Senate Democrats Pass 'Unprecedented' Oregon Jobs Stimulus Plan

The intent of SB 338 is to provide jobs for Oregonians across the state while investing in state infrastructure.

(SALEM, Ore.) - "In an unprecedented and swift sign of action, the Oregon Senate Democrats voted to approve a bonding package that will provide thousands of jobs to workers across the state," Oregon's Senate Majority Office reports.

Senate Bill 338 provides over $175 million for deferred maintenance and capital construction authority through bond sales scheduled to take place in the next two months. These projects will create immediate employment opportunities for Oregonians in all 36 counties.

“Economic security for Oregon’s families is a top priority for Senate Democrats this session,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin).

“When preparing our legislative agenda this summer, we recognized that we were facing a recession. Last week’s unemployment numbers only proved the point. Today we made a strong statement about our determination to do everything in our power to create and protect family wage jobs for Oregonians.”

By investing in smaller infrastructure upgrades, the Oregon Jobs Stimulus Plan will provide work opportunities for local contractors, many of whom who are unable to be competitive bidders for large capitol construction projects.

While it is not uncommon for the legislature to approve bond sales, they are generally slated for later in the session. SB 338 is remarkable in that it was passed by the Senate in the third week of session in response to the urgent need to put Oregonians back to work.

“Oregon families are suffering for lack of jobs and this stimulus package is a first step the state can take to get people back to work,” said Deputy Senate Majority Leader Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham).

“This is more than an investment in our infrastructure; it’s an investment in Oregon families.”

SB 338 incorporates several budget notes that ask state agencies to use Oregon companies, employees, and products whenever feasible. Additionally, agencies are encouraged to contract with minorities, women, and emerging small businesses for the approved projects to the greatest extent possible.

“The legislature has incorporated a strong measure of accountability into this plan,” said Senator Vicki Walker (D-Eugene). “It’s crucial to use our state bonding capacity prudently. The requirements tied to this package will give us oversight of how these dollars are used. By May of this year we will have the data from the Department of Administrative Services to review the effectiveness of this plan in creating jobs across Oregon.”

The projects funded today range from increasing energy efficiency to updating security in state facilities. Many of the projects slated for the February 10th bond sale will impact state universities, improving school facilities and increasing access for Oregon students.

"These are smart investments," said Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland), whose district includes Portland State University.

"We're creating jobs while also improving the learning environment of Oregon students. These projects will modernize our classrooms, increase the energy efficiency of our buildings, and expand access by updating facilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act."

In addition to the February 10th bond sale, Senate Democrats approved over $50 million in lottery bonds for community college projects.

“This is a smart use of our bonding capacity because it’s an investment in the longevity of state buildings, especially for Oregon’s higher education system,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Rick Metsger (D-Welches), who also serves on the State Debt Policy Advisory Commission, which counsels the legislature on state’s capacity to take on additional debt.

“Given the jobs that this investment will create, this is a win-win situation for our state.”

The entire list of deferred maintenance projects and other resources on SB 338 is available on the website of the Legislative Fiscal Office. The bill will head to the House floor for a vote next week.

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JW February 3, 2009 10:46 am (Pacific time)

Henry debates are great when viewpoints can be exchanged in a civil manner. From my extensive research coupled with others who have done similar research and Q and A's with a wide spectrum of other individuals, we conclude that starting in 1999 when Clinton cabinet member Rubin and others in congress began a drive to get essentially poor credit-worthy people into home ownership, the current economic downturn was put into motion. This was a noble idea in my opinion (getting more people into home ownership), but as we now clearly know, it violated good business principals by developing this large subprime loan demographic. Then all these negative economic factors came into being, for example high energy costs, poor energy development decisions (still happening), etc., and the housing bubble popped. How we put Humpty Dumpty back together will be our over-riding pursuit. Actually blaming events in the past is becoming a distraction, though knowing one's history is of paramount importance, we all need to pull together to get back on track, then later we can debate what really happened. Of course we both think we are correct Henry, so let's agree to disagree and go from there.

Henry Ruark February 2, 2009 6:53 pm (Pacific time)

JW: You wrote: "...when "subprime loans" were forced on banks and other lenders." You are misinformed, sir. This did not, could not, have happened via pressure on banks. Why then did they spend millions to loosen up and kill off laws separating commercial and investment banks ? Gramm et all killed Glass-Steagal Act from Depression days to ease the way. Mortgages are sold,often by realtors relaying buyers to funding suppliers, sought out, sometimes cut into cash. The buyers do not simply flock to banks but are pushed, pursued, persuaded and patently sold a bill of goods by those seeking to put to work leveraged funds at 30-1 and sometimes more. Full details in several national magazines lately, with onus on banks and realtors. Your distorted version pushed by those trying to hide realities for political purposes, as in Gramm case with "whiners" word for all so caught, while he enjoys multimillion place with foreign bank in middle of deals.

Henry Ruark February 2, 2009 4:35 pm (Pacific time)

JW: Yr continued kind civil tone appreciated,sir. ANY answer sufficient to your question would require at least one book; that's why I have referenced at least ten dealing with this total, very complex and still developing question. Do NOT believe capitalism is totally unbound and in collapse, but that we're now well into further development where old patterns,rules of thumb, prior experience, simply do not do the job now demanded. Full impacts of globalization, long under way, of rapidly development new and older nations doing things differently than we do --China adapting, India escaping feudal peonage, many others--totally changes what made earlier capitalism work for us, often to detriment of others. Without insights from probing references surfacing widely and wildly around the world, anyone dealing only with the information available for most in this nation is simply UNinformed;some MISinformed by those who gain by doing so. No question most Americans can and do understand, when informed, impacts on their own situations and families, and will hopefully survive efforts from those forces wishing to maintain "laissez-faire" for their own private selfish purposes. We suffer from destructive impacts of badly outmoded information and very limited wise and deep and probing examination by those who will think and learn, with huge holes in our communications systems to help that happen. Your participation appreciated and best wishes for continuing your helpful insights.

ChrisJones February 2, 2009 10:56 am (Pacific time)

I wonder if they will be doing anything about the sellwood bridge with this. I believe it is one of the most likely bridges in the country to fail.

JW February 2, 2009 8:04 am (Pacific time)

Henry Ruark the questions you asked of Snoozer are easily answered simply by observation of ongoing successful commerce, and there is plenty of success out there. For example when you switch on the lights they come on (unless you're in Kentucky), and food and other commodities are available. If you are suggesting capitalism is now defunct, then you belong to a small group of people who feel that way in my opinion. What do you suggest should replace it? Will this start on a small micro level, say in one's local community, or do we instantly go global? Sounds like a recipe for anarchy to me. The free market system works just fine, it's government intrusion that needs to be fine tuned. We already have ample evidence of what happens to the economy when they compell businesses to dance to their tune, like what happened when "subprime loans" were forced on banks and other lenders.

Henry Ruark February 1, 2009 7:50 am (Pacific time)

Snoozer: You wrote: "PRODUCING STUFF OF VALUE." That's easy-to-say big-mouth meaningless vapidity at work, reflecting only lack of understandings involved. The failing capitalist system is sending us signals of its basic incapacities and inbuilt inanities now generating its own extreme weaknesses for the 21st Century further global developments. SO, just to simplify for you, try answering these questions surely demanded for answers: WHAT "stuff"? In what plant or factory ? With what raw materials ? By what workers ? Under what rule? Union or non-union ? How transported ? For what markets, here or abroad ? How financed for allathat ? How taxed ? WHO pays what part of what to whom and at what rates ? From where doth come cash to make it all work ? "Investment" by whom ? For what return ? How managed, by whom, with what powers, to be free of guile and ungutted by speculators ? "Free trade" running ONLY on "wisdom of the marketplace"? NO intervention of any kind by government ever needed ? Perhaps you'd care to clarify and consolidate your insights via answering some or all of those questions, not by any means all that are now surely demanded --and in no way taking into account such unavoidables as globalization, currency values and costs, fair-play for still-developing nations, international rivalry and other concerns. Currently "the system" of capitalism ostensibly provides nearly-"automatic" pattern, protocol and mechanism. Can you suggest ways to improve and perhaps even a different system, based on something other than private profit ? If so, fly at it...there's now huge market for any creative system-changes you can make. You might even want to write a book about allathis !!!

stephen January 31, 2009 7:17 pm (Pacific time)

Dorsett: I will be viewing the documentary you mentioned. guaranteed. thank you. I dont watch tv, I wait for people like YOU that share new info. I wish that I could share info as eloquent as you do tho. I have noticed that I come across more angry..hoping to fix that.

Henry Ruark January 31, 2009 6:47 pm (Pacific time)

Snoozer, Stephen et al: Yours here proves that age-old adage of the UNinformed preaching to the Misinformed and the words rolling'round and 'round to create their own unmistakable malign mischief for all others. You defy and deny essential democratic principle of representative government, elected by Constitutional means, and substitute your own personal/private distortion and perversion of proven, well documented economic realities recognized by most others. I note not one checkable, testable source in ANY of your statements,nor word from any authoritative nonpartisan writer of national stature. I.e.you shoot off loudmouths with no proof or pattern except for the noise it makes.

stephen January 30, 2009 6:30 pm (Pacific time)

to snoozer: sorry I did not get back to you sooner. You are right. Do you remember that young kid in portland that made a new solar panel? what ever became of that? In my humble opinion, you hit the nail on the head. bottom line. xlnt post.

stephen January 30, 2009 6:20 pm (Pacific time)

Since I knew this was coming, I prepared. Dont worry about the stock market etc. But I have other important concerns. Those that were not told the truth who will suffer, I hurt greatly for them. and, as the false flag attack on 911 that has taken so many civil liberites away, the economic crisis will take many more away. Especially since so many people are in love with a person they dont even know. They will follow off the cliff blindly. I know it hurts, learning that our own government orchestrated 911 half killed me. I threw up, I drank, then pulled myself together. Now they are doing it through the economy. I am tired. very tired. But with my last breath, I will spread the truth.

Dorsett Bennett January 30, 2009 2:41 pm (Pacific time)

Stephen: There is really no great difference between the Republicans and the Democrats these days. I think the only real difference is the voting constituency the politicians of either party focused their overt attention to. There is an excellent documentary that was released in 2005. It is titled ‘Why We Fight.’ the producers of this film had it completed in 2004, but did not release it until after the 2004 election, because they did not want to appear to try to be affecting the election as Michael Moore was with Fahrenheit 9/11. The underlying problem is not partisan. The picture on the cover of the DVD is that of the Dwight D. Eisenhower, the two-term Republican president just before John F. Kennedy served. When he left office, he warned America about the problem of the Military-Industrial Complex. Since then the problem has been compounded by the massive growth lobbyists and the money they spread around to the politicians. Until 2008 the Republicans were getting a lot more in political contributions than the Democrats. Realizing that the Republicans were going to get killed in the last election, the Democrats started receiving more. Mississippi Republican Sen. Trent Lott resigned before the end of his term to avoid a new law restricting his ability to be a lobbyist post Senate ‘service.’ It has been speculated that he might earn as much as $2 million a year lobbying his former Senators. He formally earned less than $200,000 a year as a senator. Money and power corrupt the political process at all levels of government. It is this writer's humble opinion that the federal government is worse than state government because it is farther away from us. Everyone should see Why We Fight, either renting it from Blockbuster online or Netflix, or getting a copy from eBay. Dorsett Bennett

Vic January 30, 2009 12:33 pm (Pacific time)

Snoozer...you hit the nail right on the head....STUFF of VALUE...things people need. We have the capacity to produce a lot of food, which is always going to be in demand..And we have the ocean. In the town we were in in Mexico, 85% of the people in that town of about 10,000 made a living related to the ocean..fishing, tourists, etc. The laws regarding fishing seem much more lax there and the laws in general regarding operating a business. People have to make a living, and the Mexican govt seems to resapect that. In contrast, here in Salem, if a customer of mine wants me to put up a $45 "Customer Parking Only" sign, the fee for the permit will be $110. We could use a little relaxing of the rules/fees here in America, especially in hard times, so that we can make a living also.

