 To: Senator Jackie Winters Representative Nancy Nathanson Senator Betsy Johnson Senator Martha Schrader Representative Bill Garrard Representative Chris Harker Representative Dennis Richardson Representative Jefferson Smith Representative Ben Cannon Senator Richard Devlin Representative Arnie Roblan Kate Brown, Secretary of State Re: HB 2386 A, Electronic Voter Registration The League of Women Voters of Oregon is concerned about the delay in moving HB 2386 to the Senate Floor. It was passed by the House 45-9 (6 excused) on March 20. There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund since the expense of setting up the system with DMV will be covered through the Help America Vote Act funds from the Secretary of State’s office. We suggest that in order to resolve the dilemma about the security of the electronic voter registration process, you consider: changing the implementation date to later than 2010, and/or setting up a process to determine if the date of initial voter registration is later than the date of the implementation of the Real ID Act. Those who register after the Real ID implementation date would be approved, while a process could be set up to check others. We thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on this bill. Sincerely, Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- June, 2009 House Rules Committee Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 3237 -4 Amendments Relating to Paid Petitioners The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League remained neutral on the original version of HB 3237 which concerned candidates and numerous political parties. The dash 4 amendments, which would add to enrolled HB 2005, cause us to support the proposed amendments. We supported the enactment of HB 2005 and the clarification for paid petition gatherers. The dash 4 amendments to HB 3237 provide the starting date for the amendments to ORS 250.048 so that the changes apply only to signatures on initiatives, referendum or recall petitions after January 1, 2010. We urge you to move this bill to complete HB 2005. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- June 1, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair Re: HB 2941, Substantially Identical Ballot Titles - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League supports HB 2941. One of the ongoing concerns about the Oregon initiative system is the common practice of a chief petitioner to file several ballot titles seeking the “perfect one” that will entice voters to support the proposal. Since each has to be reviewed by the Secretary of State and given a title by the Attorney General’s office, there are considerable personnel and fiscal resources involved. Over the years there have been numerous unsuccessful proposals to change the process. HB 2941 seeks a reasonable solution. In providing just one ballot title for substantially identical initiative measures, court challenges would be limited and the workloads of the Secretary of State and Attorney General could be lightened. Certainly costs would also be lessened. The League of Women Voters of Oregon strongly suggests that the committee positively consider HB 2941. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- June 1, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re; HB 3240, Payment for excess postage for ballots I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages citizen participation in government. Citizen access to the ballot is an important element in the election process. The League supports Oregon’s vote by mail system. As ballots get larger with additional measures and/or additional candidates, it is possible that the postage for mailing in those ballots would increase. We do acknowledge that there is a good system of drop boxes around the state as well as the ability to turn ballots in at the county elections office. However, we believe it is important for the state to assist with costs of elections, not just when there is a special state election, but whenever there is an election with a state presence. Whether or not funds exist for such support in these times is questionable. We support HB 3240 when it is possible to do so. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- June, 2009 Senate Committee on Rules Senator Richard Devlin, Chair Comments on SB 783 Campaign Finance Disclosure The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We have long supported the direct democracy process and have sought improvements to make it more effective and efficient. We appreciate this opportunity to comment on SB 783. SB 783 continues the positive work towards making Oregon’s campaign finance laws more transparent. Disclosure is the primary tool for following the expenditures and contributions of candidates and petition campaigns through their campaign committee reports. SB 783 clarifies the definition of a “petition committee” and requires the treasurer of a petition committee to establish a single exclusive petition account in a financial institution. We agree with the dash-5 amendments which require that the Secretary of State notify a campaign about the sufficiency of the discontinuance statements in a reasonable time (Sec. 21, (4)). We also concur with the change in Sec. 22 which requires a confirmation of sufficiency in response to a challenged filing or a correction. However, we question the time frame of two years as being long enough time for candidate or treasurer to preserve the accounts records. Under current law, the usual time for preservation is five years. We are in agreement with Sec. 25 relating to election law violations and actions of the Secretary of State. SB 783 is a somewhat complicated, but necessary, improvement to the campaign finance laws. We urge the committee to give it serious consideration. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 26, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair HB 2005 A Initiative Process Revisions As a strong supporter of Oregon citizens’ right to direct democracy, the League of Women Voters of Oregon has advocated for protecting the initiative process from fraud and misuse for many years. The initiative was established in 1902 in order to address corruption and non-attention to the needs of Oregonians by the Oregon Legislature. In the past two decades we have seen the initiative process used more to promote ideologies than to enact laws considered necessary by a majority of voters. The League supported passage of HB 2082 in 2007, a major improvement in several critical areas of the initiative system, and we support HB 2005 which would clarify and continue to protect the process, HB 2005 makes several improvements which the League feels are especially important: Paid petitioners must register with the Secretary of State and receive training before any petitions can be passed rather than until 1000 signatures have been gathered. Official Secretary of State petition templates of cover and signature sheets will now be prepared for prospective petitions rather than after 1000 signatures have been gathered. Chief petitioners would now file signature sheets each month which assist the Elections Division in initiative processing and more evenly spreading the work load. There is clear separation between paid and unpaid petition passers which the chief petitioner must verify. The addition of the section on “undue influence” is particularly important. The League believes HB 2005 is an efficient and effective next step to improving theinitiative process and urges committee passage. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 15, 2009 House Rules Committee Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair Oregon State Assembly 900 Court Street NE Salem, OR 97301 Re: HB 3488 Redistricting Advisory Commission The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. As a result of a two year redistricting study by a League research committee and discussion and agreement by League members, a state redistricting position was adopted in 2007. Our comments on HB 3488 and our concerns for Oregon’s redistricting system are related to that study. The League believes that redistricting should advance the fundamental purposes of representative democracy and a republican form of government by affording the people a meaningful choice in electing their representatives and holding government accountable to the people. We further believe that the Oregon Legislative and congressional redistricting system should be efficient, adequately funded, based on well-defined criteria, subject to a reasonable and effective timetable, and have an open and public process. While we support the concept of a Redistricting Advisory Commission, we urge the committee to consider moving the timeline in order to impact the 2011 redistricting process. There is ample support for this request in the history of past redistricting plans. The state has often had to use the Secretary of State and Supreme Court in the development of a plan because of either an impasse by the Legislature or a veto by the governor. Numerous resources are available to an advisory commission, including the League’s “Redistricting in Oregon” study and well-informed individuals. Redistricting should be a top priority in 2011. Consideration of the state’s options for accomplishing it in an equitable, efficient and effective manner should be available for the 2011 session. Studying the process and waiting until to 2021 to implement any recommendations is too far distant. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 12, 2009 TO: Speaker of the House Dave Hunt Speaker Pro Tempore Representative Arnie Roblan House Majority Leader Representative Mary Nolan House Republican Leader Representative Bruce Hanna Senate President Peter Courtney Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Rick Metsger Senate Majority Leader Senator Richard Devlin Senate Republican Leader Senator Ted Ferrioli Senator Margaret Carter, Co-Chair Ways and Means Senator Ginny Burdick, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue Representative Peter Buckley, Co-Chair Ways and Means Representative Phil Barnhart, Chair, House Committee on Revenue FROM: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President and Action Chair Paula Krane, Access Chair for the Action Committee RE: Timelines for Submission of Amendments Prior to Committee Hearings The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. Because of our strong interest in keeping the legislative process open and accessible to citizens, we would like to express our concern about the lack of opportunity for the public to review bill amendments before a public hearing or work session. The League believes that the public and legislative committee members are not well served by last minute amendments delivered at committee meetings. The public does not have an opportunity to review the amendments and provide informed testimony. In addition, the committee members do not have time to review the amendments in order to make informed decisions. The public perception of our public officials and transparency of the process may suffer as citizens view these hurried amendments as coming from special interests or lobbyists. The League respectfully makes the following suggestions: (1) all amendments should be posted online, perhaps where the full bill text is posted, before there is a hearing or work session on the bill amendment; (2) the person requesting the amendment should be identified in the amendment text; and (3) a timeline for submission of amendments prior to hearings or work sessions needs to be added to the process. The League believes that considerable progress has been made in the area of public accessibility in recent years. We recognize the efforts of legislative staff to provide information to the public and to receive public testimony on pending legislation. We are also aware of the difficulties created by the time constraints of deadlines, but we believe a new rule on amendments is sorely needed. Thank you for this opportunity to address this issue. Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 12, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Sen. Richard Devlin, Chair Re: HB 2386, Electronic Voter Registration - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. One of our primary principles is ensuring that voting be as simple and efficient as possible to allow access to democratic government. The League supports HB 2386, which requires the Department of Transportation to provide the Secretary of State with a digital copy of the driver license or state identification card signature of each person who registers electronically. The League believes the easy access to voter registration proposed in HB 2386 will improve the system. We also concur with those who testified in the House Rules Committee hearing that greater numbers of young people will be encouraged to register. The League appreciates this opportunity to comment on HB 2386 and looks forward to the committee’s support. Thank you. Sincerely, Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 7, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair RE: SB 803 Use of Campaign Funds-Oppose The League of Women Voters is a grassroots, non-partisan, political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League strongly believes in government accountability and transparency. We oppose SB 803. Public perception, even if inaccurate, of public officials’ actions as self-serving and against the law, leads to public distrust. The League supports adequate funding for legislators, and we worked hard in 2007 for the reinstatement of the Public Officials Compensation Board so that the issue could be addressed. Unfortunately these economic times work against giving legislators additional funds for staff and other necessary activities pertinent to their legislative duties. Trying to use campaign funds offers a slippery slope for misuse. After various disclosures of lobby influences and abuse of campaign funds during the past few years, changes in the ethics laws were welcomed. Now is not the time to remind citizens of indiscretions by allowing a broadening of the limits on campaign expenditures. While the League recognizes the problem and the need for a solution we do not believe that SB 803 is a good idea. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 17, 2009 To: House Rules Committee Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 3009 Campaign Finance Reform The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long advocated improving election campaigns by limiting campaign contributions. To accomplish this, the League supports HB 3009. A constitutional amendment will also need to be referred to the voters to allow this bill to become effective. With the April signing of a contribution limits bill by the governor in New Mexico, Oregon is one of only four states without some sort of campaign contribution limits. The League believes that our legislators and other office holders are honest and hard working. However, they are caught in a bad campaign finance system that demands ever-increasing contributions and expenditures to win elections. This makes them dependent on huge campaign contributions from interest groups that appear to want undue influence and access. A tipping point in Connecticut’s decision to adopt its Citizens’ Election Program in 2005 was a scandal that sent its governor to prison. New Mexico adopted its contribution limits legislation when motivated by scandals involving the secretary of state, the state house speaker and a former senate president pro tem. There are many other examples of this pattern of scandal leading to reform, but the League of Women Voters believes that we can do better in Oregon. HB 3009 provides a solution to the troubling increases in fundraising and the domination of larger and larger contributions. The League’s question for you today: Will it take another scandal for the Legislature to adopt campaign finance reform for our election system? We urge the committee to seriously consider HB 3009 for passage to the House floor. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Norman Turrill LWVOR President Campaign Finance Chair Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 16, 2009 To: Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Floyd Prozanski, Chair Re: SB 794, Fees in Condemnation Proceedings The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League of Women Voters of Oregon urges consideration of SB 794 in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We agree with the City of Portland that the current law concerning condemnation proceedings of private property for public purposes contains a provision that can result in unintended and unfair consequences. The proposed solution, contained in SB 794, would save taxpayer dollars by giving both the private party and the public entity a greater incentive to compromise before costly settlements or trials are initiated. The League believes that passage of SB 794 would add more transparency to the process and result in greater fairness for both private property owners and public entities. In addition, an improved process would mean that our limited tax dollars would be more wisely spent. Thank you for this opportunity to add our support to this bill. Sincerely, Marge Easley LWVOR President Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 9, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair Oregon State Assembly 900 Court Street NE Salem, OR 97301 Re: SB 778 Public Officials salaries The League of Women Voters of Oregon worked diligently with the Senate Committee on Legislative Reform during the 2007 session to restore the Public Officials Compensation Commission, and in particular to advocate for an increase in judicial salaries and separate the legislative salaries from the judicial formula. SB 778 makes the Commission advisory only and puts back the relationship between judicial and legislative salaries. We recognize that the state is in a fiscal crisis that calls for stringent fiscal actions. The League regrets that the improvement in the system is falling victim to this situation and recommends that there be a sunset on the decision to change the Public Officials Compensation Commission’s charge and the link of judicial and legislative salaries. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Alice Bartelt LWVOR President Governance Specialist Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 8, 2009 Senate Consumer and Workforce Development Committee Senator Diane Rosenbaum, Chair Re: SB 966 Family Leave Benefits Insurance For the record, I am Alice Bartelt, Governance Specialist for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League supports SB 966. Assisting workers to care for family members under specific circumstances makes good sense, both for the employees, their families and the employer. For that reason the League advocated for family leave several years ago. Creating a Family Leave Benefits Insurance program is an excellent next step to improve support for both workers and their families. While the Family Leave Act allows workers to take unpaid leave to care for children or parents, loss of wages can deter the use of such leave, particularly if the worker is the main source of economic support for a family. Establishing this program which provides for paid family leave allows employees to contribute to the fund and receive reimbursement if necessary to provide care. There are specific criteria for the Fund’s use and penalties for misuse. Administration of the program is given to the Bureau of Business and Industry. While the bill indicates the level of employer participation, smaller businesses can opt to participate. The proposal outlines protections both for employers and workers. SB 966 addresses a critical problem and provides for a reasonable solution. The League urges passage of SB 966. Thank you Marge Easley Alice Bartelt LWVOR President Governance Specialist Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 8, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: SB 30-A Ethics revision For the record, I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We have watched with interest the enlarging of SB 30-A from one page to 20 pages to address several ethics issues first enacted in SB 10 (2007). This bill is now one of several before the Rules Committee dealing with proposed revisions to SB 10. SB 30 originally sought to remove the necessity of filing Statements of Economic Interest from hundreds of volunteer and distant relatives of officials. The amended version does that, but also adds candidates to the list of persons who must file, and the League supports that addition. There is considerable clarification of “gift” without changing the $50 limit and reporting requirements have been modified. The list of officials required to file the SEI has been enlarged, and the requirement for local government officials to report has been retained which is not the case in some other ethics bills. The League continues to be concerned about transparency and accountability in government. SB 30-A brings in candidates for reporting and requires specific reporting from all officials as outlined in Section 6. While it may be onerous, it is important in the efforts to bring back public trust. The phrase “administrative or legislative interest” is clarified, along with additions to what is or is not a gift. SB 30-A joins a growing list of ethics bills being heard in both the House and Senate Rules committees, We recommend that the committees, after due deliberation, put the best of all of them into one proposal for further discussion. Most of us recognize that SB 10 (2007) would be revisited this session. We hope that the current proposals can lead to a stronger ethics program. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 6, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair Re: SJR 31 Limitation on repeated initiative proposal I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The Oregon initiative is a time-honored process for citizens to address issues of concern not being addressed by the Legislature. In recent elections, measures that have been rejected once appear again on the ballot in subsequent elections, usually to be rejected again. This is costly, not only in time and resources, but also to the integrity of the initiative process. SJR 31 proposes a remedy for the situation by not allowing the same or substantially the same measure to be reintroduced for five years. The League supports a time restriction on repeat initiatives, but suggests that five years is too long a time period. Other initiative states have that limit, but others have initiative elections more frequently. If a four year restriction was enacted, no rejected initiative measure would be up for a vote until the second election cycle following the defeat. We do encourage the committee to seriously consider the merits of limiting repeating proposals. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 6, 2009 Houses Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 3011 I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. HB 3011 takes HB 2505 another step or two by adding candidates for public office and additional public officials who must file an EIS. It does not remove one of the sticking points of SB 10 (2007). The problem with local volunteers and relatives is not remedied. In addition, the League is concerned about the exemption of food and drink in Section 1, K, line 23, page 3 of the bill. Even though the costs may be small, substantial influence can occur. We do support the inclusion of candidates who must adhere to the ethics rules. There are several bills before this committee dealing with similar ethics issues. We hope that you thoroughly review each of them and come up with a compromise that can receive public and decision-maker support. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 6, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2504 For the record, my name is Kappy Eaton. I am Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. During the legislative session of 2005 and 2007, the League worked with several individuals and groups to improve the Oregon ethics laws. Public opinion strongly indicated both distrust and disgust at certain lobbying practices. The funding and operation of the then Standards and Practices Commission limited the follow-up of complaints. Senate Bill 10, 2007, put in place a stronger Ethics Commission, greater limits on lobbying and gift activities, and more emphasis on the filing of Statements of Economic Interest (EIS). The problem that HB 2504 seeks to remedy is a too wide net requirement for statements. Local entities, particularly those with volunteers, have suffered widespread resignations because of the required statement filings. While the League supports transparency and accountability for public officials, the implementation around SB 10 was too encompassing. The League supports HB 2504 and recommends moving it to the House floor. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 6, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2010 Initiative Process Revisions I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator of the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. On March 27, we testified in support of HB 2005, pointing out some specific initiative process improvements contained in that bill. The League feels that HB 2010 has responded to the questions brought up during testimony on HB 2005, and we support the new version. There is clarification about the rules for paid and unpaid petition passers as well as for the circumstances about when the signatures on a petition sheet will not be counted. The League agrees with these changes. Specific issues that we feel are important have been kept in HB 2010 such as early counting of petition sheets, which will make the work of the Elections Division more efficient, effective and less harried as the petition deadline nears. The tightening of identification regulations for signature gathering, the use of official templates from the beginning of the signature gathering, and the monthly filing of petition sheets also are significant and positive changes. HB 2010 is important to keeping the initiative process as transparent and effective as possible. Please move it forward. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 3, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HJR 36 Redistricting plan by panel of special masters I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We recently concluded a research study on redistricting history and methods. Members discussed the current law in Oregon which uses the legislature first, and then the Secretary of State if the legislative plan is not passed or vetoed. Among the various methods for redistricting around the country, use of panels or commissions is fairly common. HJR 36 would replace the current system with a panel of special masters made up of retired judges. It also presents some rather vague criteria for the re-alignment of districts, while the League supports rather strict criteria for the very important work of ensuring equal and fair representation in our form of state government. There is a problem with using retired judges which was distinctly stated by the Oregon Court Administrator in his testimony March 30 regarding using retired judges to review challenged ballot titles. One, there aren’t enough of them and two, to go to the next tier would require additional funding. While the League is anxious for discussion of changes to the Oregon redistricting process, we do not support HJR 36 as the mechanism to do it. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 3, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 3240 I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages citizen participation in government. Citizen access to the ballot is an important element in the election process. The League supports Oregon’s vote by mail system. As ballots get bigger with additional measures and/or additional candidates, postage does increase. We believe, also, that there is a good system of drop boxes around the state as well as the ability to turn your ballot in at the county elections office. That being said, we do support the state assisting with costs of elections, not just when there is a special state election, but whenever there is an election with a state presence. Whether or not funds exist for such support in these times is questionable. We support HB 3240 when it is possible to do so. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 3, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 3451 Electronic scan of votes 10 days prior to election I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. Allowing for secure electronic scanning of ballots 10 days prior to an election would increase the ability of county election offices to provide election returns quicker as well as to make the process more effective and efficient during the busy election season. The problem is that the votes cannot be tallied at that time, and most election offices do not have the equipment to scan only. If the purpose of the measure is to prepare for the time when secure scanning can done without tallying, the League supports the enabling act. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 3, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair SJR 11 Legislative review of initiatives I am Kappy Eaton, Governance coordinator or the League of Women Vot4ers of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. For more than 20 years the members of the League have supported the concept of a comprehensive review of proposed and qualified petition initiatives prior to a vote on such proposals. In the Initiative position adopted in 1987, the League supports use of the indirect initiative process as a means to thoroughly examine initiative measures so that voters can be aware of the effects and consequences of such laws or constitutional amendments. Voter education about ballot measures is of primary concern to the League. Citizens need to understand what laws are designed to do, whether initiatives or bills by the Legislature. Because SJR 11 would require a review by the Legislature, there would be public hearings and public discussion about all initiative proposals. HJR 17, the House version of SJR 11, provides for alternatives to merely sending the initiative to the next election with no action other than a published advisory vote by both chambers. The League supports other alternatives such as its own version of the bill and also the ability of the chief petitioner to withdraw the petition The League supports SJR 11 as a necessary constitutional amendment to improve the initiative process and provide for public discussion of changes in Oregon law. Recommendations for the indirect initiative process came from the Public Commission on the Legislature and the Task Force on Revenue Restructuring. The time is now to make this important change in the process and restore the public’s confidence in their ability to participate in government. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 3, 2009 Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair Re: SB 656 Fiscal Impact in Ballot Titles For the record, I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization which encourages informed citizen participation in government. The impact on the state’s General Fund from unfunded initiative mandates, and consequently the inability of the state to fund essential programs, has been severe. Over the past two decades, such unfunded measures have lowered support for education at all levels, human services provisions, and public safety programs. The inability of the state to provide adequate funding for these programs is seriously hampering Oregon’s progress. The Task Force on Revenue Restructuring recommended that the Legislature address this problem. SB 656 seeks to remedy it in a simple way, and the League of Women Voters supports the effort. The fiscal statement that is required for all appropriate ballot measures and currently provided through the explanatory statement apparently is not sufficiently informing voters. Most people read the ballot title, but do not necessarily realize that funding is not provided for new programs. That lack of understanding now costs the General Fund almost 50% of its revenue in programs which were put in place through the initiative process with no funding resource provided. HB 2845 is similar to SB 656, and at its hearing several positive suggestions were made regarding the wording of the ballot title with the additional fiscal impact. An important question concerned ballot measures which have a positive fiscal impact. With no additional revenue sources, the state’s support pie must be cut in smaller pieces for all programs even as the state’s population grows. SB 656 would indicate a fiscal impact of any proposed program in the ballot title along with the appropriate funding information. Voters can then make an informed decision to support or oppose any proposal which costs money. This is a reasonable and responsible change in the initiative process. The League urges the committee to move SB 656 forward. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 30, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2845 Fiscal Impact Included in Ballot Titles The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The impact on the General Fund from unfunded initiative mandates over the past two decades has been so severe that the state has not been able to support essential programs in education, human services, and public safety. This is seriously hampering Oregon’s progress. The Task Force on Revenue Restructuring recommended that the Legislature address this problem. HB 2845 seeks to remedy it in a simple way, and the League of Women Voters supports the effort. The fiscal statement that is required for all appropriate ballot measures and currently provided through the explanatory statement apparently is not sufficiently informing voters. Most people read the ballot title, but do not necessarily realize that funding is not provided for new programs. That lack of understanding now costs the General Fund almost 50% of its revenue in programs that were put in place through the initiative process with no funding resource provided. These mandated programs include the building and maintaining of prisons because of sentencing guidelines and the reduction of local property taxes for schools, which has caused the state to pick up the considerable difference in available funds. With no additional revenue sources, the state’s support pie must be cut in smaller pieces for all programs even as the state’s population grows. HB 2845 would indicate the fiscal impact of any proposed program in the ballot title along with either stating an available funding source or that no funding source is provided. Voters can then make an informed decision to support or oppose any proposal that costs money. This is a reasonable and responsible change in the initiative process. The League urges the committee to move HB 2845 forward. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 30, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HJR 17, Legislative Review of Initiatives I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator of the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. For more than 20 years the members of the League have supported the concept of a comprehensive review of proposed and qualified petition initiatives prior to a vote on such proposals. In our position on initiatives adopted in 1987, the League supports use of the indirect initiative process as a means to thoroughly examine initiative measures so that voters can be aware of the effects and consequences of such laws or constitutional amendments. Voter education about ballot measures is of primary concern to the League. Citizens need to understand what laws are designed to do, whether they be initiatives or bills by the Legislature. Because HJR 17 would require a review by the Legislature, there is an assumption that there would be public hearings and public discussion about all initiative proposals. The bill also provides several means of dealing with the initiative measure: refer to public vote without comment, conduct an advisory vote, refer an alternative, reject the initiative or take no action. The last possibility provokes the question – if no action is taken, does that mean that the proposed initiative dies in the Legislature? Since there were sufficient signatures to cause the initiative to be sent to the Legislature, taking no action is not appropriate or fair to citizens who signed the petition. We don’t support it. The League supports any of the other alternatives and also the ability of the chief petitioner to withdraw the petition The League supports HJR 17 as a necessary constitutional amendment to improve the initiative process and to provide for public discussion of changes in Oregon law. Recommendations for the indirect initiative process came from the Public Commission on the Legislature and the Task Force on Revenue Restructuring. The time is now to make this important change in the process and restore the public’s confidence in its ability to participate in government. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 30, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2820 Initiative Review Committee The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. For many years the League has supported some type of review for all initiative measures that qualify for the ballot. We strongly believe that citizens should have as much knowledge as possible about the consequences of both statutory and constitutional amendments that are proposed for additions to Oregon law. Issues such as legality, constitutionality, correct or more understandable language, appropriateness of proposed action, and fiscal viability all have been raised. However, no drafted bills on these issues have ever been passed. Bills proposing a variety of such reviews – from the Attorney General, Legislative Counsel, a special legislative committee, a special citizen commission, or retired judges - have been discussed and dismissed. A panel of retired law school deans was appointed by a former Secretary of State to review some of the constitutional amendments proposed for two Oregon General Elections. These were advisory opinions only and appeared in the Voters’ Pamphlet. HB 2820 proposes a process for a limited review of initiatives with the ability of the chief petitioner to revise the petition if desired. There is no requirement for public hearings, only that they may be held. The League does not believe that HB 2820 is strong enough or helpful enough to citizens who really need to know what a proposed initiative will do. The timeline for the review process and the required report is very short. The League prefers the more definitive review proposed in HJR 17 with required consideration of the initiatives and a longer timeline. Thank you for this opportunity to comment. Sincerely, Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 30, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2895, Citizen Review Panel The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. Citizen knowledge and understanding of initiative proposals is important both to the integrity of the initiative process and to the enactment of Oregon laws. HB 2895 proposes the use of citizen panels to discuss proposed initiative measures with supporters, opponents, expert witnesses and their peers. The League believes this process merits consideration. During the period just prior to the 2008 General Election, the Healthy Democracy organization carried out a citizen panel demonstration. A large group of voters interested in public policy was identified through random sampling. A panel was then recruited to discuss a selected initiative and, at the end of the five day discussion, made a statement which could be published in the Oregon Voters Pamphlet. The League was asked to follow the process from its inception to a final evaluation. We participated in the steps leading to the panel selection and an attorney member was present during the entire five day process. Our assessment was positive as to the value of the discussion of the initiative, and we made constructive recommendations for any future use of the process. The proposal in HB 2895 simply allows that the Secretary of State designate organizations to work collectively to establish citizen panels for the purpose of reviewing state initiatives and to agree to publish a statement concerning the chosen measure(s) in the Voters Pamphlet. We strongly support this idea in the interest of voter education. Thank you. Sincerely, Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 27, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2941 Similar Ballot Titles The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. Since each has to be reviewed by the Secretary of State and given a title by the Attorney General’s office, there are considerable personnel and fiscal resources involved. Over the years there have been numerous unsuccessful proposals to change the process. HB 2941 seeks a reasonable solution. In providing just one ballot title for similar proposed initiative measures, court challenges would be limited and the work loads of the Secretary of State and Attorney General could be lightened and cost less. The League of Women Voters of Oregon strongly suggests that the committee positively consider HB 2941. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 27, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair HB 2005 Initiative Process Revisions As a strong supporter of Oregon citizens’ right to direct democracy, the League of Women Voters of Oregon has advocated for protecting the initiative process from fraud and misuse for many years. The initiative was established in 1902 in order to address corruption and non-attention to the needs of Oregonians by the Oregon Legislature. In the past two decades we have seen the initiative process used more to promote ideologies than to enact laws considered necessary by a majority of voters. The League supported passage of HB 2082 in 2007, a major improvement in several critical areas of the initiative system, and we support HB 2005 which would clarify and continue to protect the process, HB 2005 makes several improvements which the League feels are especially important: Paid petitioners must register with the Secretary of State and receive training before any petitions can be passed rather than until 1000 signatures have been gathered. The Elections Division may now start verifying signature petitions when an estimated of 50% of the number of qualified signatures has been reached rather than the huge job of verifying them after the return deadline and before the date needed for ballot certification. Official Secretary of State petition templates of cover and signature sheets will now be prepared for prospective petitions rather than after 1000 signatures have been gathered. Chief petitioners would now file signature sheets each month which assist the Elections Division in initiative processing and more evenly spreading the work load. There is clear separation between paid and unpaid petition passers which the chief petitioner must verify. The League believes HB 2005 is an efficient and effective next step to improving the initiative process and urges committee passage. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 27, 2009 House Rules Committee Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2572 Chief Petitioner Restrictions The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League of Women Voters of Oregon believes that the initiative process should be protected from fraud and misuse. Direct democracy is an important avenue for citizens to propose legislation in the best interests of all Oregonians. The restrictions provided in HB 2572 address crimes of identification theft, forgery and fraud of which a chief petitioner has been convicted or found guilty in a criminal or civil action under Oregon election laws. The law would also apply to any person associated with an initiative campaign who has been convicted. In order to provide for a fair and fraud-free initiative system, the League recommends that the committee support HM 2572. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 26, 2009 House Revenue Committee Representative Phil Barnhart, Chair Re: HJR 27 and HJR 29 Tax Expenditures Limits Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HJRs 27 and 29 which both amend the Oregon constitution to limit the amount of personal and corporate income tax expenditures which can be allowed. For some time, but especially during the past four legislative sessions, the League of Women Voters of Oregon has supported proposals to limit the state’s tax expenditures. The more than $27 billion in possible revenues that the state literally “gives away” every biennium cannot be defended in poor economic times such as today. That being said, the League has two specific concerns with regard to HJRs 27 and 29. First, in analyzing the revenues that might be obtained, careful consideration must be made regarding the nature of each affected expenditure so that important social and economic goals are not lost. The measures paint with a broad brush. Second, the League rarely supports measures which put statutory material into the constitution. The specific percentages and years of implementation are critical to the outcome of the limits, but putting them in the constitution limits the flexibility of the Legislature for revisions that could be necessary even with the allowing of reviews. The ability of the Legislature to temporarily raise income tax rates (in the constitution) as provided in lines 19 through 28 is equally troubling. The League supports revisions to the tax expenditures specified in HJRs 27 and 29 but suggests the possibility of two bills – one statutory and the other a constitutional referral. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 26, 2009 House Revenue Committee Representative Phil Barnhart, Chair Re: HJR 31 Tax Expenditure bills with a simple majority The League of Women Voters of Oregon and the League of Women Voters of the United States have long-supported the principle that democratic decisions should be made by a simple majority. We support the concept outlined in HJR 31 because it removes the super majority now imposed on revenue measures in the Oregon Legislature. It is time for citizens to consider removing the current restrictions. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 12, 2009 Senate Finance and Revenue Committee Senator Ginny Burdick, Chair Re: SJR 29 Reserve Fund Constitutional Amendment The League of Women Voters is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We strongly support the establishment of a reserve fund in the Oregon Constitution. In the interests of a fair and adequate tax system and the assurance of funding for state services and programs during economic downturns, the fund is essential. SJR 29 provides details for such a reserve. We listened with great interest to the discussions of the Public Commission on the Legislature and the Task Force on Revenue Restructuring concerning the need for the reserve fund. We support their reports, which included recommendations for it. The proposal before you moves these recommendations to action while preserving the law rebating surplus tax revenues to individual and corporate income tax payers. Only after the reserve fund has reached 10% of the General Fund will the 2% threshold of the biennial projection allow tax rebates. This provides economic stability The League urges you to support this important step in guaranteeing an adequate reserve fund as well as adhering to the public’s desire to share in revenue surpluses. Please move SJR 29 forward and also support an early citizen vote on the amendment. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on this important issue. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 11, 2009 To: House Revenue Committee Representative Phil Barnhart, Chair From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator Re: HJR 14, Income Tax Expenditures Review The League of Women Voters is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. Thank you for this opportunity to comment on HJR 14. For some time, the League of Women Voters of Oregon has supported some form of regular review of tax expenditures. HJR 14 amends the Oregon Constitution to provide for such a review. This will allow for both a fairer and more equitable system, allow flexibility in the system, and ultimately provide a more stable funding stream for the General Fund. Given the volatility of the income tax on which the state so heavily relies, the League believes that this review of tax expenditures makes good sense. We urge the committee to move this amendment forward to a vote of the public. Back to top -------------------------------------------- March 10, 2009 TO: Members of the Senate Committee on Rules Senator Richard Devlin, Chair FROM: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator Re: SB 30, List of relatives required to file EIS amended The League of Women Voters is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League originally testified in support of SB 30 on February 5. At that time we agreed that it was appropriate to revise the types of public officials who must report lobbying efforts, conflicts of economic interest and gifts to the Ethics Commission. We felt that too many individuals had been included in the expanded list of people who had to submit the EIS. At that time the League also supported SB 31 and SB 32, which further clarified the extent of reporting. We suggested only that in SB 32, if no quarterly report was necessary, one should be filed annually. However, at this time the League is very concerned that the myriad amendment proposals to SB 30 open up too many possibilities for special interest groups to again have greater influence with decision makers. We strongly urge you to consider the following: Keep it simple and just change what needs to be changed now. It took three sessions - and most of the 2007 session - to formulate a comprehensive ethics law revision. Tinkering with pieces right now opens the process to more hasty changes. If more extensive revisions need to be made, a work group should be put together to deal with them. The public was pleased with the changes in general (except for the broad net of reporting). The major changes regarding gifts, etc., will lower public opinion again. Keep it clean. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to comment on SB 30. Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 9, 2009 House Revenue Committee Representative Phil Barnhart, Chair Re: HB 2066, Earned Income Tax Credit I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. The League believes that basic human services should be ensured for all citizens, particularly those low income families needing shelter, food and health care. HB 2066 would provide additional dollars to those working families in Oregon. The Earned Income Tax Credit affects more than 200,000 Oregon households, providing dollars to pay for necessities. In these difficult economic times, granting additional funds would be a good investment since the recipients would spend these funds in local communities across the state. Poverty is on the rise in Oregon, and in many counties it is in the double digits. These same counties are already finding it difficult to provide services. We know this results in more hunger and homelessness. HB 2066 should be given support as an excellent example of helping both families and communities. The League urges the committee to seriously consider this request for 2009-11. Thank you. Marge Easley Kappy Eaton LWVOR President Governance Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- February 27, 2009 To: Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator Re: SJR 3 Same Day Registration My name is Kappy Eaton. I represent the League of Women Voters of Oregon as the Governance Coordinator. The League is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We believe that all citizens should have open and easily available access to the voting system. SJR 3 addresses this issue. For many years, the League has supported the idea of election-day voter registration. We opposed the 20 day cutoff when it was proposed because we felt it prevented open access to some potential voters. Our position has not changed. Back to top ---------------------------------------- February 17, 2009 Oral Testimony To: Senate Finance and Revenue Committee From: Kappy Eaton, LWVOR Governance Chair Re: SB 26 Comments included: (1) The fact that we have been concerned about tax expenditures since before the Accountability Act was passed in 1995; (2) we have consistently supported efforts to have the Legislature review or get some other body to review tax expenditures; (3) we supported the recommendations of the PCOL regarding tax expenditures; (4) we commented favorably upon the TRFF recommendations in the same vein; and (5) the 6 member panel, with 4 legislators, a local government person and a final unknown is not large or diverse enough. The TRFF model with legislators and a wide variety of others worked well. Back to top ------------------------------ February 6, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue Senator Ginny Burdick, Chair From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator Re: A-Engrossed HB 2157 The League of Women Voters of Oregon strongly urges you to promptly discuss and move to the Senate floor A-Engrossed HB 2157, passed by the House on February 4. We are seriously concerned about the possible loss of more than $70 million if the Legislature does not act to decouple from the federal tax code provision on the issue of bonus depreciation. The state lost $85.5 million because the Legislature did not act when the 2008 Stimulus Act was in process. During this dire fiscal crisis every dollar counts toward services given or denied Oregonians. Businesses will still receive the benefit of the federal tax change. As you are well aware, the state can’t run a deficit, so the budget must be balanced AND services provided. We don’t need to lose this much-needed revenue. Please move A-Engrossed HB 2157 with a do pass recommendation. Thank you. Back to top ------------------------------ February 5, 2009 Senate Committee on Rules Sen. Richard Devlin, Chair Re: SB 30 List of relatives required to file EIS amended SB 31 Required contents of EIS modified SB 32 Quarterly reports not required if nothing to report I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We believe that public officials should be responsible and accountable for their public decisions. We supported the comprehensive Ethics Reform legislation which was enacted by the 2007 Legislature. That being said, we appreciate the opportunity to comment as follows on SBs 30, 31, and 32. SB 30 would correct the implementation of the new ethics statute that cast too large a net regarding relatives of public officials who must file statements of economic interest. We support the amendment to ORS 244-050. SB 31 also amends the statute, ORS 244.060 to lower the amount of income to $1000 before it must be reported. We believe this to be a more meaning and equitable figure. The League supports SB 31. SB 32 amends ORS 244.100 to take away the requirement that public officials or candidates must report quarterly statements itemizing expenses, honoraria or income even if none were received for that period. The League can support this amendment only if there is assurance that an annual report must be filed, whether or not there has been any expense activity. Transparency in government should dictate such a report. Thank you, Marge Easley President Kappy Eaton Governance Coordintor Back to top ------------------------------ January 28, 2009 House Rules Committee Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HJR 5 Election Day Registration My name is Kappy Eaton. I represent the League of Women Voters of Oregon as the Governance Coordinator. The League is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We believe that all citizens should have open and easily available access to the voting system. HJR 5 addresses this issue. For many years, the League has supported the idea of election-day voter registration. We opposed the 20day cutoff when it was proposed because we felt it prevented open access to some potential voters. Our position has not changed. Thank you, Marge Easley President Kappy Eaton Governance Coordinator Back to top ------------------------------ January 28, 2009 House Rules Committee Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2386 Electronic Voter Registration I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator of the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. One of our primary principles is ensuring that voting be as simple and efficient as possible to allow access to democratic government. While the League can support the easy access to voter registration proposed in HB 2386, we have some questions regarding the implementing of an electronic system. Since the system will be established by the Secretary of State, are there costs to setting up the system that are covered in the budget? The League appreciates this opportunity to comment on HB 2386 and looks forward to the committee’s discussion and decision. Thank you. Marge Easley President Kappy Eaton Governance Coordinator Back to top ------------------------------ January 28, 2009 House Committee on Rules Rep. Arnie Roblan, Chair Re: HB 2387 Postage Costs for Return Ballots I am Kappy Eaton, Governance Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The League is a grassroots, nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. Access for citizens to the voting process is of primary concern to the members of the League, and we appreciate the committee’s hearing on HB 2387. During the informal informational hearing in Rules about election issues during the interim, there was a lively discussion about the ability of young people to cast their mail in ballots. It was pointed out that college students in particular, rarely have stamps, and lead very busy lives. It is harder for them to get their ballots returned. There were skeptics in the audience who couldn’t believe that young persons couldn’t find the convenient drop boxes placed around campuses or downtown areas. In an unscientific survey, I asked my three grandchildren college students if and how they voted. One used a campus drop box; one used the county elections office; and one mailed hers in. While the League has no specific position concerning postage which could be paid by the counties, we do believe that, in today‘s economic situation and the crisis in local government finances, there is not sufficient funding for supporting HB 2387 at this time Even though it is only enabling legislation, it does not seem appropriate now. We strongly support the Oregon vote by mail system, and given election proposals which could enlarge the ballot and increase postage, we recognize the need for discussion about mailing costs. The League, however, does not feel that HB 2387 is warranted at this time. Thank you. Marge Easley President Kappy Eaton Governance Coordinator Back to top Natural Resources 2009 November 18, 2009 To: House Environment and Water Committee, Rep. Ben Cannon, Chair Re: Oil and Gas Lease Moratorium – Territorial Sea Chair Cannon and Members of the Committee: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. In 1990, the League adopted positions related to Offshore and Coastal Management after an extensive study of the issues. We have provided testimony to both the state and federal government related to this important policy. The League opposes oil and gas exploration and development within the state’s territorial sea. The ecological integrity, renewable natural resources, and beneficial uses of Oregon’s ocean water must be protected. Attached is one copy of our 1990 study: Energy, Ecology, Economics: Oregon Offshore Development Issues. Unfortunately, it is not available in electronic form. You will note that the study was prompted by possible action of the federal government. The League attempts to be preemptive in its studies to assure we understand potential future actions and have developed positions with members so we can advocate for their wishes. We have scheduled an update of this study for 2010 so we can more clearly address issues surrounding marine reserves, other energy potentials of our oceans and assuring we have protections of our fishing and crabbing industries and our important tourism industry along our coast, as well as protecting the ocean’s ecological values. The newly amended Territorial Sea Plan recognizes the increasing demands made on our territorial sea. We encourage your discussion of this important issue and support any efforts to ban oil and gas exploration and development in our territorial sea. Sincerely, Marge Easley President Peggy Lynch Natural Resources Coordinator Attachment: Energy, Ecology, Economics May 1990 ---------------------------------------- November 4, 2009 Marion County Commissioners P.O. Box 14500 Salem, OR 97809 Dear Commissioners, The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. Our organization has a long history of testifying on land use issues, based on our belief that land should be managed as a finite resource. In addition, two of our members, including myself, represented the public’s interest on the Governor’s Aggregate/Farmland Consensus Group between 2004 and 2006. This group attempted to come up with solutions to balance the needs of the aggregate industry with the need to preserve our state’s most fertile farmland in the Willamette Valley. Although no consensus was achieved, we gained valuable knowledge about the issue, and therefore take great interest in this Goal 5 hearing. The League is extremely alarmed at the rate at which high value farmland is being lost in the Willamette Valley. There are various reasons for these losses, but it is important to note that 200 to 400 acres of prime farmland is lost each year as a direct result of aggregate mining. If the Windsor Island Rock application is approved, 247 acres of Class II soil will never be reclaimed to productive agricultural use again, since the reclamation plan calls instead for the creation of a lake to be used for wildlife habitat. We believe that a reclamation plan that returns the site to farmland is not only reasonable but essential when considering both the requirements of Goal 3 and the needs of future generations. We urge Marion County to either use its authority to require a strong reclamation plan that returns the site to productive agricultural use or deny this application. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this letter of testimony for this Goal 5 hearing. Sincerely, Marge Easley President ---------------------------------------- November 10, 2009 Water Resources Commission 725 Summer Street NE, Suite A Salem, OR 97301-1271 Email: Brenda.O.Bateman@wrd.state.or.us Re: Work Session Item E, Integrated Water Resources Strategy Members of the Water Resources Commission: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long followed issues surrounding water and has adopted positions related to water quality (1969) and water policy and planning (1985), both of which are being restudied for update this next year. We supported HB 3369 (2009) related to a long-term integrated water resources strategy for Oregon. Members of our study committee have reviewed the documents issued under Work Session Item E and have the following comments to share: We realize that the work done so far has been mostly through the volunteer efforts of Water Resources Commission members prior to the addition of or participation by the Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Fish and Wildlife and other agencies. We commend this work but wonder if it might be advantageous to have at least one member of the Commissions or Boards for these agencies on your Planning Committee in the future. We note that the Legislature provided only staffing dollars for two positions. However, unless the public is actively engaged in this effort, it will fail. We encourage your use of local governments and water partners to help reach out to the general public, since they will be asked at some point to fund the recommendations from your important work. Your flow chart indicates “public participation opportunities,” but the dialogue only mentions your three more formal advisory groups. The Project Team seems to be responsible for “filtering” information from all sources. Somehow your process must include a clear, formal way for the Commission to receive direct general public input. Although we were disappointed in the public outreach of the Big Look Task Force, one area where they provided helpful and easily accessible information to the public was through their easily found “Big Look” website. We encourage you to seek additional funding during the February 2010 session to assure that Oregonians can easily find the work on this strategy and can provide input into your important work. That funding might include staffing to keep the website current with meeting minutes and draft reports, and clerical staffing to manage the many meetings noted in your work plan to complete this important work. In the meantime, web access to the names of members of your Agency Advisory Group, Policy Advisory Group, and any Technical Advisory Groups would be a good first step. Then, in 2011, funding for robust public involvement would be necessary. Interactive displays at local community events and other innovative processes will be needed. We hope you have seen the most recent work of the California Water Resources Department. The 2009 update reports are comprehensive, yet almost overwhelming. Only if other agencies, as mentioned in HB 3369, take on a part of the task could Oregon successfully complete such a broad planning effort (http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/cwpu2009/index.cfm). Examples of where your current document does not include the broad issues involved are in Appendix B that lists mostly data sets easily available to the Water Resources Department. We hope your Advisory and Technical Groups will provide you with an expanded list of available data sets from the various agencies’ work to assure a complete discussion of the complex issues surrounding water. Thank you for considering our comments. The League plans on publishing Part 2 of our Water Study in the spring. Members have been conducting interviews with a variety of people in order to provide a statewide view of water issues. Many of our local Leagues have done an informational study of their local water issues. Also, many Leagues have provided a variety of programs for members and local citizens on water issues. Upon receipt of Part 2, they will be asked to consider updates to our positions. Water and climate change are two priority natural resource issues before our members. We wish you well in your work and offer our support and assistance as appropriate. Sincerely, Marge Easley President Peggy Lynch Natural Resources Coordinator Cc: Michael Carrier, Governor’s Natural Resources Policy Advisor Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, Chair of the Senate and Environment Committee Rep. Ben Cannon, Chair of the House Environment and Water Committee Rep. Jefferson Smith and Rep. Bob Jenson, Principle Authors of HB 3369 ---------------------------------------- August 25, 2009 Governor Kulongoski 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, OR 97301-4047 Re: Request to EPA for exception to rules related to release of toxic mercury-OPPOSE The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League understands the need for jobs, especially in rural Oregon. The League understands the value of cement as used in a variety of building, infrastructure and industrial uses. However, the League has multiple positions related to Air and Water Quality* that demand it ask you, Governor Kulongoski, to reject the Department of Environmental Quality’s recommendation to the Environmental Protection Agency to create a special subcategory for mercury pollution to allow the Ash Grove Cement Company to continue to contaminate our air and water. We hope that the company can, with ingenuity, create mechanisms to allow them to continue to produce cement while also protecting Oregonians (and Idahoans and others). Thank you for considering this important request. Oregonians need your leadership. Marge Easley President Peggy Lynch Natural Resources Coordinator The League supports the preservation of the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem and maximum protection of public health and the environment. The interrelationships of air, water and land resources should be recognized….to reduce and control pollutants………. measures to reduce transboundary air pollutants…… The League supports…….regulatory laws sufficiently strict to guarantee the high standards desired; effective enforcement procedure……to ensure compliance with regulations without undue delay. Federal standards in all cases should be recognized as a minimum below which state standards cannot be set. The League opposes any degradation of present high quality streams, rivers, and estuaries.* cc: Michael.carrier@state.or.us, Governor’s Natural Resources Policy Director Andy.ginsburg@state.or.us, Air Quality, Dept. of Environmental Quality ---------------------------------------- July 27, 2009 Land Conservation and Development Commission John Van Landingham, Chair Via email: lisa.howard@state.or.us Re: Agenda Item 8, July 30, 2009: Proposed 2009-2011 Policy and Rulemaking Agenda The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been an advocate for Oregon’s statewide land use planning program with local implementation. We are also advocates for addressing the issues of affordable housing and climate change. The League’s positions are clear: Assure the statewide system is protected; be sure citizens are involved in all aspects of the system; provide affordable housing so that all communities have a mix of housing to assure successful communities and lessen the need for costly transportation that also affects global warming; address all aspects of climate change to protect the earth. With these positions in mind, we offer the following comments related to your proposed Policy and Rulemaking Agenda: We support the list of 9 items “required by the Governor, Court or Legislature”. We believe that B.1. related to the effects of global warming is critical to the health, wellbeing and economy of Oregon. We gave our word to the Chair that we would support C.1. The work of the 2008 Affordable Housing Work Group is ready to be considered for rulemaking. Much consensus has been reached. The Chair has expertise that should not be wasted. This issue is timely and should be moved up in your agenda. We believe that implementation of Measure 49 is a priority of the Legislature and of the League since we need to keep faith with Oregon voters. Therefore, other issues should be set aside for now so that implementation can occur as quickly as possible while following the letter of the legislation. The Legislature provided monies to allow the Water Resources Commission (WRC) to work on a statewide water resources strategy. We note that staff mentions the issue of assuring Goal 6 is implemented and water quality is addressed. The issues of water quantity and quality are a priority of the League. We ask that this issue be moved up in your list of priority issues and that a commissioner volunteer to follow the work of WRC as it moves forward on this issue. Oregonians raised this issue during the Big Look Task Force and at other LCDC meetings. We believe that Periodic Review will help local communities address both good land use planning and climate change issues. Therefore, staff time should be allocated to this important issue. Citizen involvement is critical to this effort and is important to the League. Other issues, although important, should be set aside until the issues listed above are addressed. Department staff cannot do all it is asked to do. Issues such as addressing public facility financing, critical to good land use planning, belong, as a leadership issue, to a different group. LCDC has spent much time on Goal 14. It is time to let the new Goal and Rules be used by jurisdictions before continuing to work on that issue. We appreciate the time that commissioners and staff spent on behalf of Oregon during the last legislative session and expect the legislation passed will provide more than enough work for the department and commission. We stand ready to help as we can to implement a Policy and Rulemaking Agenda that addresses the needs of Oregonians. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on this important work. Marge Easley President Peggy Lynch Natural Resources Coordinator ---------------------------------------- July 13, 2009 Governor Ted Kulongoski 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, OR 97301-4037 Re: Veto of HB 2940, Solid Waste as Renewable Energy Dear Governor Kulongoski: The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We have strong positions on global climate change and on the predominant use of renewable resources in the production of energy. We also support government actions, such as mandatory standards, to encourage the use of these resources. Therefore, the League strongly urges you to veto HB 2940. In our opinion it would defeat the purpose of Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that requires Oregon utilities to provide 25% new renewable energy by 2025. We take issue with allowing utilities to include existing solid waste facilities in the count toward meeting their RES goals. The purpose of the goal is to encourage new action, using new technology in order to move forward toward a new energy future. Thus, we feel that the inclusion of existing solid municipal waste facilities in HB 2940 seriously erodes the definition of “renewable resource”. The League supports policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid waste. HB 2940, in effect, rewards utilities for burning solid waste instead of encouraging its reduction, reuse, and recycling. We do not believe that burning garbage is the highest and best use of this resource nor does it fit with the intent of the standard passed in 2007. We also believe there is another critical consideration regarding older solid waste facilities. After a study of solid waste in connection with the Covanta Energy Plant in Brooks, the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties developed a position that states, “Of primary concern are the public health and environmental impacts of solid waste disposal. These impacts should be given priority consideration over dollar cost impacts of solid waste disposal.” Ongoing research points to a real concern about CO2 emissions as well as dioxins and other toxic elements that affect our air, water, and soil, as well as the fact that incinerators are a major contributor to global warming. Thank you for the opportunity to provide our input on this legislation. Sincerely, Marge Easley LWVOR President ---------------------------------------- June 29, 2009 TO: Conference Committee on HB 2227 B Representative Mary Nolan, Chair RE: HB 2227 B – SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. We have strong positions in support of our statewide land use system with local implementation. We also have strong positions on citizen involvement. The League has participated in many rulemaking efforts of the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC). We have also seen many problems arise related to our current Destination Resort Goal 8 processes, due to changes made over the years without a comprehensive review of those laws. The issue of complexity was raised during public outreach of the Big Look Task Force. We support the intent of HB 2227 B to help return Goal 8 to its original intent and encourage the Conference Committee to forward it for final vote and passage. We believe that LCDC will be inclusive in any rulemaking processes, and the more lengthy conversations held at the agency level will provide for a better Goal 8 for all Oregonians. Sincerely, Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- June 17, 2009 The Honorable Ron Wyden 223 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-3703 Dear Senator Wyden: The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, nonpartisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation in government in order to build better communities statewide. We wish to thank you for being a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act, which was introduced in the Senate in April of 2009 and has been referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The League supports “regulatory laws sufficiently strict to guarantee high standards” and S.787, when enacted, will be a significant step toward clarity in securing clean drinking water for millions of Americans and protecting millions of acres of streams, lakes and wetlands. This bill, which adopts a statutory definition of the “waters of the United States”, will reassert key provisions of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), which had been cast in doubt by recent Supreme Court rulings that narrowed CWA by ruling non-navigable, intrastate waters were not protected under the law. This decision made it difficult to enforce CWA violations, causing confusion as to what waterways are actually protected. Existing EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ guidance makes it clear that a legislative solution must be sought to restore protection to America’s streams and wetlands. The League here in Oregon has made water a priority issue. We have recently completed the first phase of a statewide water study on water quantity and quality issues, and we enclose a copy for your office. Our goal is to complete the second phase in the coming year. We have also been working hard for strong water regulatory laws in the current state legislative session. We strongly encourage you to continue to work for passage of this critical federal legislation, since it will have a direct impact on the health of Oregon’s waterways. Sincerely, Marge Easley President ---------------------------------------- June 17, 2009 The Honorable Jeff Merkley 107 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510 Dear Senator Merkley: The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, nonpartisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation in government in order to build better communities statewide. We wish to thank you for being a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act, which was introduced in the Senate in April of 2009 and has been referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The League supports “regulatory laws sufficiently strict to guarantee high standards” and S.787, when enacted, will be a significant step toward clarity in securing clean drinking water for millions of Americans and protecting millions of acres of streams, lakes and wetlands. This bill, which adopts a statutory definition of the “waters of the United States”, will reassert key provisions of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), which had been cast in doubt by recent Supreme Court rulings that narrowed CWA by ruling non-navigable, intrastate waters were not protected under the law. This decision made it difficult to enforce CWA violations, causing confusion as to what waterways are actually protected. Existing EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ guidance makes it clear that a legislative solution must be sought to restore protection to America’s streams and wetlands. The League here in Oregon has made water a priority issue. We have recently completed the first phase of a statewide water study on water quantity and quality issues, and we enclose a copy for your office. Our goal is to complete the second phase in the coming year. We have also been working hard for strong water regulatory laws in the current state legislative session. We strongly encourage you to continue to work for passage of this critical federal legislation, since it will have a direct impact on the health of Oregon’s waterways. Sincerely, Marge Easley President ---------------------------------------- June 1, 2009 To: House Revenue Committee Rep. Phil Barnhart, Chair From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Sara Wilson, Natural Resources Specialist Re: HB 2184B, Bottle Bill, and HB 3465, Refunds of Unredeemed Deposits to the State - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League supports both HB 2184B and HB 3465, based on our strong solid waste position that includes expansion of recycling efforts. “Bottle bills” encourage recycling in the best possible way by making the users of the containers responsible for recycling the container. HB 2184B adds types of containers to the current products that have a recycling deposit. This deposit may be recouped by the taxpayer when they recycle the container. Citizens forfeit their deposit only when they choose not to recycle. The state will also benefit by passing HB 3465, which will return the cost of the deposit collected by the distributors and dealers on unrecycled containers to the state. HB 3465 will mean more revenue for the state without increasing taxes to the citizens. We believe this will encourage more recycling and help pay for the oversight required of the Department of Environmental Quality. We urge you to act during this session to send both HB 2184B and HB 3465 to the floor for a vote. Thank you for your consideration of our comments. Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 27, 2009 TO: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources Committee Sen. Vicki L Walker, Co-Chair Rep. Bob Jenson, Co-Chair FROM: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President RE: HB 2929A, Related to Removal of Commercial Sand and Gravel The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a statewide grassroots nonpartisan organization that promotes informed and active participation in government. We would like to express our thoughts about HB 2929A, which would allow the Department of State Lands (DSL) to apply for and receive private or federal grants, loans or other funds in order to fund studies related to the removal of commercial sand and gravel from waters of the state. The League is concerned that some elements of this bill may not be in the public’s best interest. We ask the committee to consider the following points: Activities related to the removal of commercial sand and gravel are regulatory, and it is important to avoid even the appearance that “grants, loans or other funds” from private sources are influencing a particular sector rather than advancing the public trust responsibility of the State of Oregon. The use of money from the Common School Fund for these studies is of concern. The revenue impact statement notes that to conduct the studies, a total of $2.6 million for the 2009-11 biennium would come from the Common School Fund. How can the public be assured that there will be sufficient money generated by the volume-based sand and gravel removal fee to replenish this trust fund, which was set up to benefit Oregon’s K-12 public schools? Goal 1 (Citizen Involvement) of the Statewide Planning Goals should be kept in mind at all times in the funding, study, and permitting process. Study reports must be open and easily accessible to the public, and there should be adequate provision for public hearings, especially at the local level. The public should not get the impression that the streamlined “single permit” process in any way diminishes the public process. The League urges you to carefully consider these issues and the possible unintended consequences of HB 2929A. Thank you for the opportunity to express our thoughts on this legislation. Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 26, 2009 To: The House of Representatives From: The League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Elizabeth Rathbun, Natural Resources Specialist Re: SB 34, Funding Improvements to Mass Transit – SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League supports SB 34 to authorize funds for continuing essential service to communities served by Tri-Met and Lane County mass transit districts. Providing service in outlying areas where there are few options benefits small businesses served by the transit in addition to allowing people necessary mobility. The League believes mass transit is a good option for Oregonians because: People are struggling during bad economic times and many cannot afford to own or maintain a car while gas prices are high; therefore, they rely on mass transit to commute. Population growth has made highways and roads more congested. When mass transit makes good sense to all incomes, it has successfully reduced the number of cars causing congestion. We are in the midst of an energy crisis with a dwindling supply of oil. It is essential to reduce carbon emissions and pollution that impact global warming and air quality. Please vote in support of SB 34 because alternative transportation provides people with the means to be self sufficient. Having fewer drivers on the road reduces total gas usage and emissions. Allowing the transit authorities to raise funds when it is necessary will guarantee essential service to people who are without transportation. Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 21, 2009 To: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair From: The League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Elizabeth Rathbun, Natural Resources Specialist Re: HB 2186 A, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League supports HB 2186A for its attainable goals to reduce emissions over time from commercial vehicles and trucks. Innovative solutions will reduce fuel usage and increase efficiency with improved tire and truck design, a low carbon fuel standard and warmers for idling trucks. It is vital that Oregon proceed with a policy to reduce emissions after a lapse in regional and national legislation. The energy mix in Oregon is different from other regions of the country and requires a special approach. A state plan would: Provide direction for businesses so they can prepare for future federal emissions limits promised by Washington, while keeping in mind the situation in Oregon. Stimulate innovation in alternative fuels by setting a low carbon fuel standard. Create businesses and jobs in green energy technology to make Oregon less reliant on foreign sources. Put pressure on the federal government to set a national framework that seeks a common goal of reducing greenhouse gases. We urge your support for HB 2186 A. This bill begins the long overdue effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with a specific approach that will improve the environment for future generations. We urge your support for HB 2186 A. This bill begins the long overdue effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with a specific approach that will improve the environment for future generations. Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 19, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: HB 2229-A, Big Look Legislation The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been very interested in any proposed changes to Oregon’s successful statewide land use planning system. League members attended almost all of the Big Look Task Force meetings and provided input during that process. We also participated during the deliberations and amendment process of House Land Use. We believe that local citizens, involved in their local Comprehensive Plans, Development Codes and many local planning activities, today help Oregon’s cities and counties be great places to be. But that can only happen within the framework of our statewide system. This legislation seems to support those positions. League members have been active in the Bear Creek Regional Problem Solving Project and are hopeful that amendments made to that process as provided in this legislation will improve future projects. Setting a timeline will help keep citizens involved and focus the work. With the current budget crisis, we realize that work related to conducting a policy-neutral review and audit of our land use rules and laws will probably be delayed. However, we believe this was an important recommendation from the Task Force and look forward to participating in any such work in the future. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 19, 2009 To: House Committee on Land Use Representative Mary Nolan, Chair Re: SB 763-A, Transferable Development Credits The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been an advocate for our statewide land use planning system. As a part of the Big Look Task Force work, we heard proposals for solutions that address the need for our farm and forestlands to remain viable economic engines, while recognizing that there is development pressure on some of these lands. We also heard about the need to find tools to save our important natural areas. We are hopeful that work being done on this legislation will lead to a viable solution. It is important that any solution not create new enclaves of urbanism in rural areas. The cost of both physical and social infrastructure is too great to allow such development. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation. We encourage you to pass SB 763-A to allow Oregonians to voluntarily protect our resource lands and special natural areas. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 12, 2009 To: House Committee on Environment and Water Representative Ben Cannon, Chair Re: SB 739-A, Arsenic Testing in Wells - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has recently completed a new study of water laws in Oregon. We have previously studied water quantity and quality issues and have a number of positions in support of clean drinking water. A League member serves on the Drinking Water Advisory Committee for the Department of Human Services (DHS). As a part of our recent study efforts, local Leagues have particularly expressed concern related to exempt residential wells. Recent testimony by the Water Resources Department states that we have approximately 230,000 exempt wells in Oregon and that 3,800 new wells are drilled each year, of which 500 are drilled in ground water administrative areas. The burden on real estate agents and sellers of property with exempt wells is minimal when weighed with the potential health risks of drinking water with excessive arsenic. There are methods agents and sellers can use to assure the testing information is clear and understandable to potential buyers. That is done today with notice regarding lead paint. We would actually encourage sellers to have wells tested when they put their property on the market so they can address any issues long before there is a buyer involved. We urge your support for this bill to inform potential buyers of testing results related to nitrates, total coliform and arsenic. That job should rest with the seller and not DHS. Thank you for considering this testimony. We urge your support for SB 739-A. Clean and safe drinking water is critical to the health of all Oregonians. