Securing Oregon's Future
SENIORS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RETIRE WITH SECURITY AND DIGNITY.
Seniors and those planning their retirement are worried about their financial future. For decades, retirement savings plans and other long-term financial options have been out of reach for many workers, leaving thousands wondering how they will be able make ends meet later in life when it becomes too difficult to work a steady job.
Access to tools that help more people save for their financial future is a critical first step. Tobias sponsored and passed a bill to create the nation’s first state retirement savings plan, OregonSaves, so everyone has access to a retirement savings option regardless of whether one is available through their employer. Under his leadership as State Treasurer, the program has helped over 70,000 Oregonians who previously didn’t have an employer-backed retirement option save more than $65 million for their financial future in his first term. The success of OregonSaves has received national recognition and inspired other states to implement their own programs.
KIDS DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
The next generation of Oregonians are walking into an uncertain financial future. While parents are trying to afford rent and groceries, they are worried that they won’t be able to afford their kids’ education needs, whether that’s a community college, four year university, or vocational training. If we don’t focus on investing in our kids today, we are potentially sacrificing a lifetime of financial security.
Tobias Read is focused on tools and programs to invest in Oregon’s kids at an early age. While serving in the Oregon House, he successfully fought to fund full-day kindergarten for every child in Oregon because a strong early education opens doors to more opportunities later in life. As Treasurer, Tobias ensured that low-income families who have the opportunity to save for their retirement or their children’s college do not face penalties in qualifying for other services.
WORKING FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE DROWNING IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
As our economy continues to demand a skilled and educated workforce, more than half of Oregon households are locked into student loan debt. Strapping students and cosigners to a lifetime of unmanageable repayments makes it harder for families to make ends meet, buy a home or car, and save for retirement.
We must get a handle on student loan debt here in Oregon. As State Treasurer, Tobias Read is focused on supporting better regulations for student loans to protect borrowers and their co-signers, and is working to help students reduce their dependence on loans to afford higher education and skills training.
OREGON NEEDS A STRONG FINANCIAL PLAN FOR A STRONGER FUTURE.
We have serious structural issues ahead of us. Our roads, bridges, and schools need critical investment. People are being priced out of their homes and neighborhoods. While many jobs are transitioning in this current crisis, there are fewer jobs with good, dependable incomes -- leaving many people living paycheck to paycheck.
Oregon has many big issues to solve, and while funding for programs is critical, we also need a strong financial plan for long-term success. As State Treasurer, Tobias Read led the creation of the Oregon Sustainable Bond Program, which will help fund affordable housing development and projects that strengthen our communities and our economy. He also worked to reduce Oregon’s reliance on expensive out-of-state investment bankers, saving millions in unnecessary costs for state and local governments.
