Kulongoski gives mid-term update

Governor Ted Kulongoski will continue to support a strong educational component in the state budget by pushing continued investment in capital construction and faculty salaries, he said during his mid-term update at the Portland City Club Friday.

Health care took top priority among other key issues proposed in his recommended 2007-09 state budget, with plans to increase coverage and access to state health care for the working class, and expansions of state prescription drug and children’s health insurance programs. Higher education received a strong investment in Kulongoski’s proposed budget, and the House Ways and Means Committee reduced some investments in their proposal.

Kulongoski’s budget proposes a $325 million investment in capital construction, renovation and construction projects for buildings in Oregon universities. The House Ways and Means committee, a budget committee that takes and adjusts the governor’s budget, cut Kulongoski’s proposal by over $300 million.

“Without these funds, we will lose national interest from private donors, and many of these existing buildings will continue to decay,” Kulongoski said.

The governor also said an increased investment in faculty would be included in his higher education package, made possible by raising Oregon’s long-dormant corporate minimum tax for corporations who do business in Oregon.

Kulongoski said that an attainable solution this session will be adding 15,000 additional working Oregon residents to the Oregon health care system in both state and national funds. The governor’s Healthy Kids proposal, which calls for an increase in statewide children’s health care coverage, was also mentioned.

“The policy debate at the bottom of all this is over,” Kulongoski said. “Everyone agrees that insuring children is not only the morally correct thing to do, but the economically smart thing to do.”

Kulongoski said his goal to raise tobacco taxes will insure 117,000 uninsured children in the state.

“My proposal will save lives, reduce health care costs and increase prosperity for our children,” he said.

Kulongoski said that the state should not only maintain adequate funding for K-12, but should pay particular attention to state higher education.

“We cannot ignore the needs of our community colleges and universities,” Kulongoski said. “Today, for example, the Oregon University System alone has over $640 million in deferred maintenance.”

Environment was no less important than increases to education and health-related initiatives, as Kulongoski said he is still working with state legislators to make Oregon a leader in alternative and renewable energy. He plans to continue with investments in renewable and sustainable technology.

Kulongoski called for the state to have 25 percent of its electricity coming from renewable energy sources by 2025 as a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which ensures that a minimum amount of the state’s power supply comes from renewable sources.

“Establishing an RPS is the best way to grow a sustainable economy,” Kulongoski said.

Other environmental bills, such as reducing greenhouse gas levels and tax incentives to re-retrofit dirty diesel engines, also have the governor’s support.

“These bills will cut our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our economy,” Kulongoski said. “They deserve bi-partisan support and a very quick trip to my desk for my signature.”

The governor discussed a lack of funding for the Oregon state police, which has been left understaffed and without a predictable source of revenue, according to Kulongoski.

“The Oregon state police is the only state agency dedicated to protecting each and every one of us,” Kulongoski said. “The least we could do is find a dedicated source of funding for them and their families.”

Some City Club attendees said that the governor still has work to do to get the state at the right level, but said that he is generally on the right track.

“There’s a lot of problems, there’s a lot of needs, obviously,” said Ray Polani, director of the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates. “But one need definitely is to do something about the future of transportation, because it is essential for economic prosperity.” The problems addressed by Kulongoski are important, but incomplete, according to Polani.

“I think he’s right on,” said Portlander Judy Bishop. “He’s targeted the four major areas we need to deal with. Health care and education and higher education are really paramount issues, and he just nailed ’em.”