From Rep. Greg Matthews

The past few weeks down here in Salem have proved productive and eventful as many key pieces of legislation have been signed into law. I’ve been hard at work to make sure our community is represented in the legislature and I’m writing to provide you an update on my work in the capitol.

Protecting our Veterans

As a veteran of the US Army, I know that our troops deserve more than just parades when they return home from combat. And that’s why I recently voted for HB 2178 in the Veterans’ & Emergency Services Committee.

This bill creates Veterans’ Service Officers at our universities and community colleges. These officers actively seek to identify veterans in the surrounding communities and help provide these veterans opportunities for state and federal benefits. This bill passed out of the committee and awaits a vote in the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

Strengthening Public Safety

Last week the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate signed HB 2420, which provides coverage for firefighters from 12 types of cancer – brain, colon, stomach, testicular, prostate, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, throat, mouth, rectal, breast, and leukemia – and shifts the burden of proof to employers to demonstrate that cancer contracted by a firefighter was not job related.

This bill awaits the Governor’s signature and will be signed into law shortly. As a veteran of the Gresham Fire Department, I was proud to have the opportunity to help pass this important piece of legislation. This bill makes sure we protect the working men and women who risk their lives everyday for our families and communities.

Without presumptive legislation, a firefighter who develops cancer as a result of their job must file a worker’s compensation claim, and endure the uncertainties of a complicated and difficult claim process. This system of claim and appeals often takes years to produce a final decision.

Budget Shortfall

With the state facing a nearly unprecedented budget shortfall, our legislature has made prudent, responsible choices to protect Oregon families, while taking the steps necessary to cope with the much more difficult times ahead. When the magnitude of the challenges we face to balance the current budget first became apparent, many predicted that lives would be endangered due to cuts in human services; that prisons would close, resulting in the early release of prisoners; and that schools would shut their doors weeks, even months, in advance.

This budget deal ensures this will not happen. We were able to make key improvements to the original budget proposal and reach a deal that protects public safety, human services and education. The budget deal we reached provides funds for universities and community colleges to end their terms intact. We protected public safety and made sure that not a single prison will close. We safeguarded vital human services, because we refuse to risk a single life due to budget constraints. And we provided school districts with the funds necessary to save school days. Because of our strong leadership through difficult times, Oregon is in much better shape than many of our neighbors.

Town Hall Meeting

Please join me, Senator Laurie-Monnes Anderson, and Representative Nick Kahl on March 24, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Mount Hood Community College in the Town and Gown Room for a town hall meeting on “Boosting the State Economy.”

I’m also available to meet individually or with small groups on a drop-in basis on Saturday, March 21, from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at Café Delirium in Historic Downtown Gresham on 308 N Main Avenue.

Deployment of the 41st Brigade

On May 2nd & 4th, Oregon’s 41st Brigade will deploy to Iraq with 3,000 troops – the largest deployment in Oregon since World War II. Please keep these soldiers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Questions, Suggestions, Problems?

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of any assistance to you or your family – I am here to serve the Gresham Community. You can contact my capitol office at 503-986-1450 or send me an email at rep.gregmatthews@state.or.us.

Thank you for your interest and continued involvement in our community and the legislative process.

Upcoming Meeting

If you had fun at the Cesli dinner and enjoyed John Kroger's style of orating - come hear him again this Thursday, March 12th at our regular monthly meeting.

6 PM for socializing [we do a lot of that] and credentialing [if you plan to vote]
7 PM for the meeting - with John speaking and some resolutions to vote on

Please bring non-perishable foods for the Oregon Food Bank.

Meeting is at the Hollywood Senior Center
1820 NE 40th Ave., Portland 97212 - just north of Sandy Blvd.

See you there?

Sad News

From Just Out

February 24th, 2009 at 11:55 am by Marty Davis · 3 Comments

Just Out has just learned of the passing of Richard Levy, long-time Oregon gay rights activist and political leader.

Dick had recently undergone surgery for cancer, and returned last night to the hospital for treatment from complications from the surgery.

Just Out Article: http://blogout.justout.com/?p=6638#comments

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Dick had contributed his collection of political buttons for us to auction at the Celsi Dinner - so if you are the lucky ones who bought those - you now have some Portland history in your home.

Nick Kahl - Townhall Meeting Tonight

Just a reminder about Rep. Kahl's Town Hall coming up tonight - Thursday, Feb 26th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Joe Edgar Union Hall at the corner of 162nd and Halsey in Rockwood.

Rep. Kahl will be joined by OR Attorney General John Kroger and Multnomah County Sheriff Bob Skipper.

POTUS Speech, John Kroger, Cesli Info and more

From Sue H...Communications person extraordinaire

The President's speech to the joint session of Congress starts tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6:00 PM
(Doesn't it feel good to say "The President" these days?)

Join with other Democrats 5 PM to 9 PM to watch the speech at Krakow Cafe, 3990 N. Interstate Ave, 503-954-2200 www.myspace.krakowkoffee.com

Party-goers can fortify themselves from the televised Republican response, by playing State of the Union "Bingo." After Obama's speech, revelers will get bingo cards to mark any time the GOP speaker refers to "health care," "education," "environment," "HIV-AIDS," or Haliburton."

First ones to scream "Bingo" win prizes.

Oregon Democrats step up to help consumers, and need your support:

Debt collectors in Oregon have enjoyed a significant legal loophole that has allowed them to abuse consumers with no consequence. Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and Senator Suzanne Bonameci are leading the effort to change that.

Heading to the Senate Floor this week, SB 328 puts debt collectors in the same position as nearly all other Oregon businesses by making abuses subject to the Unlawful Trade Practices Act. No enforcement provision currently exists to hold collectors accountable for unscrupulous practices, and such abuse ranks among the top consumer complaints in Oregon, allowing debt collectors to freely harass and intimidate Oregonians.

Companion SB 386 would make it illegal for debt collectors to attempt to collect money that they know, or ought to know, is not owed.

Both the Oregonian and the Register Guard have recognized the value of these bills and to read them go here

find your legislator:

Please contact your Senator and let her/him know that you support Oregon consumers. It's important to make your voice heard even if you think your Senator will be an advocate. Our legislators need to not only know they have our support when they are considering good legislation, but it gives them an additional reference to use in debate.

Celsi Dinner: A great time and a big success!

Big thanks to the many volunteers who helped put on the Celsi, all the beautiful and charming Democrats who made it the place to be last Friday night, and special thanks to those who donated or bid to help support the Party in the coming year. Thanks to all those elected representatives in Congress, the Legislature, the City Council and County Board of Commissioners and School Boards who took time out to party with the grassroots.Thanks also to Democrats who traveled from neighboring counties to give their support.
Special thanks to Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley whose spirited remarks kicked off the festivities, and Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who set a generous tone with a pledge to pay the first month's rent when we get our new headquarters.

Thanks to speakers Karol Collymore, John Kroger and Carl Wolfson, and the multi-talented Steve Novick, who can always become an auctioneer if he gets tired of politics and policy.

Here's one comment I received:
"The dinner was GREAT! My first such event but surely will not be my last.
Speeches are supposed to be boring! What were those guys thinking of??? I laughed and thought and thoroughly enjoyed the entire evening."

Congratulations to Celsi Award winner John Vandermosten and McCoy Award winner Jackie Dingfelder. Both awards are richly deserved.

Mark your calendar for next year: Celsi Dinner, February 5, 2010.

(PS: Unfortunately we ran out of time for some of the live auction items. Or fortunately, if you'd like to bid but missed the dinner. Stay tuned for news of how we will conduct an extended auction for those.)