How can Oregon thrive?

I've always believed that the best way for Oregon to build our future is by returning to the energy and vision that drove public policy in our past. It's more than nostalgia, it's the right way to address our challenges.

Please join our efforts in readying Oregon for tomorrow's opportunities as we address today's challenges.

Several issues stand out in our call for long run leadership:

The best social program? A job!

Oregon’s economy isn’t going to turn around overnight. So I’m focused on planning for a better tomorrow. Our work should be focused on making government transparent and efficient, and creating the conditions that support job growth and economic expansion. Oregon can plant the seeds of programs that will create more jobs you can raise a family on, give Oregonians the skills to compete and reward the kind of employers Oregon wants. Education and infrastructure should form the core of our economic development strategies to use our competitive advantages. That's how we build a better Oregon economy for the long run.

Improving State Finances over the Long Run: Oregon continues to ride a revenue roller coaster; strong in good times but woefully short when the economy sours. In the 2007 legislative session, we succeeded in creating an Oregon savings account - the Rainy Day Fund. And in 2009, I'm proud to have passed legislation that sets aside future revenue for the Rainy Day Fund. As a former Vice-Chair and current member of the House Revenue Committee I'm committed to bringing stability to our state through equitable reform of our revenue system.

Charting a Long Term Course for a Healthier Oregon: Our patchwork health care system fails too many Oregonians striving to be well. We've made progress in extending coverage to tens of thousands of Oregon kids and low-income adults, but we need to continue our work to make sure Oregonians have access to the treatment they need. Our work emphasizes preventative treatment, personal responsibility, cost containment, quality, transparency, and access, and I'm committed to continued progress.

Transforming our Economy: The visionary leadership that brought us the Bottle Bill, public beaches, and land use protections in the 70s understood the responsibility our natural heritage has afforded us. This year we advanced Oregon's green economy by jumpstarting Oregon's solar industry with a feed-in tariff to support those who wish to add solar installations to their home or business. I led efforts to pass landmark legislation that finances energy efficiency projects, reduces costs, and greenhouse gas pollution while creating good jobs. And even amidst the economic challenges we invest in the Oregon Innovation Councilwhich is building on Oregon's competitive advantages to create new industries and businesses to build our future for the long run. We have much work still to do so our children inherit the Oregon we want for them.

Promoting a System of Educational Excellence: Education is the cornerstone of our communities and economy. In recent years we've worked hard to invest in Oregon's system of education by maintaining Head Start funding, protecting K-12 education, and supporting the Oregon Opportunity Grant to improve access to post secondary education despite enormous budget challenges. In 2011, we transformed our system of higher education by granting Oregon's universities new flexibility with accountability and bringing community colleges to the same table with Oregon universities. We also took a huge step forward with passage of Senate Bill 248, making full day kindergarten the norm in Oregon by 2015. But our work is not done. We need to continue our commitment going forward. I'm looking forward to efforts to find ways to make the most of education funding, and to find innovative ways to serve students. I'm sure we can all agree that students deserve to begin school ready to learn, to be taught in small classes, to enjoy a rich set of instruction including music, art, and extracurricular activities including athletics, and to graduate from our public system well prepared for career or college.