Education funding notches House win but campaign isn’t over

The education funding marathon has passed another marker.

With a May Day rally and march clamoring outside the Capitol building, the House took a historic vote Wednesday that could reverse decades of underfunding education. House Bill 3427 passed after a six-hour House floor session. Nearly every legislator either spoke or gave their time to a colleague. The bill required three-fifths approval because it raised revenue, and it passed 37-21 (with two legislators excused). 

I was riddled with angst, sitting and listening to the debate and discussion that seemed to go on forever. Having worked hard over the past several months, it was torture waiting for this vote. At one point, Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, used a procedural move and motioned to send HB 3427 back to committee for some adjustments to the tax portion. Another lengthy debate ensued, and the people in the gallery around me literally moaned out loud.

What’s next? Remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. The Senate is expected to vote on HB 3427 this week, as early as Tuesday, May 7.  We need your continued action, reaching out to your Senate legislators asking them to vote Yes on HB 3427.

I know you are all still thinking about cost containment, i.e., the Public Employees Retirement System and health care. The legislative leadership is working hard on a cost containment plan involving PERS, but it hasn’t been rolled out. Gov. Kate Brown’s plan, which was unveiled during an April 12 hearing, is the only plan the Legislature has seen.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, lsattenspiel@osba.org.

- Lori Sattenspiel
Legislative Services director