First impressions can mean everything, and the 2009 opening legislative session Monday was no exception.
The event commenced with the swearing in of new representatives and senators, the governor’s State of the State address and the reading of new bills. This legislative session began with an extended list of problems, such as the third-highest unemployment rate in the country and a projected budget deficit of more than $1.4 million.
Work was postponed for the first day of session in order to entertain ceremonial obligations.
“The day is out of pompous circumstance,” Senate Minority Communications Director Michael Gains said. “It is mostly a ceremonial ra-ra kind of day. The real work starts tomorrow.”
The “real work” involves legislators scrutinizing the budgets of state programs and making priorities. Job creation is at the forefront of those priorities and will affect students graduating and seeking well-paying jobs.
Job stimulus goals include monopolizing Oregon’s already successful green lead. Oregon will soon be home to the largest wind farm in the world in Gilliam and Morrow Counties, six biodiesel companies and numerous solar panel and hydrogen fuel cell manufacturers.
The Senate Democrats are looking at providing opportunities to upgrade homes and workplaces with new energy systems by providing incentives for using alternative energy. The installation of new energy systems will provide jobs throughout the state and an opportunity for Oregon to reduce its carbon footprint, the Democrats say.
In addition to creating green jobs, the state legislature is orchestrating plans to jump-start the beginning dates of state-funded construction projects. The infrastructure projects, which have already been approved, will require “millions of dollars,” according to a press release.
Projects include repairing the state’s college campuses and fixing deteriorating roads and bridges. Starting the projects earlier is expected to stimulate the Oregon job market. For every $100 million spent, 1,000 jobs are expected to be created.
With college becoming increasingly less affordable for Oregon families, Sen. Vicki Walker spoke at a town hall meeting Thursday night about the importance of lowering the cost of tuition.
“We have to set some kind of ceiling on the cost of college or it will become an unattainable dream for students in our state,” she said.
According to the state legislature’s 2009 road map, more than 86,000 students were enrolled in the Oregon University System this fall. Community college enrollment also grew this year, and 15,000 students took advantage of the Oregon Opportunity Grant, a statewide financial aid program.
To provide adequate support for students in the future, Gov. Ted Kulongoski encourages Oregon’s legislators to focus on how they can assist students in pursuing their careers. Careers in renewable resources and health care professions are of special interest to the governor.
“If we’re going to turn unemployment checks into paychecks, the state must invest in our human infrastructure,” Kulongoskisaid. “My top priority for this upcoming biennium remains education because only by creating the best trained, best skilled, best educated workforce in America will we be able to create the employment opportunities that are this state’s future.”
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