agrees with stephen January 29, 2009 2:02 pm (Pacific time)

I wonder if any of the people who mocked those that saw this coming (both republicans and democrats) will apologize (Ben Stein did to Peter Schiff)

stephen January 29, 2009 5:53 am (Pacific time)

About 4 years ago, my advocacy had a high focus on the economy. I knew from learning, and colleagues that by 2008-2009 the U.S. was going to be in BIG trouble. I joined/started groups, blogged, stood on street corners with signs among only a few helpers. Where was everyone then? Where were the democrats then? Driving by my street corner signs thinking I was crazy. Putting down my blogs as tho I was a lunatic. Not saying republicans are any better, they are not, but this article focuses on democrats. I just want to know where they were when I was working so hard trying to wake people up. Obama, last March, was no help. He kept promising things that I knew he would not be able to deliver, people believed him, which made my job even harder. It made me look even worse. How can I have any respect for a person, who either was ignorant of the facts I was trying to share, or was fibbing to get elected. All I know, is he sure made my job of sharing the truth much more difficult. and still is. All the political parties are to blame. The stimulus will only cause hyperinflation. A million jobs maybe, but it will take their entire paycheck to buy a weeks worth of groceries. But then again, I am just Stephen, I am not a half black president who did not tell the truth when campaigning. Where was he when I was standing on street corners in the freezing cold? Why does the U.S. keep funding israel and the global empire while American children and veterans go hungry? Ask yourself these questions, and quit being sheep. March 2006, Stephen is shouting about a soon coming economic crisis, while obama was making promises he couldnt keep and spending more money. If this post sounds like I am angry, well, I am. YOU should be too.

Snoozer January 28, 2009 8:49 pm (Pacific time)

Oregonians are in desperate need of PRODUCING STUFF OF VALUE. We need to be growing, building, making, inventing, mining, manufacturing stuff OF VALUE to produce wealth to balance our books and pay our bills. The state confiscating what little investment money remains in this state, to spend on non productive stuff is just plain stupid. If they were even slightly serious, the legislature would be busy rolling back taxes, restrictive regulations, restrictive land use laws, and so on. We need Oregonians to INCREASE Oregon's output of valuable goods and services, not start consuming more and taking away investment and capital.

stephen January 28, 2009 8:06 pm (Pacific time)

A bit out of context, but it still is about the economy. Even tho I believe 911 was orchestrated by the elite that runs our government..lets say for a minute I am wrong.. what has happened since then? the patriot act, pd551, etc. and, our economy collapsing just as the Russians economy collapsed when fighting in Afghanistan. So..911 brought upon us less freedom and more debt. Seems as tho osama bin laden (even tho dead for many years), managed to bring our country into communism and debt and destruction. Something to think about. Especially when the new president is following the same trend. compulsory service, youth brigades, and blame on the citizens of a government that caused all of this. You can be a slave, I, choose not to. I will be a Christian helper, and love my neighbor, I will recycle, and do what I can to help the environment, but I will NOT be a slave to politicians that do not tell the truth. This article is blatent propaganda of the left wing. In my opinion, the left and right wing only exist to keep people fighting while the elite get their agenda of power. As long as people fight over left wing/right wing, they dont see the full picture. It has happened before in history.

stephen January 28, 2009 5:52 pm (Pacific time)

Someone please tell me, or write an article, what the difference between republican and democrat is these days. I cant tell the difference, but seems as tho some can. Please explain it to me. Republic: rules to abide by. they dont abide by the rules,so no republic. Democratic: 51% wins, even tho, that does not really mean that. Democratic means those with the most money and power wins. That is my take anyway. Just wondering where truth and justice fit in between the two? Tim King mentioned on another thread, that this website leans more liberal. What does that mean? I truly dont understand. Seems as tho more spending, more middle east war, same cabinet members, same torture, same ol same ol. Please, somebody tell me the difference?

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Senate Democrats Pass 'Unprecedented' Oregon Jobs Stimulus Plan

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