The PSU Office of Government Relations prepares an occasional update of activity. Jesse Cornett, Interim Assistant to the President for Government Relations is the editor. If you have questions about the content of the update, please contact him at 503-725-5040 or cornett [at] pdx.edu. For an easier to read version of this newsletter, please visit: http://www.pdx.edu/gov-relations/news/

Items in this Newsletter:

• PSU in Washington DC
• Newest US Ambassador a PSU Grad
• Legislature Releases Additional Funds for OUS
• Senator Wyden Meets with PSU Vets
• Preview of the November Ballot (Measures)

PSU in Washington DC

It has been busy in Washington DC for PSU.

Incoming President Wim Wiewel visited the Oregon Congressional delegation on June 26, 2008. He sat down with all the members and their staff to introduce himself and to become familiar with our Representatives and Senators. He was accompanied by his wife, Alice Wiewel, who is currently the Director of University Facilities at Georgetown University.

The day was a successful introduction for President Wiewel where he was able to talk about his vision for PSU and how he can work closely with Oregon’s members of Congress to achieve those goals. This will be one of many visits to Washington, D.C. that the President will undertake during his tenure at PSU to make sure our federal agenda is progressing successfully on the Hill.

More recently, PSU Provost Roy Koch, Vice-Provost Bill Feyerherm, Dean Randy Hitz, Institute on Portland Metropolitan Studies Director Sheila Martin joined the government relations team in DC for a Legislative Summit for Urban Serving Universities. They had a chance to meet our congressional offices on the importance of urban serving university language remaining in the higher education act reauthorization. This critical measure could pass as early as this week.

For more information on Urban Serving Universities go here: http://www.usucoalition.org

And for more information on the higher education reauthorization: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.4137:

Newest US Ambassador a PSU Grad

PSU alumnus Joseph Lebaron was recently confirmed by the US Senate to serve as the next Ambassador to Qatar and PSU was proud to host his swearing in ceremony. Click here for the full story from the PSU Vanguard: http://media.www.dailyvanguard.com/media/storage/paper941/news/2008/07/23/News/Sworn.In.To.Serve-3393560.shtml

Legislature Releases Additional Funds for OUS

As most of you know by now, last month the Legislature’s Emergency Board released 80% of the $125 million state salary pool to state agencies. As a result, PSU will face a nearly $1 million cut from what it originally anticipated based on the set aside in the 2007 session. Thank you all for your advocacy for getting the funds released!

Senator Wyden Meets with PSU Vets

Just prior to it’s passage, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Brig. Gen. Mike Caldwell of the Oregon National Guard met with PSU student veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts in June, about the need for the new G.I. Bill to improve educational and other benefits for members of National Guard and the Reserves. Over 20 veterans who are also PSU students were on hand for the robust discussion and the bill is now law.

Preview of the November Ballot (Measures)

Thursday, July 3rd was the deadline for submitting signatures in order to qualify a measure for the November ballot. A total of 12 measures will be on the ballot. (The modern record is 26, set back in 2000.) With thanks to the Salem Statesman Journal and Jock Mills at OSU here is a brief summary of the measures. Those that could affect higher education are highlighted in bold.

Citizen Initiatives
1. TAXES: Federal taxes would be fully deductible on state income-tax returns; the current limit on deductions is $5,500. Similar measures were defeated by voters in 2000 and 2006. Chief sponsors: Bill Sizemore and Russ Walker. If passed, this measure could have a significant effect on funding for a broad range of state-funded programs because it will reduce revenues flowing to the state without providing replacement funds.

2. ENGLISH: Students could be taught in a language other than English for no more than two years. Chief sponsor: Bill Sizemore.

3. PROPERTY: Minor improvements to property, up to $35,000 per year, would not require a building permit. Chief sponsor: Bill Sizemore.

4. UNION DUES: Public resources could not collect union dues or other funds for political purposes. Similar versions were defeated by voters in 1998 and 2000. Chief sponsor: Bill Sizemore. This would affect dues paid by union members.

5. PROPERTY CRIMES: Minimum prison sentences would be set for offenders convicted of property crimes. Chief sponsor: Kevin Mannix. If passed, because this measure would increase prison populations without providing a funding source, it would likely result in a shift of spending from existing programs to corrections.

6. TEACHERS: Pay and seniority rights would be tied to classroom performance. Chief sponsors: Bill Sizemore and Russ Walker.

7. LOTTERY: 15 percent of net proceeds would be reserved for public safety, on top of 18 percent already earmarked in Oregon Constitution for education reserve fund, 15 percent for parks, watersheds and salmon habitat, fluctuating amount for bond repayments. Chief sponsor: Kevin Mannix. Because this measure would further specify how lottery proceeds could be used, it would reduce the legislature’s ability to designate lottery funds for purposes such as higher education. Lottery backed bonds have been a significant source of funding for higher education capital projects, particularly at Oregon’s regional campuses.

8. OPEN PRIMARY: The top two finishers in a primary election, regardless of party, would go into a general election. Chief sponsors: Phil Keisling, Norma Paulus.

Measures referred by the Legislature:
9. 18-YEAR-OLDS: They would get the right to vote in school board elections, which the Oregon Constitution bars them from doing now. They already qualify to vote in state and federal elections.

10. REDISTRICTING: Legislators would be able to complete elected terms if they find themselves in new districts as a result of redrawn boundaries after a census.

11. DOUBLE MAJORITY: Exempts property-tax measures, if they are on either a May or November election in any year, from the constitutional requirement for half the registered voters to cast ballots and a majority of participating voters to approve them. Currently such measures are exempt from the "double-majority" requirement, passed by the voters in 1996, only if they are on the general election ballot in even-numbered years.

12. PROPERTY CRIMES ALTERNATIVE: Repeat property offenders would face more prison time, and the state would provide drug treatment, in a less costly legislative alternative to the mandatory-sentencing initiative sponsored by Kevin Mannix (see above). Because this measure has a lower cost than the citizen-sponsored measure, the impact upon other state programs supported by the general fund would be lessened. The Legislature directed that if voters pass both this measure and the Mannix measure above, the measure receiving more votes will prevail.