NEWS UPDATE FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GOMBERG: Highlights from Week Seven in Salem

By Representative David Gomberg, House District 10

2/24/2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Your state legislature is in the early stages of planning our Ways and Means “roadshow”. As we prepare the two-year budget, the Committee travels around the state to hear how Oregonians want their tax dollars spent.

The planning process is taking longer this year because we expect we will need a lot more space.

Typically we hear from passionate people who want more spending on police, roads, social services, colleges, and the arts. But this year, I anticipate things will be different. We budget writers are caught between inflationary increases in mainstream programs like schools, housing, behavioral health care, and wildfires, finding ways to pay for roads as gasoline taxes decline, and backfilling reductions we are now seeing in federal programs. On top of that, we are facing a nearly $1.8 billion “kicker” tax reduction.

More than 31% of the state’s budget comes from the federal government. And unlike the federal government, Oregon’s constitution requires we pass a balanced state budget. Paying for the increased costs of what we are already doing while also dealing with dramatically reduced federal spending will make this a very challenging budget year.

What’s undeniable is that President Trump has ushered in the sharpest change of direction for this country during our lifetime. His core supporters are thrilled with what they see. Those who don’t like these events watch in horror. The nation is far from any consensus on what makes America great. And the daily litany of federal firings, canceled grants, and policy changes emanating from Washington D.C. continue to create an uncertain environment.

Tillamook County had a particularly hard week.

Three multifamily housing projects with 180 units planned lost $3.78 million of federal funding and were canceled. A $12,563,894 federal grant proposal for the Killam Creek bridge replacement was withdrawn. Several years ago the oyster industry along Netarts Bay was quite literally saved by federally funded scientists at the Hatfield Marine ScienceCenter. And this week, as a new oyster virus is creeping up the coast, those researchers were fired.

I’m watching news across our district as preschool programs at Head Start are closed, park rangers at Yaquina Head are dismissed, and a disturbing number of scientists and researchers at Hatfield are fired. Thursday I met with Congresswoman Val Hoyle who sounded the alarm on the possible loss of NOAA.

Val Hoyle and I spoke about NOAA in Newport this week.

Most of us are aware of the NOAA Marine Operations Center in Newport that is home to two research vessels and provides support to the rest of the NOAA Pacific fleet. Less well known is the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s Newport Research Station, which conducts critical research on groundfish, salmon, and the ecosystems in which they live.

I am not sitting idly by watching events unfold.

I have voted to rely on the popular vote rather than the Electoral College for presidential selection. I’ve supported measures to focus our local police on local crime rather than make them federal immigration agents. I’ve met with several groups of immigrants to discuss their rights and the safety of their families. I sat down with all three members of our Congressional delegation. And I work on our state budget to empower our Attorney General and Governor as they respond to funding freezes and constitutional challenges with a particular effect on Oregon.

Watching all of this as a state legislator, I am left to wonder about the careful balance of power crafted by our founding fathers in our Constitution. Why has our Republican Congress failed to endorse, refine, or even reject any of these unilateral executive actions? I am mindful that the first Article in our Constitution is about the Congress and not the President.

Agree or disagree with President Trump, simply dismissing the legislative branch will eventually lead to a constitutional crisis.

Certainly, these questions were on the minds of Eastern Oregonians at a series of contentious town halls hosted last week by Congressman Cliff Bentz. Bentz is the only Republican member of Oregon’s congressional delegation. I give Cliff credit for at least holding public meetings when many of his colleagues are not doing so.

There will be more to come as the 83rd Oregon Legislature continues its session. Federal actions have hit state government at a very busy time. We must settle the two-year state budget in just 6 months and a record 2,500 bills have already been introduced.

We hope to make gains in housing, homelessness, schools, and mental health access. The budget promises to be tight.

At the same time, I’ve sponsored bills about public safety, animal welfare, consumer protection, and environmental stewardship that I hope to pass. Most require no money.

In short, I’m planning to do my best for the people of District 10, and the rest of Oregon, as well. If I see an opportunity to make a difference in Washington DC, I will take it. I trust you will do the same.

My priorities in Salem have always been our district, funding critical water, sewer, and public safety projects; preserving our coastal environment; reducing your cost of living and maintaining your quality of life.

But at the same time, I have embraced the opportunity to make a difference on a variety of animal welfare issues.

That included measures to address abuses at the Primate Research Center; prevent sales of puppy mill animals in pet shops; designate shelter rescued animals as the state pet; prohibit sales of cosmetics tested on animals; challenge the Oregon Racing Commission to review online betting, animal welfare and greyhound racing; and bring $1 million for homeless and domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.

I have been honored to be named the US Humane Society’s Oregon Legislator of the Year four times.

