Senate Democrats Deliver on 2007 Legislative Agenda

Real progress on real priorities.

It's what Senate Democrats pledged for the 2007 session.

And it's exactly what they delivered.

Our 2007 agenda focused on four key goals that reflect the core principles of Senate Democrats and the top priorities of Oregonians:

  • Strong Schools for Our Children
  • Affordable Health Care for Our Families
  • Economic Fairness and Security for Our Workers
  • Safe Neighborhoods and Secure Communities for All

Some of the specific achievements made possible this session through the hard work of Senate Democrats include:

  • The state's first-ever comprehensive Rainy Day Fund
  • A landmark expansion of Oregon's Bottle Bill
  • Increased access to Oregon's Prescription Drug Program
  • A new health insurance pool to lower costs for schools across the state
  • Funding for 100 new state troopers
  • A new investment in college grants that will open the doors of higher education for thousands of Oregon students
  • The Oregon Renewable Energy Act, which will make Oregon a national leader in the development of clean energy
  • A $6.245 billion K-12 budget that helps reduce class sizes and ensure a full school year for Oregon's students
  • A dramatic expansion of Head Start
  • A Healthy Kids Program that will provide health care to tens of thousands of uninsured Oregon children if voters approve funding in November
  • Meaningful protection against identity theft for all Oregonians
 

2007 Accomplishments

Senate Democrats won several hard-fought campaigns in 2006 to maintain an 18-seat majority in the Oregon Senate. That Democratic majority has made a critical difference for the people of Oregon. In addition to delivering on their major agenda items, Senate Democrats have:

  • Capped interest rates on payday loans to protect Oregonians from predatory lending
  • Restored labor rights for firefighters and police officers so they can have a say on working conditions affecting their own safety
  • Expanded civil rights laws to protect Oregonians against discrimination based on sexual orientation
  • Required contraceptive equity in health insurance
  • Adopted new fire-safety standards to prevent tragic fires caused by cigarettes

 

Latest News

June 25, 2007

Senate Democrats Boost Support for Community Colleges and Financial Aid

The Senate passed two key budget bills today that will provide unprecedented support for Oregon’s community colleges and financial aid programs. The increased investment in community colleges will help open the door for more Oregonians to achieve the dream of higher education. The dramatic boost in financial aid through the Shared Responsibility/Oregon Opportunity Grant will help ensure that Oregon’s students aren't priced out of higher education. Together, these bills are another demonstration of how Senate Democrats delivered on agenda item #1 for 2007: Strong Schools.

June 22, 2007

Senate Democrats Pass Identity Theft Protection Bill

Today, Senate Democrats approved Senate Bill 583, legislation that sets standards for safeguarding personal information; requires timely notification to possible victims of identity theft; and gives consumers the right to have their credit file frozen to prevent identity theft. This bill also creates an outreach program in the Department of Consumer and Business Services to educate Oregonians on how to protect themselves from identity theft. Senate Bill 583 delivers on the Senate Democrats' 2007 pledge to pursue greater economic security for working families.