President Courtney: Special Session Firming Up

Senate President Peter Courtney Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - The upcoming legislative special session is firming up as predicted says Senate President Peter Courtney. On the agenda will be:

• Addressing the Oregon Department of Human Services` budget shortfall;
• Earmarking $42 million in surplus lottery earnings for K-12 schools statewide; and
• Giving the Portland school district permission to extend a temporary local property tax for schools.

`Our special session is coming together," said Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn). `The Governor, Speaker and I have been meeting regularly and I`m pleased with our progress."

After last month`s positive economic forecast, Courtney suggested adding surplus lottery money for schools and gap authority for Portland to the mix. He also urged the Governor and Speaker to include `Jessica`s Law," establishing additional criminal penalties for sex offenders, to the special session agenda.

`As the person who created the state`s first neighborhood notification law, I have been a long-time advocate for protection against sex offenders. I told the Speaker and Governor that I would like to take up `Jessica`s Law` in special session," said Courtney.

Courtney said he hopes the session `to convene on April 20th` will last just one or two days. On April 22nd, electricity will be turned off in the House and Senate chambers and other offices in the center of the Capitol while the building`s 68-year-old electrical switch equipment is replaced.

`If special session lasts longer than two days, we`ll be working in the dark. Of course, some people may say I`ve been working in the dark for a long time," said Courtney