Oregon is facing a $3.1 billion shortfall for the 2009-2011 state budget. What's that mean? Well, without generating new revenue sources - the result of this shortfall will mean cuts in many programs.  

The state legislature will be holding a series of public hearings throughout Oregon in the next two weeks to hear your thoughts and input.

This Saturday, April 25th - the committee hearing will be in Pendleton from 10am to 12pm at the Pendleton Oregon National Guard Armory, 2100 NW 56th Ave.

This event will be a great opportunity to:

• Learn more about the challenges Oregon is facing in responsibly balancing the budget this year,
• Share your views with the committee through their budget priorities worksheet,
• Hear your friends and neighbors give their input directly to committee members.

If you plan to testify then please make sure to arrive early (15-30 minutes) as the last time Ways & Means held public hearings on the road - the line was pretty long. Make sure to keep your oral testimony to 3-5 minutes long but also make sure to bring photocopied handouts for the entire community.

These forums are just another event to make your message heard about health reform. To go beyond the usual rhetoric and to make sure legislative members understand that the economic downturn cannot be addressed without doing something about health reform. If we let this session go by without making real changes, the economics of health care will continue to dominate the state’s budget, making it even harder to invest in other priorities. 

We can't afford to wait any longer. Legislators have an opportunity to set the direction for Oregon's future health system, one that creates several changes:

• Ways for us to share both the cost and the responsibility for a new system;
• A way for Oregon to spend its public resources more wisely, and
• Creating a framework for a system that makes sense and meets the needs of all Oregonians.

 Take a look at the attached handout from our last lobby day in Salem or check out http://wecandobetter.org/your-legislator.

Please let us know if we can be of any assistance.

In good health,

Matt