[WEC] Support needed for Oregon Consensus and the Higher Ed budget

Sat Apr 18 09:15:54 PDT 2009

Dear WEC Friends:

You have undoubtedly heard that the Oregon Legislature is faced with making
serious cuts in programs due to the economic recession.  Higher Education
has been asked to look at 30% cuts, and has said that its public service
programs will need to take a disproportionate share, such as 60% or even be
eliminated.  Oregon Consensus, who provided you with the facilitation
expertise to be so successful, is a public service program of Portland State
University.  We also operate an intern training program that serves both U
of O and PSU students, such as Tim McCabe.  We are asking people who have
experienced a connection with our program to help make the legislature and
others aware that these programs provide a vital part of students' education
as well as vital services to the community and are a connection between the
community and the university.  Thirty per cent cuts will devastate higher
education in Oregon.  Sixty per cent cuts will eliminate the bulk of public
services from our programs.

The Higher Education Subcommittee of the Joint Ways and Means Committee is
holding its only scheduled meeting to receive public testimony on Monday
morning, April 20, at 8:30 a.m.  Tim McCabe will attend and is hoping that
Jim Welsh may join him there.  If anyone else is available to attend at this
late date, it would be great to have you go.  Please let Tim know if you
plan to attend or would like to coordinate with him.  His numbers are:
541-686-3252 (home/office) and 541-514-1966 cell.  The time will be limited,
so you may not get to testify, but you should bring a short written
statement which you can leave with the committee.  You are supposed to bring
25 copies to leave.  The Co-Chairs of the Subcommittee are:  Senator Rod
Monroe and Representative Betty Komp.

The Oregon Legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee will hold eight
public budget hearings (on all issues) around the state over the next two
weeks.  The hearings will begin in Lincoln City on Monday (see full schedule
below) and will include stops in Pendleton, Ontario, Portland, Bend, Eugene
and Ashland, as well as a hearing at the State Capitol.  If the opportunity
to attend one of these hearings works for you, especially in Eugene on May
1, we strongly encourage your participation.  Tim McCabe is working with
Jamie Damon to coordinate appearances at the Eugene hearing, so let them
know if you can attend.  Due to high interest in these hearings, we
recommend you arrive early, especially if you plan to testify.

If you cannot attend a hearing, we encourage you to send a message to the
members of the committee (emails below).  For your convenience, we have
included some suggested talking points.  Thanks so much for your support.

R. Elaine Hallmark, Director

Oregon Consensus, National Policy Consensus Center

Portland State University

P.O. Box 751

Portland, OR 97207

503-725-9019 Direct

503-725-9070 Program

503-781-0116 Cell

elaineh at pdx.edu

www.orconsensus.pdx.edu <http://www.orconsensus.pdx.edu/> 

TALKING POINTS
General
* Higher education is a potent economic engine for the state and has
historically helped lead the state out of recession.
* All sectors of education should be treated fairly (Pre-K through
postsecondary education).

Specific

1.  I am here tonight to talk about a very important public service center
at Portland State University and the valuable role it played in our
community.

2.  Oregon Consensus has helped us to X (brief description of project
outcome).

3.  Because the important role the University played in providing a
credible, neutral forum for the project, community members came to the table
willingly and we were able to find a solution.

4.      (optional, as appropriate)

We had faculty experts involved in the project who provided the information
we needed to make decisions.  Students were engaged in learning first hand
what it takes to make good decisions that lead to positive results
benefiting the community.

5.  This program has connected us to the University and made it relevant to
the needs of our community.  We are thankful for the legislature's support
for this program, and hope that support continues.

------

SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Lincoln City
Monday, April 20
Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy 101
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Portland
Tuesday, April 21
Portland Community College -Cascade Campus 
Auditorium, Moriority Building, 705 N. Killingsworth Street
6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Salem
Thursday, April 23
State Capitol, 900 Court St NE
Hearing Room F
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Pendleton
Saturday, April 25
Oregon National Guard Armory, 2100 N.W. 56th Drive
10:00 a.m. to noon

Ontario
Saturday, April 25
Treasure Valley Community College, 650 College Boulevard
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain/Ontario time)

Bend
Wednesday, April 29
Central Oregon Community College
Cascades Hall Room 117
5:30 to 8:00 p.m. 

Ashland
Thursday, April 30
Southern Oregon University
Stevenson Union, 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard
Rogue River Room
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Eugene
Friday, May 1
University of Oregon
Prince Lucien Campbell Hall (PLC) Room 180, 1415 Kincaid Street
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

------

Contact Information for Ways and Means Committee:

Sen. Margaret Carter, co-chair (D-Portland) sen.margaretcarter at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.margaretcarter at state.or.us>

Rep. Peter Buckley, co-chair (D-Ashland) rep.peterbuckley at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.peterbuckley at state.or.us>

Sen. Betsy Johnson, vice-chair (D-Scappoose) sen.betsyjohnson at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.betsyjohnson at state.or.us>

Rep. Nancy Nathanson, vice-chair (D-Eugene) rep.nancynathanson at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.nancynathanson at state.or.us>

Sen. Alan Bates (D-Ashland) sen.alanbates at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.alanbates at state.or.us>

Sen. Fred Girod (R-Stayton) sen.fredgirod at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.fredgirod at state.or.us>

Sen. Rod Monroe (D-Portland) sen.rodmonroe at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.rodmonroe at state.or.us>

Sen. David Nelson (R-Pendleton) sen.davidnelson at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.davidnelson at state.or.us>

Sen. Joanne Verger (D-Coos Bay) sen.joanneverger at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.joanneverger at state.or.us>

Sen. Vicki Walker (D-Eugene) sen.vickiwalker at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.vickiwalker at state.or.us>

Sen. Doug Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls) sen.dougwhitsett at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.dougwhitsett at state.or.us>

Sen. Jackie Winters (R-Salem) sen.jackiewinters at state.or.us
<mailto:sen.jackiewinters at state.or.us>

Rep. David Edwards (D-Hillsboro) rep.davidedwards at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.davidedwards at state.or.us>

Rep. Larry Galizio (D-Tigard) rep.larrygalizio at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.larrygalizio at state.or.us>

Rep. Bill Garrard (R-Klamath Falls) rep.billgarrard at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.billgarrard at state.or.us>

Rep. George Gilman (R-Medford) rep.georgegilman at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.georgegilman at state.or.us>

Rep. Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) rep.bobjenson at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.bobjenson at state.or.us>

Rep. Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) rep.bettykomp at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.bettykomp at state.or.us>

Rep. Tina Kotek (D-Portland) rep.tinakotek at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.tinakotek at state.or.us>

Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) rep.dennisrichardson at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.dennisrichardson at state.or.us>

Rep. Chip Shields (D-Portland) rep.chipshields at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.chipshields at state.or.us>

Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) rep.gregsmith at state.or.us
<mailto:rep.gregsmith at state.or.us>

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