Issue Position

Issue Position

Oregon is in transition to a future that is still not defined. Most fundamentally, our climate is changing. We must adapt our economy and our institutions to a new set of circumstances.

I am hopeful that our legislature will enact the Healthy Climate Act, for which we must thank Rep. Buckley, during the current short session. If that happens, a door will open to creation of a new energy economy based on renewable resources and emerging technologies. Our lawmakers will need to work for years to define and apply that law.

Meanwhile we need to strengthen public education and our health care delivery system. Oregon will need healthy, well-educated people to cope with the challenges that lay ahead. Smart policies and strategic investments will help us strengthen our most important resource: the young Oregonians who will lead our state tomorrow.

We must also create opportunities for Oregonians of all backgrounds to prosper and contribute to our mutual success.

This means that we must address the availability of affordable housing and the minimum wage along with and access to excellent public education, including early childhood development and higher education.

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