And so I was gratified this year to see Oregon ranked as the very best in the nation to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.

Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report. It is the longest-running and most authoritative of its kind, assessing the strength of each state and territory’s animal protection laws by examining over 3,600 pages of statutes. Each state and territory is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.

You can read a compendium of the Animal Protection Laws of Oregon here.

Each week I try to highlight hearings in Salem that may be of particular interest.

Last week I testified on HB 3189 about arts and culture, how they affect our lives and our economy. “Arts, culture, heritage and history,” I said, “define who we are, what we celebrate, and how we will be remembered”. But in our district, they also infuse over $50 million into the local economy each year and are responsible for more than 600 jobs. You can watch the hearing here.

Amid high-profile hearings on transportation, medical costs, and utility rates was a bipartisan proposal to raise the minimum marrying age in Oregon to 18.

I’ll admit that when I first saw people in the hallway wearing big buttons that said, “End Child Marriage”, I wondered what was going on. But when they came to visit my office, the problem became clear. Many marriages of teens 17 and younger are to older men, and they may be forced into human trafficking. Sometimes, non-custodial parents will encourage a marriage to avoid and end child support. Parents can authorize a marriage but those under eighteen cannot sign a divorce without a parent’s consent.

The research shows that children, especially girls, who are married under the age of 18 are more likely to experience poverty, domestic violence, high-risk adolescent pregnancies, mental health and substance use disorders, and often have limited opportunities for educational and career advancement.

The same day they heard SB 548 increasing the minimum legal marriageable age in Oregon to 18, the Senate Judiciary Committee also heard SB 179 to reaffirm recreational immunity in Oregon. Increasing liability on public trails, parks and beach accesses has forced the closure of many of these resources. I supported a temporary fix last session and strongly support making those improvements permanent this session.

You can watch the hearings here.

That health care expenses in Oregon are increasing is no surprise. The question is, is spending going up because costs are increasing, or because more people are being proactive about seeking medical care when they’re feeling ill and have the insurance or money to cover it?

Overall spending on health care for all ages in Oregon increased 34% between 2010 and 2019. This includes expenses for hospital care, doctor’s office visits, outpatient services, emergency room visits, dental care, prescription drugs, home health, and nursing facility care.

On a per-person basis, health care spending in Oregon rose from $5,888 in 2010 to $7,205 in 2019, a 22% increase. This growth outpaced the national growth rate of 16% during the same period. But even after adjusting for factors like age and health conditions, people in some Oregon counties spent considerably more than others.

According to researchers, this suggests that differences in health care costs aren’t just due to populations being older or sicker but may also stem from factors like how often people use health services, local pricing and access to care. I suspect at the coast, our lower local spending reflects the fact that most more expensive procedures and treatments are provided for us in the valley.

The counties with the highest health care spending per capita were likely linked to more residents being proactive about their health and seeking medical care. Insurance coverage plays a significant role in spending patterns. The study found that counties with higher incomes and higher rates of private insurance enrollment generally used health care services more often.

Data revealed that oral disorders, such as cavities and uneven teeth, drove the most spending in the state. But there were significant disparities in dental care spending across the state. More than half of the spending for oral care and treatments from dental offices comes from out-of-pocket because a lot of people don’t have dental insurance.

One key question the study did not address is whether higher spending leads to better health outcomes. Some counties with high spending saw more frequent doctor visits and medical procedures. But the study didn’t investigate whether higher spending and more frequent trips to the doctor produce better health outcomes for their residents.

Starting Friday morning, Senator Anderson and I will again be hosting live monthly Town Halls.

For the past 11 years, Oregon Coast Community College and the Small Business Development Center have hosted live video town hall meetings with elected officials in Salem. The first event this session, featuring a discussion of the ongoing legislative session, is set for 8 a.m. Friday, February 28.

“Live” in this case, means live by Zoom. Both the Senator and I serve on the Ways & Means Committee, which is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Fridays, so the Town Hall will be online and will end around 9 a.m. If the Ways & Means Committee meeting is canceled on one or more of these Town Hall dates, it’s possible we may attend the forum in person, at Oregon Coast Community College’s North County Center in Lincoln City.

Join us online at https://oregoncoast.zoom.us/j/98367095358

Senator Anderson and I will be able to take your questions, “live”, during the event.

The public is welcome to join in person for a viewing at the Lincoln City OCCC Campus, 3788 SE High School Drive. Or watch from the comfort of your own home streamed via Zoom: https://oregoncoast.zoom.us/j/98367095358

For the latest information, visit oregoncoast.edu.

Rep.DavidGomberg@oregonlegislature.gov

phone: 503-986-1410

address: 900 Court St NE, H-480, Salem, OR, 97301

website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg