[WEC] PLEASE TESTIFY THIS FRIDAY: Support needed for Oregon Consensus and Higher Ed budget

[Rob Zako]

Dear WEC friends,

To be clear, there is a chance the Legislature could decide to totally  
eliminate Oregon Consensus and its sister program Oregon Solutions.

Yes, we live in difficult economic times. But in my view, severely  
cutting or even eliminating this work at PSU would be penny wise and  
pound foolish. All over the state there are examples of spending  
millions of dollars of public money—for example, roadway money from  
the state highway trust fund—on projects that for various reasons  
don't come to fruition. A current example is a project on Highway 101  
in Seaside, which had already gotten the necessary approvals when the  
citizens of Seaside voted against the project. Without going into  
details, what we have is failure to communicate, and such failures can  
end up wasting millions of public dollars. Would it make more sense to  
invest a little bit of money in help people communicate—collaborate,  
if you will—early on so that precious public dollars end up going to  
purposes that are actually wanted and will do the most good? Does it  
make sense to invest a little public money in Oregon Consensus and  
Oregon Solutions to save a lot of public money?

Well, that is my story, and the one I would tell if I could be in town  
this Friday to testify. As it is, I am going to ask some of my 1000  
friends to say something along these lines to Ways and Means.

And I hope that many others will find time this Friday afternoon to  
testify to the Ways and Means Committee, or otherwise communicate your  
views, for example, taking from Elaine's suggestions below:

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

I am sure Tim is ready to assist in any way, in particular, to go in  
advance to sign up people willing to testify. Let him know if you can:  
686-3252

Rob Z



On Apr 18, 2009, at 9:15 AM, Elaine Hallmark wrote:

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


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:

...

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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