Welcome

Since 2001, when I began in the Oregon Legislature as a member of the House, and through the 2005 session as a senator, I have fought for issues that matter to Oregonians. This session was no different. In the eyes of many observers, the 2007 Legislative Session was among the most productive in recent memory.

In the past six months, the legislature:

Established a rainy day fund to

  • protect schools, health care, public safety, and other services from the ups and downs of Oregon’s economy
  • save Oregon millions of tax dollars in interest rates on our bonded indebtedness.

Expanded opportunities for Oregon students by

  • providing increased support for K-12 and higher-ed
  • boosting financial aid by $106 million

Passed ground-breaking civil-rights legislation by

  • creating domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples
  • banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing and employment

Protected Oregon consumers by

  • limiting interest rates on short-term loans
  • putting a stop to predatory lending practices

Addressed Oregon’s broken health care system by

  • reining in excessive pharmaceutical company gifts to medical professionals
  • extending the subsidy of liability insurance premiums for obstetricians, gynecologists, and primary care physicians in rural Oregon
  • expanding reporting requirements for medical malpractice claims

Established new environmental protections by

  • expanding Oregon’s Bottle Bill to include plastics and other containers http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10874230
  • establishing a statewide system for recycling electronic waste
  • creating tax incentives for Oregon producers and consumers to promote the use of renewable energy
  • ensuring one quarter of the electricity produced in Oregon will come from renewable energy sources by 2025.

This session also marked a return to bipartisan cooperation and respect.

Healthy Oregon Act

This session, Senator Ben Westlund, Representative Mitch Greenlick and I sponsored SB 329, the Healthy Oregon Act, creating a roadmap to lower costs, improve quality, and increase access to health care for Oregonians. As co-chair of the Senate Special Committee on Health Care Reform this session and Chair of the Senate Interim Commission on Health Care Access and Affordability in the interim, I worked with fellow legislators, advocates, consumers, and other stakeholder groups to address the complexity, affordability, and inefficiency of Oregon’s health care system. In December 2006, the interim commission finished their work, and in January 2007 Senate Bill 329 was introduced to the Legislature. Throughout March and April, Senator Westlund and I held dozens of town halls across Oregon as part of the Hope for a Healthy Oregon Tour. Over 12,000 Oregonians and 22 legislators participated, sharing ideas, concerns, and experiences about our health care system.

On Thursday, June 28, the Healthy Oregon Act was signed into law by the Governor, having passed the legislature with broad, bipartisan support.

I’m optimistic about the progress being made, but your help is needed. Please visit the Healthy Oregon Act website (www.HopeForaHealthyOregon.com) for more information about the steps we are taking to make health care more affordable and accessible to all Oregonians, and please take just a moment to share any feedback you may have about our approach.

It is only with your input that I can continue to advocate for the needs of our communities. Please, do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions, comments, or requests for assistance. As always, my staff and I are eager to help in any way we can.

Sincerely,Alan Bates signature

Dr. Alan Bates