The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Student Success (JCSS) last week released its proposal (House Bill 2019) to invest $2 billion in new corporate taxes in education per biennium. Although AFT-Oregon strongly supports increasing corporate taxes and investing in K-12 students, we are troubled that none of the proposed investments support community college or university students.
Governor Kate Brown is calling on the Legislature to include new funding in this bill for the Oregon Opportunity Grant as well as Community College CTE. Now is the time for action.
We call on AFT-Oregon members to take one or more of the following actions this week:
1) Testify at the Joint Committee on Student Success public hearing in Salem on Thursday, April 11 during 5:00-8:00PM (let us know in advance if you are coming so we can sign you up to testify).
2) Send e-mails to key legislators from your area (use the list below). Here is a draft e-mail: My name is __________ and I am an employee at _________. The Legislature has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve education in Oregon, but the current version of House Bill 2019 leaves all college students behind. College debt is higher than ever and Oregonians need education and training beyond high school more than ever. [Provide a short example of how important community college has been for you or your students.] Please include Oregon college students in the Student Success Act. Thank you.
3) Call key legislators from your area (please use the list below). Here is a draft script for your call: My name is __________ and I am an employee at _________. The Legislature has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve education in Oregon, but the current version of House Bill 2019 leaves all college students behind. College debt is higher than ever and Oregonians need education and training beyond high school more than ever. Please include Oregon college students in the Student Success Act. Thank you.
We request you focus on the following key legislators from your area:
Lane Community College:
Senator Arnie Roblan
503-986-1705
Sen.ArnieRoblan@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Julie Fahey
503-986-1414
Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative John Lively
503-986-1412
Rep.JohnLively@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Nancy Nathanson
503-986-1413
Rep.NancyNathanson@oregonlegislature.gov
Blue Mountain Community College:
Senator Bill Hansell
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Greg Smith
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Central Oregon Community College:
Senator Tim Knopp
503-986-1727
Sen.TimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Cheri Helt
503-986-1454
Rep.CheriHelt@oregonlegislature.gov
Chemeketa Community College:
Senator Kim Thatcher
503-986-1713
Sen.KimThatcher@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Fred Girod
503-986-1709
Sen.FredGirod@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Brian Clem
503-986-1421
Rep.BrianClem@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Sherrie Sprenger
503-986-1417
Rep.SherrieSprenger@oregonlegislature.gov
Senate President Peter Courtney
503-986-1600
Sen.PeterCourtney@oregonlegislature.gov
Clackamas Community College:
Senator Kathleen Taylor
503-986-1721
Sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Chuck Thomsen
503-986-1726
Sen.ChuckThomsen@oregonlegislature.gov
Columbia Gorge Community College:
Senator Chuck Thomsen
503-986-1726
Sen.ChuckThomsen@oregonlegislature.gov
Lane Community College:
Senator Arnie Roblan
503-986-1705
Sen.ArnieRoblan@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Julie Fahey
503-986-1414
Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative John Lively
503-986-1412
Rep.JohnLively@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Nancy Nathanson
503-986-1413
Rep.NancyNathanson@oregonlegislature.gov
Linn-Benton Community College:
Representative Sherrie Sprenger
503-986-1417
Rep.SherrieSprenger@oregonlegislature.gov
Ways and Means Co-Chair Dan Rayfield
503-986-1416
rep.danrayfield@oregonlegislature.gov
Mt. Hood Community College:
Representative Barbara Smith Warner
503-986-1445
Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Diego Hernandez
503-986-1447
Rep.DiegoHernandez@oregonlegislature.gov
Oregon Coast Community College:
Senator Arnie Roblan
503-986-1705
Sen.ArnieRoblan@oregonlegislature.gov
Portland Community College:
Representative Barbara Smith Warner
503-986-1445
Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Lew Frederick
503-986-1722
Sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Mark Hass
503-986-1714
Sen.MarkHass@oregonlegislature.gov
Senator Kathleen Taylor
503-986-1721
Sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Diego Hernandez
503-986-1447
Rep.DiegoHernandez@oregonlegislature.gov
House Speaker Tina Kotek
503-986-1200
Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov
House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson
503-986-1436
Rep.JenniferWilliamson@oregonlegislature.gov
Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick
503-986-1700
Sen.GinnyBurdick@oregonlegislature.gov
Rogue Community College:
House Republican Leader Carl Wilson
503-986-1403
Rep.CarlWilson@oregonlegislature.gov
Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger
503-986-1702
Sen.HermanBaertschiger@oregonlegislature.gov
Southwestern Oregon Community College:
Senator Arnie Roblan
503-986-1705
Sen.ArnieRoblan@oregonlegislature.gov