Oregon Idea lobbies for Senate Bill 242

The Oregon Idea, an organization of business and community members that focuses on reform for Oregon’s higher education, has been lobbying around issues in higher education for the past 18 months.

“I believe the Oregon Idea has been successful in increasing coordinated advocacy on behalf of Oregon’s universities, community colleges and OHSU [Oregon Health & Science University],”Oregon Idea spokesperson Hans Bernard said. “On several occasions we have issued action alerts to our supporters, and legislators have felt the pressure.”

The Oregon Idea recently sent out action alerts asking members and supporters to contact members of the Education and Workforce Subcommittee of Ways and Means to show support for Senate Bill 242, which would give the Oregon University System more autonomy. This effort resulted in 90 contacts, according to Bernard. 

Jim Francesconi founded the Oregon Idea, Bernard said. A lawyer at Haglund, Kelley, Horngren, Jones and Wilder LLP, Francesconi has served as the Portland City Commissioner for eight years. He is also the current vice president of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education.

On a trip to Salem, Francesconi asked legislators and staff to compare the number of phone calls, letters and e-mails they received in support of higher education to support of K–12 education. 

“The answer was almost 10 to one in favor of K–12,” Bernard said. “Jim wanted to change this dynamic so he began to pull together a board of business leaders from around Oregon who could advocate in a coordinated fashion for post-secondary education.”

The Oregon Idea is now a board of 19 business leaders and Oregon university and community college alumni. 

“The board has raised funds and hired staff that coordinates supporters to testify, call and write letters and emails to legislators in support of post-secondary education,” Bernard said. 

The Oregon Idea reaches out to residents through its website and Facebook page. Over 2,000 Oregon residents receive action alerts and information by signing up on the website, and the organization’s Facebook page has over 1,000 fans. 

The Oregon Idea attempts to unite interests of all institutions of higher education in Oregon and to present a united front on issues. 

“In the past, the university system, OHSU and the community colleges have all advocated for their own interests,” Bernard said. “While this was effective at demonstrating to legislators the great things we’re doing, the broader message about post-secondary education was lost.”

This can be particularly important during debates about the state budget, as many groups lobby for their interests during these times, according to Bernard. 

“Post-secondary education did not have coordination, and they were suffering in the budget process as a result,” he said. 

Oregon businesses have a vested interest in the quality of the state’s higher education because they rely on the education system to provide them with a skilled workforce, Bernard said.

“[Businesses] know that states that invest in post-secondary education are more likely to have a prosperous economy and successfully compete with other states and countries,” he said. 

The Oregon Idea recruits supporters and spreads news about recent advocacy through its online presence and social networking. 

“Decisions in Salem are made based on those who show up to advocate,” Bernard said. ?