{"id":38,"date":"2016-06-30T17:00:18","date_gmt":"2016-06-30T17:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/?p=38"},"modified":"2016-07-08T20:06:57","modified_gmt":"2016-07-08T20:06:57","slug":"june-2016-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/2016\/06\/30\/june-2016-update\/","title":{"rendered":"June 2016 Update"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The 2016 General Election<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What happens during the 2017 legislative session will depend on how voters consider a number of measures that will likely be on the November ballot.\u00a0 Most noteworthy of these is IP-28, which would create a state corporate receipts tax.\u00a0 Proponents of the measure claim it will create revenues needed to balance the budget and improve services.\u00a0 Opponents claim the measure will create an unfair and unbalanced state tax structure that will place Oregon businesses in an unfavorable position.\u00a0 The Legislative Revenue Office <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregonlegislature.gov\/lro\/Documents\/IP%2028%20-%20RR%203-16.pdf\">presented an analysis of the measure<\/a> to the House and Senate Revenue Committees last month. Proponents of the measure rebutted the analysis in a recent editorial <a href=\"http:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/opinion\/index.ssf\/2016\/05\/state_agencys_assessment_of_co.html\">in the Oregonian<\/a>. <em>(As a public entity, OSU does not take positions on ballot measures.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>May Committee Days<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Throughout the year, legislative committees meet on a quarterly basis.\u00a0 Following the February 2016 short session, committees met in May.\u00a0 While a number of committees and task forces will meet occasionally over the summer, the next formal committee session is scheduled for the week of September 19th.\u00a0 Here are some highlights from the committee sessions in May:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Upon the favorable recommendation of the Senate Rules &amp; Executive Appointments Committee, the full Senate confirmed Governor Brown\u2019s appointment of two new members to the OSU Board of Trustees:\u00a0 OSU Engineering Professor <strong>Mike Bailey<\/strong>, past president of the OSU Faculty Senate (filling the position of faculty trustee) and Nike executive and OSU alum <strong>Julia Brim Edwards<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The House and Senate Committees on Veterans and Emergency Preparedness met jointly and considered possible changes in a 2015 bill that called for priority registration for veterans at Oregon\u2019s seven public universities.\u00a0 Working with campus veterans groups, representatives from the seven universities plan to develop recommendations for addressing a variety of veterans-related issues and report back to the committees when they meet in September.<\/li>\n<li>Governor Kate Brown met with members of the OSU Women\u2019s Basketball team, congratulating them on their historic 2015-16 Final Four season.\u00a0 Senate President Peter Courtney welcomed the team to the Senate chambers.\u00a0 You can see pictures from this visit on the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OregonGovBrown\/status\/735205717133557761\">Governor\u2019s Twitter page<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OregonStateWBB\/posts\/1065311236840553\">Oregon State Women\u2019s Basketball Facebook page<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-39\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB.jpg\" alt=\"GovBrownWBB\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2517\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB.jpg 600w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2517\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-40\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB2.jpg\" alt=\"GovBrownWBB2\" width=\"599\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2517\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB2.jpg 599w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2517\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB2-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-41\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB3.jpg\" alt=\"GovBrownWBB3\" width=\"600\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2517\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB3.jpg 600w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2517\/files\/2016\/07\/GovBrownWBB3-300x153.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Significant Policy and Budget Issues for the 2017-19 Biennium<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Over the coming months, our efforts will be aimed at ensuring that legislators, the Governor, and stakeholders are aware of the dividends that have resulted from investments made in higher education during the 2015 legislative session.\u00a0 In preparation for the 2017 session, we will be highlighting how state bonds for campus capital projects and budget increases for student success initiatives and the OSU statewide public service programs (Extension, Agricultural Experiment Station, and Forest Research Laboratory) have significantly improved OSU\u2019s ability to serve Oregonians.<\/p>\n<p>These efforts will be aimed at making the case for continuing investments needed to maintain the level of student success and economic well-being that have resulted from our work during the 2015 legislative session.\u00a0 Here is a summary of seven significant initiatives and policy issues we will be pursuing over the coming months:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Maintaining Operating Expenditures:<\/strong> All seven public universities are working together to achieve at least a $100\u00a0million (15%) increase in operating funds.\u00a0 This would enable universities to keep tuition increases below 5% and also preserve current financial aid and student support services.\u00a0 In April the seven public university presidents sent a letter to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) seeking increased funding along these lines. <a href=\"http:\/\/oregonstate.edu\/government\/sites\/default\/files\/consolidatedfundingrequest2017-19.pdf\">http:\/\/oregonstate.edu\/government\/sites\/default\/files\/consolidatedfundingrequest2017-19.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Securing New and Renewed Capital for All Seven Universities:\u00a0 <\/strong>All seven presidents have also joined together in supporting $284\u00a0million in capital funding for the 2017-19 biennium. \u00a0At OSU, these projects involve significant capital renewal funds for existing buildings, investments in OSU-Cascades, and a quality food and beverage initiative. <a href=\"http:\/\/oregonstate.edu\/government\/sites\/default\/files\/consolidatedcapitalrequest2017-19.pdf\">http:\/\/oregonstate.edu\/government\/sites\/default\/files\/consolidatedcapitalrequest2017-19.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Expanding OSU-Cascades:\u00a0 <\/strong>OSU is developing and implementing a strategy for financing the long-term capital expansion of OSU-Cascades.\u00a0 Currently, the state maintains a distinct funding stream for OSU-Cascades operations.\u00a0 We are seeking similar treatment for capital funds in order to achieve the state goal of creating a four-year campus in Central Oregon.\u00a0 While advocating for OSU-Cascades, we have sought to be clear that the state\u2019s decision to establish an eighth campus in Central Oregon should not come at the expense of the existing seven public university campuses in Oregon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintaining the OSU Statewides:\u00a0 <\/strong>In 2015, the legislature allocated a $14\u00a0million increase for the OSU Statewide Public Service Programs (Extension, Agricultural Experiment Station and Forest Research Laboratory).\u00a0 This level of funding needs to be maintained with an appropriate \u201ccontinuing service level\u201d increase in 2017.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Improving the Implementation of State Financial Aid Programs:\u00a0 <\/strong>All seven universities are working together to address and resolve significant shifts in financial aid resources that have occurred over the last year.\u00a0 In particular, we are working to understand how state investments in the Oregon Promise program (\u201cfree community college\u201d) and changes in the Oregon Opportunity Grant program may affect state funding for low-income students who attend four-year universities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Investing in State Economic Development Programs:\u00a0 <\/strong>The research universities are working together to develop and implement a state Economic Development and Research Budget Strategy.\u00a0 These efforts may include investments in inter-connectivity among and between campuses and a re-vamping of the state\u2019s Innovation Council.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Continuing the Seven Public University Alliance:<\/strong> All seven universities are working together to be responsive and proactive on a wide variety of intricate policy issues likely to present themselves prior to and during the 2017 legislative session.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 2016 General Election What happens during the 2017 legislative session will depend on how voters consider a number of measures that will likely be on the November ballot.\u00a0 Most noteworthy of these is IP-28, which would create a state corporate receipts tax.\u00a0 Proponents of the measure claim it will create revenues needed to balance&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/2016\/06\/30\/june-2016-update\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6383,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1074282,800725,801252],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2016-elections","category-oregon-governor","category-oregon-legislature"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6383"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38\/revisions\/42"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/government\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}