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 11, 2009 To: Senator Margaret Carter and Representative Peter Buckley, Ways and Means Co-Chairs Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources Senator Vicki Walker and Representative Bob Jenson, Co-Chairs cc: Representative Jefferson Smith Michael Carrier, Governor’s Natural Resources Policy Director From: Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: HB 3369-A, 2009 Water Investment Package – Opposed The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. We have reviewed HB 3369-A, a multi-faceted proposal to address some of Oregon’s water needs and believe the bill is premature. Oregon would be better served by first working on a statewide integrated water strategy before spending limited dollars on projects without further planning. We also need to focus our limited bonding authority and debt service expenses to creating a broad base of jobs for Oregonians. Those jobs, such as those provided by the proposed mental hospital in Junction City, allow for long term family wage jobs well beyond those created by short term construction. The general fund monies proposed to fund planning grants are needed this session instead just to try to keep whole the Water Resources and Environmental Quality Departments and other natural resource agencies. In another session, the conversation might be different. We hope to be a part of any interim discussion to develop a statewide water plan and use that effort to build a new proposal for consideration in 2011 or 2013. Specific concerns about the bill: We begin our comments with the League’s position that “….all water policy should be managed for the benefit of the public.” Therefore, we would like to see a reordering of the “Whereas” statements at the beginning of the bill. We believe that the statement “Whereas all water within Oregon belongs to the public pursuant to law” should be placed first instead of last in the list of purposes stated for this important bill. We believe that the agricultural industry is a very important one in the state, and they are the largest user of the state’s water; however, we also know that small municipalities and communities in Oregon need infrastructure in order to be economically viable. In some cases, they need a safe water supply just to provide for the needs of their citizens, since current sources may have problems. We support healthy economies in rural Oregon. Working during the interim to determine specific projects that will support all of Oregon’s economy seems a reasonable approach to this complicated issue. We have grave concerns related to potential cuts to the current proposed WRD and the DEQ budgets for 2009-11. We must preserve the work of those departments (and others) related to water issues before we expend our limited General Fund dollars on extending the Oregon Water Supply and Conservation Initiative Grants. We must have accurate scientific data in order to develop our needed statewide water strategy. Funding for such work should come before funding more individual project planning. Section 11: Definitions: We have concerns about these definitions. We believe it is erroneous to assume that only “Economic public benefit” is linked to job creation and efficiencies of state spending. Projects that provide “Environmental public benefit” or “Social and cultural public benefit” may also be linked to job creation and efficiencies of state spending. Taking the time to consider the effects of many of the statements contained in this bill will only provide for better legislation and protect us from unintended consequences. Sections 12-19, Loans and Grants: Section 15 (4) allows WRD’s Commission to adopt rules to be used in “evaluating the net public benefit of a project”, and we appreciated the fact that the Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and DEQ must concur with these rules; however, in Section 15 (5) the admonition is only that WRD “may consult” with a number of state agencies and others. Of major concern to the League is this disconnect among water agencies with the leadership or final word seeming to go to WRD. The guidelines under Section 14 (2) sets a list of priorities that is not inclusive of all the best reasons for use of these funds because it omits municipal and public health and water quality issues; therefore, we are concerned that the bill’s priorities may not be the best use of the public’s dollars. We recognize the need to address limited and critical groundwater areas, but we also know that we have significant issues related to public health and welfare in our municipalities. Sections 20-22, Integrated Water Resources Strategy Funding: The League supports SB 193-A but expressed some concerns that the bill as filed focused on quantity to the detriment of other water issues of equal importance. We noted that a federal report recognizes the issues of climate change; demographic changes; changes in the way people use water in cities, farms, and in energy development; declining amounts of groundwater and demands to meet ecological goals (http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1331/). We continue to hope that some work can be done to forward a statewide strategic water plan for Oregon; however, we note that this proposal uses lottery bonds without a clear understanding of what funds will be used to pay the debt service on these bonds. Thank you for considering our comments. We look forward to working with others to assure Oregon has a complete and integrated statewide water strategy based on scientific data and focused on the needs of all Oregonians. Back to top ---------------------------------------- May 4, 2009 To: House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Communities Representative Brian Clem, Chair From: Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: HB 2228 with -4 Amendments, Pilot Program for Transfer of Development Rights - Opposed The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been an advocate of Oregon’s statewide land use planning program with local implementation. We recently supported SB 763-A that creates a generic transfer of development credits program. That program allows local jurisdictions to choose to implement such a program with willing landowners within their jurisdiction or as partners with other jurisdictions. On April 28th, we testified orally on what we had seen as the -2 amendments at 3 p.m. that afternoon. At that meeting, you approved the -4 amendments, which were only available at the meeting. This letter is to put on the record our concerns about this bill. We noted that we had no position on the two specifically cited projects mentioned in this bill: the Metolian and Skyline Forest. Section 3 allows the establishment of one or two small-scale recreation communities on forestlands. These “communities” seem to be not unlike destination resorts where we have learned about the fiscal and social impacts to local governments. We have heard at Ways and Means hearings that state agencies also see impacts as they are required to assess services and sometimes go through permitting for these developments. Section 4(1)(f)(A) requires the use of reclaimed water for this development. The concept of reclaiming water is a good one; however, we are concerned about the need for groundwater replenishment in areas where groundwater may be limited or a concern. We know that, as we have encouraged agriculture to pipe former irrigation canals, we have seen a diminishing of groundwater replenishment - an unintended consequence of good works. We do appreciate that Section 5(2) recognizes the need for a local public process for these proposed applications. Again, we support our statewide program, but believe local jurisdictions can best implement any development proposal, because the local jurisdiction and its citizens have on-the-ground knowledge of the specific property. We question whether the counties being proposed for these projects have “an urban residential zone” as required under Section 5(3). Most counties don’t do urban planning, with a few exceptions such as Clackamas and Washington Counties, who run both an urban and a rural development code. Section 6(2) requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to “adopt rules to implement the pilot program”. The League is very concerned about the workload we see being placed on DLCD and their Commission. We have already testified at their budget hearing with the need to prioritize Measure 49 processing to keep faith with the voters. The League has also promised Commission Chair John Van Landingham that we would support rulemaking on affordable housing related to Goal 10. Other bills going through the Legislature require agency work. In the list of possible projects, the League would place this project well down in priority. We have since seen the fiscal impact statement that was made available at the meeting where Legislative Fiscal also notes this workload concern. Section 6(10) requires a pilot project to include affordable housing. Per above, you can see we support affordable housing. But, unless this refers to worker housing for destination resorts, both the physical and social infrastructure needed by residents of affordable housing is not usually available in rural areas outside of cities. Section 9 deals with a special provision related to the Skyline Forest. Although we have no specific knowledge of this project or the negotiations related to a development in trade for a community forest, we have concerns about provisions in (5) that make it unclear if this bill actually gives the development a water right, a responsibility of the Water Resources Department. We realize that the purpose seems to be to limit water usage, but want to be sure that the development even has the legal ability to use any water. The League notes that the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources just heard the Department of Forestry budget discussion related to the cost of protecting development in the wildland urban interface. That state agency is just one that will be required to interact with these complicated developments. We appreciated that the Chair allowed our oral testimony during a work session of this important bill. We hope this letter assists in clarifying our position. Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 28, 2009 TO: House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Communities Committee Representative Brian Clem, Chair FROM: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President RE: HB 2929, Related to Removal of Commercial Sand and Gravel, OPPOSED The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a statewide grassroots nonpartisan organization that promotes informed and active participation in government. We strongly oppose HB 2929 in its present form, which would allow the Department of State Lands (DSL) to hire at least one employee and conduct studies related to commercial sand and gravel removal. The League believes that HB 2929 is NOT in the public’s best interest for the following reasons: Scientific integrity and transparency would be compromised and the public ill-served if DSL studies and the coordination of permitting are subsidized by the industry that directly benefits by the issuing of those permits. Activities related to the removal of commercial sand and gravel are regulatory, and extreme care must be taken to avoid the appearance that “grants, loans or other funds” are influencing a particular sector rather than advancing the public trust responsibility of the State of Oregon. Passage of this bill would bypass local public input and local decision-making processes. Local citizens and officials know best about the history of previous mining, environmental impacts to the river systems, and the credibility of the aggregate mining companies in the area. A general permitting process or “one size fits all” approach for sand and gravel removal should not replace a careful environmental assessment of each individual waterway system along with appropriate public input. Calculations of the true cost of using river rock vs. land-based rock should also include the full range of environmental impacts, particularly those pertaining to the degradation of river fisheries, as documented by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The League questions whether there is any scientific foundation for the argument that removing river aggregate will lessen the need for downstream harbor dredging. The League urges you to carefully consider these issues and the unintended consequences of HB 2929. Thank you for the opportunity to express our opposition to this legislation. Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 23, 2009 To: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources Senator Vicki Walker and Representative Bob Jenson, Co-Chairs Re: Natural Resource Agencies: Budgets on Water Issues Water Resources Department Department of Environmental Quality Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Department of State Lands Department of Human Services, Public Health Division (drinking water) Department of Agriculture Department of Forestry Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Department of Land Conservation and Development- both statewide land use program and coastal management The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. In recent testimony, the League expressed our concerns about budget cuts related to agencies that deal with water issues. At that time, you asked that we review our newly published water study (http://www.lwvor.org/recentstudies.htm#Water) and provide a list of those agencies. We understand that you are searching for ways to consolidate or reduce the funding allotted to these agencies. We are providing you with general comments and thoughts, but believe that any restructuring of agency duties is a long-term project and will need thoughtful consideration. We believe you are looking for efficiencies and duplication of effort. Please keep in mind that each agency’s mission differs and is critical to the health and welfare of Oregonians. With that in mind: 1. Where possible, water issues should be considered either by watershed or basin rather than governmental lines. 2. Although each agency is responsible for administering Oregon and often federal law governing water, perhaps a co-sharing of office space, public involvement or educational efforts might be useful. Such consolidation might also allow for sharing of clerical or administrative support staff. It might also help with a consolidation of water data. This proposal assumes such space would be available and at a lesser price than current leases and that cross-training of staff would actually save money. Note: In discussing this issue with long time League members, we have found that consolidation of field offices and enforcement staff is not a new issue. In the 1980s and again in the 1990s such conversations occurred. Consolidation becomes difficult as staff skills and law requirements differ. Other than some office sharing, no one has found the “right” answer for this challenging issue. 3. Where federal agencies are involved, consider where to locate local offices. Since local governments may also be partners, if they can share office space or resource space with those partners (and this happens in some cases), such cooperation might also best serve the general public. If not a sharing of offices, then some multi-agency sharing of information systems, data bases and programs would be valuable. 4. Are there “best practices” efforts that could be consolidated? They exist for industry, forestry and agriculture. 5. Each agency has its own data base. We realize each has its own purpose, but some connection among them should be considered. 6. We know that an effort was made to “streamline” state agency permitting processes in 2005. We have not tracked that effort, but understand that the challenge was more difficult than it might have seemed. Of concern to the League is always that the public know how to participate in permit applications where the law allows. 7. The public continues to be frustrated by the lack of clear connection between land use planning and water quantity and quality. Although this is a policy issue, rural residential development increases the costs not only to state agencies but to local governments. Both physical (water, sewer, roads) and social (police, fire, school busses) infrastructure is more costly when spread across counties than when concentrated in our 242 cities and towns. 8. A-Engrossed Senate Bill 193 provides an opportunity to have this broader statewide discussion and help us create a statewide water strategy for the future. We know that money is short; however, we cannot afford to wait for this effort to begin. We recognize that small agencies can be efficient because they have to be. Larger agencies can be efficient because they can use economies of scale. We believe that fees for service are appropriate in some cases; however, such fees cannot abrogate the job of the agency to protect the rights of the general public and to administer rules and laws. Thank you for allowing us to comment on this important issue. The League study of water law did not include a study of potential consolidation of agencies. We are continuing our study of water, learning how current rules and laws are applied around the state. Part 2 should be available in 2010. The League does not want to see precipitous cuts to water agency budgets that assume savings due to some yet unknown consolidation. Please let us know how we might continue to help with this very important issue. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 17, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Education and General Government Senator Mark Hass, Chair Re: SB 681, Dredging the Willamette - OPPOSE The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. We are very concerned about SB 681’s intended “maintenance” of the Willamette River. Firstly, this bill flies in the face of Federal Agency positions and other State Agency concerns about the effect of any dredging actions. The Willamette River is a very special place for Oregon. Protection of this wonderful resource must be paramount when considering any action in or near this signature river other than that currently allowed. We have all worked hard together to improve the habitat within the Willamette and the surrounding banks. Much investment has been made. Now is not the time to try to undo that important work. We also note that the bill allocates up to $3 million of our precious Measure 66 dollars at a time when lottery dollars are declining and we are asking more of our State Parks. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation and we ask for your “no” vote. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 17, 2009 To: Senate Rules Committee Senator Richard Devlin, Chair Re: SB 661, Closing Court Street to add to State Capital State Park - OPPOSE The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League commends the Legislature for improvements that have occurred with the establishment of the State Capital State Park; however we are very concerned with this current proposal for two reasons: Loss of easy access to the Capitol building by people with disabilities; Additional costs to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department at a time when our Measure 66 funds are declining and their workload is expanding. It is important that any decision about access to the Capitol have a lengthy public process. There is no more open and accessible legislature in the U. S. You have to be proud of the efforts you have made in scheduling bills and holding open public hearings. The legislative website is people-friendly and offers opportunities for all of Oregon to participate in your decision-making. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation and please table this issue until further conversations can occur in the Salem community and among those who access the Capitol building. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 17, 2009 To: Senate Consumer Protection and Public Affairs Committee Senator Suzanne Bonamici, Chair Re: SB 467, Approval Criteria for Single Family Dwellings - OPPOSE The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been an advocate for the statewide land use planning program that sets goals and rules while allowing for local implementation of those goals and rules. It is what makes each community in Oregon unique while providing a greater vision for all of Oregon. We ask that you continue that opportunity for each community to determine their own approval criteria for development within the broad scope of Oregon law. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation and we encourage your “no” vote. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 15, 2009 To: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources Senator Vicki Walker and Rep. Bob Jenson, Co-Chairs Re: SB 5521, Budget for the Department of Environmental Quality The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. In 2007, the League authorized a new study of water quality and quantity in Oregon (http://www.lwvor.org/recentstudies.htm#Water). For the last 18 months, members have researched Oregon’s rules and laws to better inform members of the complexity of our laws and help us move to the second part of the study: What issues are facing Oregon now and in the future and what options should be considered to reflect those changes? During this work, it became clear that there are a number of agencies whose missions overlap when it comes to water quantity and quality. You have heard many of those budgets so far. We encourage your continuing questioning and seeking to find new ways of doing business in Oregon so those linkages are better connected and work does not overlap. While these tough budget times make such work more difficult, it may also be the catalyst. One area of concern that arose from our study relates to septic systems and their linkage to water quality in many parts of the state. We encourage that funding be continued for the work of the Onsite Septic Advisory Committee. We know that there is an estimate of 3,800 new wells being drilled annually. If those wells are connected with new rural development, we can assume that many new septic systems. That is a significant potential water quality issue. We know that toxics in many forms are also threatening our water quality. Assuring that DEQ can continue to work toward addressing this health issue for Oregonians should be another priority. We commend the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for clearly linking their budget to the Key Performance Measures (KPMs) set by the legislature. The League believes KPMs will move us toward better outcomes. We also support that policy bills need to help guide the agency’s work. Policy being set this session and past sessions should help guide the budget for this agency. We are hopeful that work on a statewide water strategy can begin next biennium, even with limited budget dollars. DEQ will need to play a major role in that effort. We believe the work of DEQ in protecting Oregonians by monitoring clean water and clean air regulations is critical. Even in tough budget times, we cannot let our environment degrade. Like education, public safety and social programs, these issues affect not only this but future generations. We note that the water quality program might suffer significant reductions due to their reliance to the General Fund and we are very concerned. We commend DEQ for linking management cuts to staff cuts, recognizing that, with less staff, there is less need for managers. We continue to be concerned when we see technology/data positions being offered for cuts by agencies since data availability and access to information on the web often saves staff time and costs. We appreciate the leadership of the department in working toward holistic approaches. We note that DEQ is not as reliant on the General Fund as the Water Resources Department, but caution that fees for service should be balanced with a public investment so that staff and the public believe applications for service are processed fairly. With an overburden on the applicant, there can be a perception that the applicant is paying for a service with the expectation of a positive outcome, regardless of the law. That is not helpful to the department or the state and unfair to the applicant. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this important agency budget. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 9, 2009 To: House Land Use Committee Representative Mary Nolan, Chair Re: HB 3100 Area of Critical State Concern – Metolius Basin - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long supported our statewide land use planning system. An element of that program is a process to designate an Area of Critical State Concern. Over the years, this provision has been discussed related to a number of areas including the Forest Park area of Washington and Multnomah Counties and, of course, the Metolius Basin. Under regular circumstances, the League has not supported state intervention of individual local planning decisions so long as the statewide Goals, rules and laws are followed. We have supported processes of the Land Conservation and Development Commission as they use their authority to consider local plans. In this case, we believe that a thorough public process has been followed and a reasonable recommendation has been forwarded to the Legislature where additional public input is being received and considered. Therefore, we support the designation of the Metolius Basin as an Area of Critical State Concern. The particular uniqueness of this area due to linkages with water and wildlife resources lends itself to this special protection. We would have preferred that this work had been done before development interests had been involved and encourage that any future nominations of areas for designation be done earlier. However, we understand that sometimes the designation consideration can occur only after a major threat to the resource area has been acknowledged. We ask that the Committee pass HB 3100. Thank you for considering our request. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 7, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: SB 763, Transferable Development Credits The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been an advocate for our statewide land use planning system. As a part of the Big Look Task Force work, we heard proposals for solutions to addressing the need to assure our farm and forestlands remain viable economic engines while recognizing that there is development pressure on some of these lands. We also heard about the need to find tools to save our important natural areas. We are hopeful that work being done on this legislation will lead to a viable solution. It is important that any solution not create new enclaves of urbanism in rural areas. The cost of both physical and social infrastructure is too great to allow such development. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation. We encourage you to work this legislation to allow Oregonians to voluntarily protect our resource lands and special natural areas. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 7, 2009 To: Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: SB 320, Recycling Rechargeable Batteries and SB 742, Recycling lighting that contains mercury - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League supports policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes. A product stewardship system for Oregon is in the best interest of the state as it encourages resource efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. We specifically support programs to address rechargeable batteries (and we commend the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation for its support of this legislation) and lighting that contains mercury since these two products are increasing in consumption in Oregon and offer significant risk to the health of Oregonians. Let me repeat: These products offer significant risk to the health of Oregonians. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. We encourage your support of SB 320 and SB 742. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 6, 2009 To: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources Senator Vicki Walker and Representative Bob Jenson, Co-Chairs Re: SB 5551 Water Resources Department Budget The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. In 2007, the League authorized a new study of water quality and quantity in Oregon. For the last 18 months, members have researched Oregon’s rules and laws to better inform members of the complexity of our laws and help us move to the second part of the study: What issues are facing Oregon now and in the future and what options should be considered to reflect those changes? (Part 1 of the study is available at: http://www.lwvor.org/recentstudies.htm#Water.) The League believes that the Water Resources Department’s priorities are wrongly ordered in its proposed budget and considered cuts. With the scarcity of surface water and the unknown issues and increasing demands for groundwater, the most important job of the department should be collecting data to assure that any decisions made about Oregon’s waters will protect that water for now and future generations. Water measurement, hydrology information and other scientific data should guide decisions about water rights, transfers and other uses. We must assure that we are protecting our water for human consumption, for a vibrant economy and for ecological purposes. The League fully supports reasonable fee increases to cover management of water rights, to pay for processing of well requests and other means to fund this important agency. We also believe that this agency provides an important public purpose and cuts to the General Fund portion of their budget should be targeted so as to protect Oregon’s waters. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this important agency budget. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 2, 2009 To: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development Sen. Betsy Johnson and Rep. David Edwards, Co-Chairs From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: HB 5008, Economic and Community Development Department Budget Main Streets Program The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League supports successful downtowns. We also support our state parks system. In 2007, HB 3418-A was passed, which established the Oregon Main Street Program within the Economic and Community Development Department (ECDD). Funding for the program was included in SB 5508, the ECDD budget, in the amount of $135,431 for staff and $500,000 for the program itself. As we understand the program, the $500,000 has been used to fund contracts with five consultants. The consultants do training workshops on design, economic restructuring and organization, community assessments (community building) and architectural assistance. They also do historical surveys. It is this issue that seems to be the reason the Governor’s office asked that this program be moved to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. budget. However, we believe that the bulk of this program is focused on the economic vitality of downtowns and should be housed at ECDD, not in Parks. We ask that you weigh the importance and success of this economic development program along with others run by ECDD when you consider their budget. The budget request under the Parks budget is over $700,000 for 2009. We have already testified before the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources to object to moving this program to Parks with Measure 66 lottery funding. Should you find this program an important part of economic development in our small towns, we ask that the funding source be general lottery dollars. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Should you have questions, please contact Peggy Lynch at 541-745-1025. Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 2, 2009 To: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair Dingfelder and Members From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Liz Frenkel, Natural Resources Specialist Re: SB 788, Peak and Ecological Flow Requirements Position: SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League advocated for in-stream uses of Oregon’s water even before the 1955 Act authorizing the Water Resources Board to adopt minimum perennial stream flows necessary to support aquatic life, minimize pollution and to provide for recreation. We supported the 1987 legislation declaring in-stream uses as “beneficial”. Now, Oregon’s regulation of water is facing new challenges brought on as a result of expanding water withdrawal needs, drought situations and the threat of significant climate change. The legislature’s involvement in guiding Oregon’s Water Resources Department in meeting the challenge of “balancing water allocations for human use while at the same time improving protection of peak and ecological flows” is both realistic and wise. The League strongly supports SB 788 in declaring legislative findings and new procedures ensuring that necessary “peak and ecological flows” are considered and protected in the process of permitting water storage projects. SB 788 is a rational approach to this permitting process. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Marge Easley Liz Frenkel LWVOR President Natural Resources Specialist Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 2, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: SB 787, Responsible Water Management/Public Funds - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has recently completed a study of Oregon’s water laws and rules. As we expend public monies to assure we have adequate safe, clean water for all beneficial uses in the state, we must husband our resources and target them to projects that recognize our first, best value is conservation of water. It may be necessary to fund new water supply projects to assure we have water during times of water scarcity. However, we must assure that our limited public funds are used for projects that stretch those funds and limited water supplies by assuring that conservation, efficiencies and good management measures are implemented before new projects are funded. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- April 2, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: SB 740, Annual Fee for Water Rights Holders – SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League believes the work of the Water Resources Department is critical to the people of Oregon. Because funding for this department comes in great part from the General Fund, it is essential that we find reasonable supplemental funding for the department to do its work. Water rights holders now use the waters of the state without an annual fee. Requiring a small annual fee ($100), which would help assure that the right is administered under law and rule and then monitored, is a reasonable expense for such management. We encourage your support for this legislation in order to provide monies for administration and enforcement of these water rights. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. We urge your support for SB 740. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 31, 2009 To: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development Sen. Betsy Johnson and Rep. David Edwards, Co-Chairs From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: HB 5008, Economic and Community Development Department Budget Main Streets Program The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League supports successful downtowns. We also support our state parks system. In 2007, HB 3418-A was passed, which established the Oregon Main Street Program within the Economic and Community Development Department (ECDD). Funding for the program was included in SB 5508, the ECDD budget, in the amount of $135,431 for staff and $500,000 for the program itself. As we understand the program, the $500,000 has been used to fund contracts with five consultants. The consultants do training workshops on design, economic restructuring and organization, community assessments (community building) and architectural assistance. They also do historical surveys. It is this issue that seems to be the reason the Governor’s office asked that this program be moved to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. budget. However, we believe that the bulk of this program is focused on the economic vitality of downtowns and should be housed at ECDD, not in Parks. We ask that you weigh the importance and success of this economic development program along with others run by ECDD when you consider their budget. The budget request under the Parks budget is over $700,000 for 2009. We have already testified before the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources to object to moving this program to Parks with Measure 66 lottery funding. Should you find this program an important part of economic development in our small towns, we ask that the funding source be general lottery dollars. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Should you have questions, please contact Peggy Lynch at 541-745-1025. Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 31, 2009 House Committee on Land Use Representative Mary Nolan, Chair Re: HB 3099, Use of Land Zoned for Exclusive Farm Use The League is a non-partisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government. We have long supported the need to manage land as a finite resource. HB 3099 is an attempt to preserve Oregon’s most fertile farmland, which continues to be lost to other uses at an alarming rate. While the bill deals with the regulation of a wide variety of nonfarm uses, our testimony today is limited to the issue of aggregate mining on Class 1 and 2 soils. We previously commented on this issue during the 2007 Legislative Session, as well as in February of 2008. Our testimony was based on the League’s unique perspective as a representative of the public during lengthy sessions of the Aggregate/Farmland Consensus Group between 2004 and 2006. Liz Frenkel and I were the two League representatives to that group. The League believes that both the aggregate and farming industries supply a public need now and in the future. However, we reject the idea that gravel extraction on high value farmland is in the public’s best interest. It is long past time for more studies or task forces. State geologists and soil scientists have already gathered a wealth of data. We already know that there is no shortage of rock in Oregon, that the round rock that typically comes from fertile alluvial soils is not inherently better than quarry rock, and that there are economically viable ways to transport rock from farther distances. And most importantly, we already know that we are losing 200 to 400 acres of farmland in the Willamette Valley to aggregate mining each year. What we need is the political will to preserve our Class 1 and 2 soils before they are lost forever. The League will leave it to others to comment more specifically on other aspects of this bill. However, we strongly support the goals of HB 3099 to increase protections for high value farmland and to better regulate non-farm uses. Thank you for this opportunity to testify. Sincerely, Marge Easley Liz Frenkel LWVOR President Natural Resources Specialist Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 31, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: SB 739, Arsenic Testing in Wells - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has recently completed a new study of water laws in Oregon. We have previously studied water quantity and quality issues and have a number of positions in support of clean drinking water. A League member serves on the Drinking Water Advisory Committee for the Department of Human Services (DHS). As a part of our recent study efforts, local Leagues have particularly expressed concern related to exempt residential wells. Recent testimony by the Water Resources Department states that we have approximately 230,000 exempt wells in Oregon and that 3,800 new wells are drilled each year, of which 500 are drilled in ground water administrative areas. The burden on real estate agents and sellers of property with exempt wells is minimal when weighed with the potential health risks of drinking water with excessive arsenic. There are methods agents and sellers can use to assure the testing information is clear and understandable to potential buyers. That is done today with notice regarding lead paint. We would actually encourage sellers to have wells tested when they put their property on the market so they can address any issues long before there is a buyer involved. We urge your support for this bill to inform potential buyers of testing results related to nitrates, total coliform and arsenic. That job should rest with the seller and not DHS. This letter follows up oral testimony provided the committee on March 26th. Thank you for considering this testimony. We urge your support for SB 739. Clean and safe drinking water is critical to the health of all Oregonians. Back to top ----------------------------------- March 31, 2009 To: House Committee on Environment and Water Rep. Ben Cannon, Chair Re: HB 3060, Product Stewardship The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League supports policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes. A product stewardship system for Oregon is in the best interest of the state as it encourages resource efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. A broad-based policy allows for ongoing and incremental movement toward full stewardship of products sold in Oregon. We specifically support including rechargeable batteries and lighting that contains mercury in any program since these two products are increasing in consumption in Oregon and offer significant risk to the health of Oregonians. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. We encourage your support of HB 3060. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 26, 2009 To: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources Sen. Vicki Walker and Rep. Bob Jenson, Co-Chairs Re: HB 5033, Budget for Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a grassroots, nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government in order to build better communities statewide. In 1998, the League studied Oregon State Parks and, in 1999, adopted positions in support of Oregon’s park system. The League believes that our parks system should give a high priority not only to preserving and maintaining our existing parks but acquisition of additional parks. You have already received our letter objecting to Policy Option Package (POP) 111, transferring the Main Streets program to Parks. Although this program has economic benefit, it is NOT a Parks program. As we understand the program, it includes one staff person and contracts with five consultants. The consultants do training workshops on design, economic restructuring and organization, community assessments and architectural assistance. Yes, they also do historical surveys. But the bulk of the program is focused on the economic vitality of downtowns. This program should not be added to the Parks budget. The primary functions of protecting our capital investments, local government grants and land acquisition will be reduced by over $700,000 if this POP is approved. We objected to the transfer of the State Fair to Parks and now see a $3 million operational cost and $4.2 million bonding cost born by our Parks budget. We had been hopeful after the transfer that aggressive marketing would reduce the deficit, but are disappointed by the continued loss. We commend the Parks Department for its on-going work toward reducing the backlog of maintenance of our current parks. This steady progress seems on target with the League’s position of preserving our existing facilities. But we are concerned that performance measures related to parks acquisition are going in the wrong direction. Current Key Performance Measure (KPM) #6 sets as a goal assuring that we have 35 park acres for every 1,000 Oregonians. In the early 1990s data shows Oregon was at 31 park acres but, with exploding population increases and lack of funds to aggressively seek new park property, we have declined to about 26 park acres per 1,000 population. As noted by Committee members, this KPM helps the Legislature remember the importance of providing an adequate state parks system for future generations. We are also concerned about the proposed deletion of KPMs # 8 and 9. Assuring we have beach and river access sites and new trails seems a core responsibility of OPRD. Director Wood noted that hiking is one growth area for recreation nationally. Therefore, increases of trails should be an important measurement. As to the fee increases, the League certainly agrees that market rates should not be the guide; public benefit should be considered. Our state parks system is meant to provide recreational opportunities for all Oregonians. With that in mind, we are concerned with the increase in the day use fee. Perhaps, using yesterday’s discussion, the cabin rates could be increased without impacting most Oregonians and the day use fees left as is. Lastly, we support Policy Option Package 107. We see that position as protecting our capital investment in our 70 coastal parks by following sea level change and other climate fluctuations. This position exists today and the work done by that employee is invaluable not only for OPRD but also other agencies. Thank you for considering our recommendations. We look forward to working with you to assure Oregonians have adequate parks for the health of our children and grandchildren. Sincerely, Marge Easley Peggy Lynch President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 19, 2009 To: Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Co-Chairs, Senator Vickie Walker and Representative Bob Jenson Re: HB 5033, State Parks and Recreation Department Transfer of “Main Streets” Program from OECDD to OSPRD The League is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League has studied the Oregon State Parks system and adopted a supportive position in January 1999. The League has also supported Parks M-66 funding since then. However, the League is extremely concerned about the proposed transfer of the new Oregon’s Main Streets program (begun in 2008) from OECDD to State Parks. We are not convinced that this transfer is necessary, appropriate or even legal. We ask that there be consideration of other agencies as possible homes for this new assistance program to cities. Thank you for this opportunity to comment on HB 5033. Marge Easley Liz Frenkel, LWVOR President Natural Resources Specialist Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 17, 2009 To: House Committee on Environment and Water Representative Ben Cannon, Chair Re: HB 2859 Exempt Wells The League is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League testified in the 2007 Session in support of recording all new domestic wells for domestic household usage. The 2007 bill, HB 2566, was the result of compromise legislation, which passed the House modifying the exempt well statute, ORS 537.545. As we in Oregon face not only potential problems with drought but existing problems of water shortage, there is a critical public need to know how and where the “waters of the state” are being used. We support reducing the threshold for exemption from 15,000 gallons a day to 1,000 gallons per day, which seems a much more reasonable domestic use. However, it would seem prudent to give the Water Resources Department more flexibility to manage exempt wells in dire situations, such as in designated “Critical Groundwater Areas”. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this very timely subject. Marge Easley Liz Frenkel LWVOR President Natural Resources Specialist Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 17, 2009 To: House Land Use Committee Rep. Mary Nolan, Chair From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: HB 2229, -2 Amendments The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League continues to be very interested in any proposed changes to Oregon’s successful statewide land use planning system. We believe that local citizens, involved in their local Comprehensive Plans, Development Codes and many local planning activities, today help Oregon’s cities and counties be great places to be. But that can only happen within the framework of our statewide system. Any dilution of the statewide planning goals is of great concern. To the -2 amendments: We continue to question the need for the proposed principles. We have 19 statewide Goals. Local Comprehensive Plans often have local mission statements or visions that reflect local values. We would recommend deletion of all reference to these principles as they will simply become one more check off item for local governments to mention when making decisions. We applaud the new Section 4, (1)-(3). However, we are concerned about (4) and (5). Although the League of Women Voters of Oregon recently testified during the Department of Land Conservation and Development’s (DLCD) agency budget on behalf of local government grant funding, we are concerned that our current fiscal crisis will limit those grant funds. Directing the funding to periodic reviews or giving priority to grants that implement the new Section 6 provisions may not allow for the flexibility needed to use limited funds for economic development, affordable housing policies, public facilities planning or other special projects that the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) or their Grants Committee might find have greater merit. We ask that Section 4, (4) and (5) be deleted. As stated in our letter to the Big Look Task Force dated November 21, 2008, we continue to object to the concept of redefining agricultural and forestlands. The process as written in Section 6 is unwieldy, costly and there has been no data-based case for the need for this complicated effort. We ask that Sections 5 and 6 be deleted. We appreciate the factors listed to be considered in Section 6 (3) and (4). We would like to see these factors added to rules of the statewide system through LCDC rulemaking related to addressing local exception land decisions. But that work should be considered by LCDC and not made a part of legislation. Although we applaud the recognition of ecologically significant natural resources or areas (page 5, lines 7 and 8 of -2 amendments) and directing a market-based, nonregulatory program to protect these lands, we find the underlying premise of redesignation of lands under Section 6 unacceptable. We support the new Section 15. It is about time our statewide land use planning system focused on high quality urban development. Most people in Oregon live in urban areas. (Even our “rural” cities are urban areas under our statewide system.) We must make them the best and most efficient places for people to live. We look forward to working with the Committee should other amendments be submitted and ask that any new amendments be provided to the general public before the Committee acts on amending this very important legislation. We also ask that the Committee consider costs to proposed changes during these dire financial times. Thank you for this opportunity to provide our comments. Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 12, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair Re: SB 528, Field Burning/Air Quality The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League first adopted positions on Air Quality in Oregon in 1968. The League of Women Voters of Oregon believes that all segments of society (government, industry, agriculture and individual citizens) must share responsibility for improved air pollution abatement practices. The League believes that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) should be the ONE agency to assure Oregon’s air is safe and clean, since it is responsible for administering the federal Clean Air Act in Oregon and Oregon’s Air Quality statutes. We don’t ask the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department to administer clean air permits for other industries; therefore, we support provisions of this bill that returns the full authority for administration of air quality standards to DEQ. Thank you for this opportunity to testify and we look forward to working with the Committee on this and other air quality issues. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 11, 2009 To: Senate Committee on Human Services and Rural Health Policy Senator Bill Morrisette, Chair Re: SB 598, Drug Take-Back - SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League recently completed a study of Oregon’s water laws. As our members have researched the issue of water quality, the issue of pharmaceuticals appearing in our drinking water clearly needs resolution. This bill addresses that critical issue. We recognize that these are tough fiscal times. But the safety of our drinking water is critical to the health and welfare of us all. We encourage your support for this bill. We also encourage the Legislature to look at the importance of including a Prescription Drug Repository Program as part of any Take-Back Program. A House bill has been filed that would encourage charitable donation of prescription drugs under certain circumstances. HB 2535: There is created in the State Board of Pharmacy the Prescription Drug Repository Program. The purpose of the program is to dispense donated prescription drugs and medical supplies to needy or uninsured individuals. It is our belief that a comprehensive look at how best to deal with prescription drugs no longer used by the person for whom they were prescribed would be a win-win for Oregonians. If drugs can be safely used by others less able to afford them, that reduces the need for destruction of all un-used prescriptions. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation. Above all, clean and safe drinking water should be a priority for Oregon. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- March 9, 2009 To: Joint Committee on Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee Sen. Vicki Walker and Rep. Bob Jenson, Co-chairs Re: SB 5531, Department of Land Conservation and Development Budget The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government in order to build better communities statewide. In these tough economic times we hope the committee recognizes the important role this small agency has in assuring we have complete communities that include places for all income levels to live, uses infrastructure efficiently, provides employment lands for good jobs (including our healthy agricultural industry), plans for shopping opportunities, schools, churches, parks and other public spaces while protecting our most precious natural areas. The League believes that in order to keep trust with the voters, this agency should make the completion of Measure 49 claims a high priority. However, we believe that trust also includes assuring that both the claimants and the community are treated with equal fairness. We are pleased the agency has done its history homework, so that laws at the time a property was purchased are fairly administered. Also high on our priority list is support for local government planning efforts. Our statewide land use planning system is locally implemented. Many local jurisdictions have not updated their Comprehensive Plans and Development Codes since the original plans were acknowledged in the 1980s. The intent was to have a local review of plans every 7-10 years. But, without monies to support that effort, many jurisdictions have allowed their plans to become stale. We cannot afford to let our system languish. Local government grants help with the citizen participation component of any planning effort, which is most important to the League. We must ensure that our local communities address the needs of the 21st century, so it may be necessary to revise many policies and implementation strategies. Global climate change, including planning for the possibility of increased hazards, must be considered. We also believe that the protection of natural areas that function to help with our clean air and clean water is an important planning effort. It is time to prioritize these limited grants to support urban planning issues, which the Legislature recognized by removing counties from the requirements of periodic review. Currently cities from Forest Grove, Hermiston, Roseburg, Newberg, West Linn, Baker City and Newport are among the 21 jurisdictions that have begun or are ready to begin this important effort. The League observes this agency and its seven-member volunteer Commission work regularly. We have been most impressed by the time given to Oregon by Commission members and appreciate the inclusive nature of the work they continue to do. During this past interim, they developed rules to implement the legislature’s direction related to Metro’s urban and rural reserves. They have taken a second stab at continually improving the process of urban growth boundary expansion and at addressing affordable housing. The Territorial Sea Plan is being updated to address the possibilities of wave energy. They have worked with the Oregon Transportation Commission and others to better coordinate planning efforts. We are hopeful they will continue their initial efforts to implement the recommendations of the Global Warming Commission. We await a process to better link the issue of water and land use. The carrying capacity of our land is linked to its planned use. Yet we have little scientific information to guide local governments related to this important issue. Other natural resource agencies will need to assist in this effort. But it is an issue that can no longer be neglected. The League participated in many of the Commission efforts as listed above and was the one outside group that attended all but one of the Big Look Task Force meetings in hopes that these important issues would be addressed. We understand the committee is considering a budget note directing the agency to review current goals instead of adding a new goal related to climate change. We believe the agency and its Commission can best determine the mechanisms used to address new and emerging issues within the land use system and would discourage the addition of that budget note. The League has not endorsed nor rejected the idea of a new goal, but believes that the conversation is best held deliberatively during the agency work in the interim. Thank you for considering our recommendations. We know your job this session is very difficult, but an agency this small will be profoundly affected by major cuts. The responsibilities the Legislature has given to this agency must be funded in order to protect Oregon’s future. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ------------------------------------ March 5, 2009 To: House Sustainability and Economic Development Rep. Tobias Read, Chair Re: HB 2225, Opposed as written The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League strongly supports both the state's land use goals and meeting the housing needs of households at every income level. League members attended nearly all of the Department of Land Conservation and Development Affordable Housing Workgroup meetings and appreciate the leadership of Chair Van Landingham and the thoughtful consideration the workgroup devoted to this proposal. We understand the need for developing new approaches to increasing the supply of affordable units. In the League's view, however, it is premature to enact a pilot program that sidesteps the normal process for bringing land into a city's urban growth boundary. LCDC instead should focus its attention on implementation and rulemaking on Goal 10. The workgroup discussed a number of steps communities could be taking to increase the stock of affordable housing within existing boundaries. Given the state's focus on global climate change and peak oil, compact growth and development of complete communities within urban growth boundaries should be a priority. Furthermore, DLCD's increased workload due to Measure 49 claims, the potential impact of changes to the state's land use system, and the state's dire financial situation are other reasons to delay action on this proposal. Meeting the housing needs of Oregonians has become increasingly difficult. We urge the legislature to take a fresh look at inclusionary zoning. It has proved a valuable tool in increasing the affordable housing supply in other states. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Debbie Aiona LWVOR President Affordable Housing Portfolio Back to top ---------------------------------------- February 26, 2009 House Environment and Water Committee, Rep. Ben Cannon, Chair Re: HB 2184, Bottle Bill Expansion, SUPPORT The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been in support of Oregon’s Bottle Bill and was encouraged by the 2007 passage of SB 707 to expand Oregon’s successful bottle and can return program. We followed the work of the Task Force in 2008 and provided the following testimony to the Task Force Chair’s preliminary proposal: When we considered the Chair’s preliminary recommendations regarding expansion of our current program, we applied our League of Women Voters United States position: “Promote policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid and hazardous waste.” We also considered our statement that “Environmental protection and pollution control, including waste management, should be considered a cost of providing a product or service.” With those positions in mind, we are supportive of expanding Oregon’s current program to include a much wider range of beverage containers. We believe that industries that provide the product should bear the cost of such recycling, with some responsibility placed on consumers to actively recycle those containers. We realize that, with expansion, there is some concern related to the amount of recycling that local stores can absorb; however, we cannot afford to lose the convenience of having some recycling continue at these locations. We believe that these stores also benefit by having recycling on their premises since many people take that opportunity to shop when recycling. Oregon’s recycling rate is a success (one of the top in the nation) because of the convenience of our recycling efforts. Beverage container recycling should continue to be convenient so that we can meet our recycling goals. With the fossil fuel crisis and climate change occurring, all our public policy decisions must reflect the best possible solutions that recognize these issues. We must support the concepts of “Drive Less, Save More”. We ask that you consider these principles when making any final recommendation. Now we are asking the Committee to consider these same ideas: increase the deposit, increase the containers covered, require that some recycling still occur at local stores and increase the expected recycling rate to encourage all of us to be better stewards. Thank you for considering our comments. Back to top -------------------------------------- February 17, 2009 To: House Committee on Environment and Water Chair Cannon and Members From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Liz Frenkel, Natural Resources Specialist Re: HB 2406, Permits for Water from Columbia River – OPPOSED The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. In the 2007 Session, the League opposed HB 3525 that would have reversed the existing prohibition of new water rights from the main stem of the Columbia River during the summer growing season in order to protect threatened and endangered fish. The League opposed requiring Water Resources to issue (without the usual public review) a new water right for the withdrawal of 500,000 acre feet per year. The League opposes HB 2406 for much the same reasons. The reduction in acre feet to 132,000 per year withdrawal does not change our fundamental opposition to requiring Water Resources to issue any new water permits, particularly without public review. Nor does the proposed bill provide assurance that the fish will not be impacted by the withdrawal. We note that the language in 2007’s HB 3525 regarding ”business development projects” has been removed. However, ORS 161.015 would seem to include businesses within the definition of “persons”. Is this a distinction without a difference? Are business projects, as well as “persons” and municipalities, beneficiaries of this proposed measure? The League does not believe that HB 2406 aids in the recovery of threatened fish nor is in the interests of the health of our Northwest treasure, the Columbia River. Thank you for your attention. Marge Easley LWVOR President Peggy Lynch Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ------------------------------ February 10, 2009 To: House Land Use Committee Rep. Mary Nolan, Chair Re: HB 2229, Big Look Task Force Proposed Legislation The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. As you heard on January 22nd, the League has long had an interest in Oregon’s statewide land use planning program. We believe this program encompasses many of the interests of the League: good governance, wise use of resources—fiscal as well as physical, a stable economy, social policy issues surrounding healthy communities as well as our natural resource policies around clean air, clean water, energy efficiency and protection of significant natural areas. As proposed, the League opposes HB 2229. We shared our concerns with the Task Force as late as November 21, 2008. Among those concerns are as follows: Principles: How will these statements add value to our system? Farm, Forest and Other Rural Lands: The process proposed is too costly, too complicated and has the potential of damaging our 244 cities. Although we applaud the recognition that our lands have a “carrying capacity” and that significant natural features have value, the process suggested doesn’t guarantee either will be adequately addressed. Regional Planning: Definitions of “region” differs with each issue, so any regional planning proposal should be flexible enough to allow different jurisdictions to join for different issues. A strong component of citizen involvement must be included. Audit Work Group: This works needs to be done, but we don’t have the funding this session. Funding implementation of Measure 49 should be of higher priority. State Strategic Planning: We support metrics to assure our planning program is achieving the goals we have all set. The list of boards, commissions and agencies listed is incomplete. The process suggested is too cumbersome. Should amendments be considered, the League asks for an opportunity to provide input on the potential effect of these amendments to the program’s core values. In our testimony before the Task Force, we provided more in-depth suggestions, so we have attached that testimony to this letter. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. We encourage your rejection of this flawed legislation. Marge Easley Peggy Lynch LWVOR President Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- February 10, 2009 To: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, Chair From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: SB 193, State Water Resources Strategy The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been interested in Oregon water issues. We have positions related to water policy and planning and water quality, most important of which is “…all water policy should be managed for the benefit of the public.” Our membership believes water issues are so important that they approved a new study of water issues in 2007. We have spent the last 18 months learning about Oregon’s water laws and any federal laws that connect with this issue. Our report is at the printer’s and should be available in the next month. Local leagues will be reviewing what was learned, reviewing our current positions and determining if changes should be made. Perhaps the biggest and most obvious issue surrounding our work is that there are a myriad of agencies, statutes and rules governing water quality and quantity, yet each agency addresses their individual responsibility without a comprehensive state strategy in place. We applaud the concept of a State Water Resources Strategy. However, we have concerns that this bill may focus on quantity to the detriment of other water issues of equal importance. A recent article about water issues addresses some of our concerns: Two Federal science agencies, the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, collaborated with the Nation’s principal Federal water management agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, to explore strategies to improve water management by suggesting processes to improve tracking, anticipating, and responding to hydrologic effects of climate change. The report, “Climate change and water resources management: A federal perspective,” and a cover letter, can be viewed on-line at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1331/ Among the key points highlighted in the report: The best available scientific evidence based on observations from long-term monitoring networks indicates that climate change is occurring, although the effects differ regionally. Climate change is but one of many challenges facing water resource managers. Water managers need to consider the many sources of uncertainty and drivers of change. These include demographic change, changes in the way people use water in cities, farms, and in energy development, declining amounts of ground water in storage in some regions of the Nation, and demands for water to meet ecological goals. Long-term monitoring networks are critical for detecting and quantifying climate change and its impacts. Continued improvement in the understanding of climate change, its impacts, and the effectiveness of adaptation or mitigation actions requires continued operation of existing long-term monitoring and analysis of data, particularly of precipitation, snow pack, soil moisture, ground water and streamflow. Predictive modeling and ongoing monitoring are both needed to narrow the range of uncertainty about the future of water resources. But the uncertainty will remain large, and planning and management approaches need to continue to evolve to improve the quality of water management decisions in the coming decades. This report is designed to describe the state of current understanding and practice in dealing with this issue and to point the way forward for responsible water management in the face of climate change. *Climate Change and Water Resources Management: A Federal Perspective* by Levi D. Brekke, Julie E. Kiang, J. Rolf Olsen, Roger S. Pulwarty, David A. Raff, D. Phil Turnipseed, Robert S. Webb, and Kathleen D. White http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1331/ Most important to this bill are lines 40-44 of page 2. These lines assume that the Water Resources Department (WRD) will develop this strategy in conjunction not only with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) but these other agencies that have a very important role in water policy. We note that the Department of State Lands is not included in this agency list. We recognize that one agency must take the lead on such a massive project, but the legislation should clearly state that the other agencies will have an equal voice and weight in developing this important plan. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. We understand the fiscal crisis this state is facing. But this is important work. We look forward to working with you as you work on water policy. Back to top ------------------------------ February 10, 2009 To: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, Chair From: League of Women Voters of Oregon Marge Easley, President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Re: SB 194, WRD Strategic Measurement Plan The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League has long been interested in Oregon water issues. We have positions related to water policy and planning and water quality, most important of which is “…all water policy should be managed for the benefit of the public.” Our membership believes water issues are so important that they approved a new study of water issues in 2007. We have spent the last 18 months learning about Oregon’s water laws and any federal laws that connect with this issue. Our report is at the printer’s and should be available in the next month. Local leagues will be reviewing what was learned, reviewing our current positions and determining if changes should be made. Unless we have accurate data about water use, any state strategic plan cannot be an accurate reflection of the status of our rivers, streams and groundwater sources in Oregon. Although measurement is just one component needed, this legislation addresses an important current gap in our knowledge. Public policy should be based on good data. We applaud the committee membership as addressed on page 1, lines 23-24. Since Oregon’s water belongs to all of us, we need to move from thinking in silos to thinking more globally. We assume that data collected with such a measurement program will be public information. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this legislation. We understand the fiscal crisis this state is facing, but the League believes this is important work. We look forward to working with you as you work on water policy. Back to top ------------------------------ January 22, 2009 To: House Land Use Committee Rep. Mary Nolan, Chair Re: Historical Perspective of our Statewide Land Use Planning Program The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League first studied land use in 1959 as we considered issues surrounding urban growth. Through the 1960s and early 1970s we considered a variety of land use issues and supported actions focused on assuring we had good land use planning with citizen participation in Oregon. The 1969 legislative session found us supporting a bill requiring all counties to adopt comprehensive plans. In 1973, the League supported the adoption of SB 100 and, as you heard from former DLCD Director Cogan, we actively assisted in the widespread public outreach effort that ended with our first 14 Goals. (See 2002 Land Use: Progress and Challenges) The Legislature had identified the first 10 Goals, but it was from those well attended citizen workshops that four additional Goals were added: Public Facilities and Services, Transportation, Energy Conservation and the most critical: Goal 14, Urbanization. You see, Oregonians didn’t just want to save our agricultural and forest economies. They also wanted to be sure we had great urban places to live. This concept is often missing when people talk about our land use system. It’s not just about rural lands; it’s about livable communities. Many League members (and other Oregonians!) participated when cities and counties began developing their comprehensive plans and development codes. Each jurisdiction put its own imprint on their adopted documents. Yes, they were reviewed by DLCD and acknowledged by LCDC before being considered “final”. But those reviews were to assure compliance with the new statewide goals. The State Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee (CIAC) assured that Goal 1 was addressed in each plan…but each plan was different and reflected those local differences. For example, as a citizen volunteer in Washington County, I helped write one of the first community plans. The county funded .5 FTE planner, and volunteers did the research and work. In the early years there were ballot box challenges to SB 100, but each was defeated. Local jurisdictions worked on and completed their comprehensive plans. In 1981, HB 2225 established a procedure for the periodic review of these plans and a state review of amendments. “Periodic Review” became a cumbersome and much maligned process, but the concept of jurisdictions and their citizens reviewing those original plans was a good one. Such a process allows citizens to confirm that plans meet present and future needs and to amend elements that reflect change. This process would recognize changes in our economy, in our housing, in our various land use needs and changes we may see as a result of climate change. By the 1990s, Metro’s charter passed and growth exploded in the Metro area. The urban growth boundaries set in the 1970s began to fill up and some jurisdictions looked toward expansion. Pressure on our agriculture and forest lands (especially lands in Washington County and the Willamette Valley) caused greater tension among various interests. The League started talking about how we could re-engage Oregonians in our land use planning program, both the state program and local plans. Even before the passage of Measure 7 and then Measure 37, the League increased its efforts to engage Oregonians in this important program. You have before you the League’s 2002 Land Use Update. We reviewed the history of the program, considered its successes and then addressed challenges. We held local meetings to share our research. In 2005, we supported SB 82 that created the Big Look Task Force. We worked to see that the legislation included both educational and public involvement components. Once the Task Force was appointed and meetings began, League members attended all but one of the Task Force meetings. We tried to encourage early public outreach and education. However, the Task Force chose a different route. We also provided testimony on issues that came before the Task Force. Since seeing the final text of HB 2229 and the proposed amendments that the Task Force will offer, we will prepare new testimony directly addressing that proposed legislation. Because this meeting was to focus on the history of the program, I will conclude by saying that the League of Women Voters of Oregon continues to believe that the Oregon’s statewide land use planning program, implemented by local jurisdictions, not only saves our agriculture and forest lands, but also provides livable communities in a cost effective manner. We believe that even rural Oregon has urban centers. The principles of Goal 14 help assure that our cities, towns and whistle stops have the opportunity to be great places to live, shop, work, play and travel in the most efficient manner. Thank you for allowing the League to participate in this history lesson. I am available for any questions you may have. Marge Easley LWVOR President Peggy Lynch Natural Resources Coordinator Back to top --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social Policy 2009 Chair Phil Barnhart House Revenue Committee Re: HB 2116 A Dear Chair Barnhart and Committee Members: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The LWVUS has a national position on Health Care Policy. The LWVUS promotes a health care system that provides access to a basic level of quality care for all residents and controls health care costs. The LWVUS supports administration of the health care system either by a combination of the private and public sectors or by a combination of federal, state and/or regional governmental agencies. The League of Women Voters of Oregon supports HB 2116 A, the expansion of health care for children under the Health Care for all Oregon Children program. The League supports eligibility for children with a family income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and young adults 18-21 leaving foster care. The League supports the sliding scale subsidies for insurance for children with a family income from 200% to 300% of FPL, and the private health options for children in families above 300%. LWVOR supports provider taxes from hospitals and insurance companies in order to return value to the health care system. The assessments on hospitals and insurance companies are a reasonable source of funding for public medical assistance programs and allow the state to draw the federal funds for these children. The hospitals and insurance companies will benefit from the return of the federal dollars and the decrease in the uninsured care which is cost shifted to higher rates for those who pay. Thank you for the opportunity to present our position. Sincerely yours, Marge Easley Karen Nibler LWVOR President Social Policy Coordinator Back to top ----------------------------------- April 27, 2009 Chair Jeff Barker House Judiciary Committee Re: HB 2355, Relating to Criminal Sentences Chair Barker and Committee members, The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League of Women Voters of Oregon has an Adult Corrections position that supports sentencing guidelines and judges’ determination of the length of sentencing. Although the League did not support mandatory sentencing as proposed by Measure 11, we did support Measure 57. HB 2355 adjusts the length of certain mandatory sentences, and on that point the League is neutral. However, the bill also offers options for juvenile offenders, who are charged in the adult system. The League supports judicial discretion, and we feel that justice may be better served in these cases. The options for juvenile offenders to be sentenced on adult waivers or in the juvenile system may allow for treatment programs in the community or for shorter commitments in juvenile facilities or adult facilities. The intent of these decisions should be certain consequences and treatment to divert these young offenders from continued criminal behavior. They will return to the community. Juvenile offenders often exhibit poor judgment before they develop into full adulthood. Risk factors such as drug or alcohol abuse, school dropout, lack of supervision, and anti-social attitudes should be considered in sentencing. However, decisions should also be based upon positive social factors, such as family support, school performance, constructive activities, and peer associations. Substance abuse and mental health assessments are useful for appropriate placements. Pre-sentence reports should contain some of this information in order to assist judges in sentencing. The League supports the options for sentencing of juvenile offenders. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss this legislation. Marge Easley Karen Nibler LWVOR President Social Policy Coordinator Back to top ------------------------------ April 13, 2009 Co Chair Senator Joanne Verger Co-Chair Representative Chip Shields Ways and Means Public Safety Subcommittee Re: HB 5051 Oregon Youth Authority Dear Co-Chairs and Committee Members: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League of Women Voters of Oregon has a social policy position on Juvenile Justice that supports services for juvenile offenders in the least restrictive environment and/or treatment-oriented secure custody. The current budget crisis requires legislators to review the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) budgets for reductions to both institutions and community services. The League asks the committee to consider future costs that may result from current cuts in OYA services. Juvenile offenders without sanctions or adequate supervision in the community may progress to the adult criminal system. Juvenile offenders without Addictions or Mental Health Treatment in the community or in institutions may also progress to the adult criminal system, which will lead to an increase in state costs in the future. The Oregon Youth Authority provides critical interventions and treatment for the justice system. The League supports Basic Services to counties, community services and placements, as well as addictions and mental health treatment both in the community and in the institutions. The LWVOR believes funding for Juvenile Services should be consistent and dependable at the local, state and federal levels. OYA may lose community resources, such as foster homes, group homes, and residential treatment placements if funding is too severely cut. These placements may not be available if or when funding is restored. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony. Marge Easley Karen Nibler LWVOR President Social Policy Coordinator Back to top ------------------------------ March 25, 2009 Chair Mitch Greenlick House Health Care Committee Oregon Legislature Re: HB 2009 Chair Greenlick: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League’s national position on Health Care Policy promotes a health care system that provides access to a basic level of quality care for all residents and controls health care costs. LWVOR supports administration of the health care system either by a combination of the private and public sectors or by a combination of federal, state and/or regional governmental agencies. The League also supports increased taxes to finance a basic level of health care, provided health care reforms contain cost control strategies. The League of Women Voters of Oregon applauds the work of the Oregon Health Fund Board and its committees during the Interim between Legislative Sessions. League members attended and participated in the committees. League members have read the OHFB final reports, this bill and amendments in the light of our policies. LWVOR supports the establishment of the Oregon Health Authority as a separate agency from the Department of Human Services. One of the reasons for this support is to gather the disparate policy boards, commissions, and administration of the state health plans and insurance pools under one umbrella agency. The total cost of health care to the State of Oregon should be more transparent under this system, although the total state cost includes insurance for state employees and provision of health care in state institutions. LWVOR supports the expansion of health care for children under the 200 % of the Federal Poverty Level and the expansion of health care for adults under the same FPL. The state subsidy for children and families from 200% to 300% of FPL should be phased in according to the increase in General Fund available. LWVOR supports provider taxes to hospitals and insurance companies in order to return value to the health care system. LWVOR supports transparency in medical procedures and services charges for consumer comparison. LWVOR supports a uniform billing process in order to cut administrative costs for medical providers and insurance clerks. LWVOR supports bulk purchase of pharmaceuticals, although there are other cost savings such as use of generic drugs and a common drug formulary. LWVOR does not support a strictly private market-based model of financing the health care system. LWVOR has been concerned about the level of participation from the health care insurance industry. If there is cost control in the new system, the increases in health insurance premiums must be limited and administrative efficiencies established. Managed care cost savings should not come from the medical field only but from the health care insurance administration. The tax subsidy to purchase insurance should be for the benefit of the insured, not just for the benefit of the insurance companies. LWVOR supports consumer accountability through deductibles and copayments. Accountability includes compliance with treatment directions and incentives for wellness practices. Limited resources should be allocated based on the urgency of the medical condition, the life expectancy of the patient, the expected outcome of the treatment, the cost of the procedure, the duration of care, the quality of life of the patient and the wishes of the patient and family. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Sincerely yours, Marge Easley Karen Nibler LWVOR President Social Policy Coordinator Back to top ------------------------------ March 25, 2009 Co-Chair Senator Joanne Verger Co-Chair Representative Chip Shields Ways and Means Public Safety Subcommittee Re: HB 5020 Oregon Judicial Department Co-Chairs Verger and Shields: The League of Women Voters is a grassroots nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. LWVOR published a study of the Oregon Judiciary in 2007 and affirms that the Oregon Judiciary is the third branch of government as a separate, independent and co-equal branch. LWVOR believes that the state should provide access to the courts that meets the diverse needs of all people who use the state courts. In order to provide that access, LWVOR believes that the circuit courts should be open five days a week. The League supports adequate and stable funding to perform core functions and critical services. In order to meet timely hearing require-ments and avoid delays, the League again supports a full five day schedule for the circuit courts. LWVOR supports funding of mandated programs. The courts are an important part of an interdependent system including child welfare, juvenile departments, mental health departments, police, sheriffs, community corrections, and state institutions. The court system relies on community agencies to carry out judicial orders. Thus these agencies must also be adequately funded. Treatment courts have proven to be an effective program within the judicial system and a way to deliver long term savings. The League supports adequate court facilities, including technology updates, disability access, remodeling, and maintenance, but recognizes that there may be delays due to budget restrictions during the recession. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. Sincerely yours, Marge Easley Karen Nibler LWVOR President Social Policy Coordinator Back to top ---------------------------------------- February 2, 2009 Rep. Phil Barnhart, Chair House Revenue Committee 900 Court Street, NE Salem, OR 97301 Dear Chair Barnhart and members of the House Revenue Committee, The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a statewide grassroots nonpartisan organization that promotes informed and active participation in government. The League believes that housing for low- and moderate-income families should be provided as a part of all planned neighborhoods and communities. Throughout Oregon, local jurisdictions report that the cost of housing is one of a number of factors threatening family stability. Additional state financial support devoted to proven programs will help prevent the loss of existing affordable housing, develop additional units, and increase homeownership. As a member organization of the Oregon Housing Alliance, we support HB 2436, the increase in the Document Recording Fee with proceeds dedicated to affordable housing. This will provide an ongoing source of revenue for this critical need. Too often households are forced to spend more and more of their income on housing needs. This leaves little else for other necessities such as food, medicine, and transportation and forces people to make difficult choices that can result in poor nutrition, skipping needed medication, and school failure. The League study on homeless youth cites a 2005 Oregon Housing and Community Services report stating that the primary reasons for youth being homeless, whether with their families or unaccompanied, are financial. As a multi-issue organization, the League believes in the importance of addressing the full range of basic human needs, including affordable housing. Thank you for considering our views. We urge your support for HB 2436. Sincerely, Marge Easley LWVOR President Debbie Aiona Action Chair, LWV Portland Back to top --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to top Current Issues Youth Involvement Contact Your Elected Officials Join the LWV Action Committee LWV Advocacy Positions Legislative Reports Nonpartisanship Statement LWV Coalitions Advocacy and Education

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