DRO: THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE LEGISLATURE MAKE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY

by | Jan 24, 2011 | advocacy, budget cuts

From Disability Rights Oregon:
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE LEGISLATURE MAKE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY

  1. BE INFORMED: Follow the updates by reading Disability Rights Oregon’s newsletter each week and checking DRO’s Executive Director, Bob Joondeph’s blog at http://www.disabilityrightsoregon.org/the-dro-blog.  You can also follow DRO on Facebook and Twitter.  Visit www.disabilityrightsoregon.org for links to both.  You can follow significant pieces of legislation’s progress here: http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/
  2. BE HEARD: Write your legislator about a bill that matters to you.  A short handwritten note to your State Representative and State Senator can make a very big difference.  Phone calls are also effective.  An email to your legislator is another way to get in touch.  Be sure to refer to the “bill number” at the beginning of your note.  DRO can help get you more information about a particular issue or bill.  Find out who your legislative representatives are and how to contact them here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
  3. BE VISIBLE: Attend an event at the Capitol in Salem.  Organizations meet frequently on a variety of issues important to the disability community.  There are citizen lobby days and gatherings at the Capitol.  Keep an eye on DRO news for updates about events.  You can also attend legislative hearings for bills you are interested in.  Hearings are open to the public and are also streamed online.

MEET OREGON’S NEW LEGISLATORS

New Oregon House Members:
– Rep. Wally Hicks, House District (HD) 3, Grants Pass, has worked as a Deputy District Attorney.
– Rep. Katie Eyre Brewer, HD 29, Hillsboro, is a Certified Public Accountant.
– Rep. Shawn Lindsay, HD 30, Hillsboro, is an intellectual property, e-commerce and business lawyer.
– Rep. Julie Parrish, HD 37, Tualatin and West Linn, is a small business owner.
– Rep. Matt Wand, HD 49, Troutdale, is an attorney in Gresham.
– Rep. Patrick Sheehan, HD 51, Clackamas, owns an advertising agency.
– Rep. Mark Johnson, HD 52, Hood River, owns a general contracting business.
– Rep. Jason Conger, HD 54, Bend, is a lawyer.

New Oregon Senate members:
– Sen. Chuck Thompson, Senate District (SD) 26, Hood River, is an orchardist and county commissioner.
– Sen. Alan Olsen, SD 20, Canby, owns a general contracting business.
– Sen. Lee Beyer, SD 6, Springfield, is a former legislator who served in the Oregon House and Senate from 1991 to 2001.  He also served as Chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission.