National Voter Registration Day: two shifts of volunteers needed on Sept. 25

Our member Alyssa is coordinating volunteers for a voter registration drive on Tuesday, September 25th. Here is her message:

On behalf of the Bus Project, I'm coordinating a Eugene voter registration drive on Tuesday, Sept. 25 (National Voter Registration Day). We need volunteers to help sign people up to vote--it's very simple and I'll help train you on what to do on the day of!

There are two volunteer shifts (9am-12pm and 12-3pm) that will cover two downtown locations near the Eugene Public Library (specifically, the library and the farmer's market).

If you're interested, email me with your name, email, home address, and phone number, as well as your preferred volunteer shift. Feel free to reach out with any questions, as well.

If you don’t have Alyssa’s contact info, please email swvnowltf@gmail.com. We will relay any requests to Alyssa.

Oregon NOW Legislative Meeting in Bend on Saturday

The Oregon NOW legislative group is meeting in a the Bend Environmental Center on Saturday (10a-2p, preceded by coffee and registration at 9:30a) to strategize about the upcoming election and to begin to plan for the 2019 Oregon legislative session. A small donation is requested to defray the costs of holding the meeting. To keep costs low, we ask that you bring a bag lunch. After the meeting, there will be an opportunity to canvass or phone bank for Jamie McLeod Skinner, the NOW-endorsed candidate for US Congress in Oregon district 2.

If you are interested in participating, please contact SWV NOW at this email address: swvnowltf@gmail.com. More details of the event appear in the SWV NOW Legislative Calendar page.

Near-term opportunity: UO Move-in Day Voter Registration Drive

The Oregon Student Alliance for Equal Rights has four tables to be manned on this Thursday, the 20th, UO move-in day.  The person in charge, Andreiana suggested being at the EMU at 7:30am, room 4, to get T-shirts, and materials.  They are also going to be using clip boards to circulate among the crowds.

A couple of us will be there. Not sure of the total time commitment. Join in, if you can.

Have you planned your weekend?

Two big events this weekend, and lots of other opportunities for participation in campaigns:

• Canvass kickoff in Springfield for No on Measure 105 campaign:
  10-2, gathering at the Washburne Cafe in Springfield

  Link to the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1878250112258056/

• Team Oregon office opening and canvass: new office at 637 W. 7th Ave., Eugene
  Join the celebration and the canvass for Kate Brown. More info here:
  http://dplc.org/calendar/team-oregon-lane-county-office-opening-and-canvass

If neither of these events match your interests or schedule, check the DPLC calendar for Heather Buch canvass events on Saturday and Sunday plus phonebanks Monday through Wednesday..

Looking ahead, we’re asking NOW members to plan a houseparty or other method for reaching at least 5 additional voters before of September 29th to encourage them to be sure to vote against Measures 103, 104, 105, and 106. And please mention our support for Governor Brown during those conversations.

If you are not planning to attend the Oregon NOW Legislative Task Force meeting in Bend on September 22nd, you might add this Planned Parenthood event to your calendar:

• Please join Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon and 48 other organizations across the state in a Day of Action to oppose Ballot Measure 106. No Cuts to Care is kicking off its campaign to defend reproductive freedom in Oregon with events in Portland, Eugene, Salem, Hillsboro and Clackamas County.
  Click here to sign up for the No Cuts to Care Day of Action on Saturday, September 22nd!

If you're interested in the 2nd Congressional District campaign...

Meet Jamie McLeod Skinner in Portland!
Going for the WIN in Congressional Dist. 2!

WHAT: Fundraising event

WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 2018, 5 pm -7 pm

Program starts at 5:45 pm promptly

WHERE: BodyVox Theater - 1201 NW 17th Ave. Portland, OR

COST:  $50.00 - open bar and good fare! (100% of donation goes to campaign!)

Buy your tickets here - they are selling fast!

https://act.myngp.com/Forms/5575817044573424384

Keeping busy in August: No on Measure 105, plus supporting Planned Parenthood, kickoff for Governor Brown's campaign in Lane County

Three upcoming events:

1. On Monday, August 20th, Barbara Miller will host a kickoff meeting for our work against Measure 105. She will share everything we know about the campaign against Measure 105 that is being coordinated by One Oregon. Measure 105 is the attempt to roll back Oregon's sanctuary state statute. Bring a list of contacts (Oregon voters) to whom you'd like to send information on the measure and opportunities to work against it. We will provide lists from the campaign as they become available, but you are welcome to bring your own: membership lists, directories, just people that you know.

For details on the location, contact Barbara at barbaramiller853@gmail.com or contact the legislative task force at swvnowltf.gmail.com. We will convene officially at 7p, but feel free to drop by later if that fits your schedule better. Barbara would appreciate an RSVP if you plan to attend.

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2. Even before the Monday event, we have a chance to support Planned Parenthood on Sunday, August 19th:

The Lane County Leadership & Advocacy Team is excited to celebrate with you!

Click here to secure discounted advance tix to "Eat, Drink and Advocate: An Evening with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon" on Sunday, August 19th at Oregon Wine Lab in Eugene. Space is limited, so please don't delay!

We're putting together some incredible raffle packages, thanks to our generous donors. You won't want to miss out on your chance to win goodies from Broadway Metro Theatre, The Duck Store, Ducko's Custom Framing, Laughing Planet, Mezza Luna Pizzaria, Planktown Brewery, Gilt + Gossamer, J. Michaels Fine Books, Sweet Life, Freudian Slip and more!

See you August 19th,

Chelsea

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon's award-winning Lane County Leadership & Advocacy Team is fighting for freedom, opportunity, equality and control over our own bodies — without politicians controlling when, how or why.

To organize ourselves and our communities for victory in 2018, we're throwing a festive party to raise critical funds! Guests will enjoy live music by Caitlin Jemma and The Joe Hein Band, fabulous raffle prizes, local artisan wine provided by Oregon Wine Lab and tasty hors d'oeuvres provided by Party Downtown.

Click here for discounted advance tix to "Eat, Drink and Advocate: An Evening with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon" on Sunday, August 19th in Eugene.

Raised in the high desert of Northern Nevada, Caitlin Jemma is a singer-songwriter whose songs are marked by country and delivered with soul. On her genre-defying 4th studio album, Love Notes, Jemma steps out into a brave new electric frontier, while retaining the intimacy of her first 3 albums.

Joseph Hein hails from the Palouse in eastern Washington. With lush arrangements and warm distortion, he creates dreamy, harmonious sounds with an energetic uptempo rhythm influenced by songs of yesteryear's AM country and R&B gold.

The Lane County Leadership & Advocacy Team works to keep Oregon the No. 1 state in the nation for reproductive freedom and birth control access. Learn how you can join us at the local level to make a real difference in promoting access to lifesaving, affordable, nonjudgmental health services.

See you August 19th,

Chelsea Jennings
Field Organizer

WHAT: Eat, Drink and Advocate: An evening with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
WHEN: 5-7:30pm Sunday, August 19th
WHERE: Oregon Wine Lab, 488 Lincoln St., Eugene
COST: $20 at the door, $15 in advance

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3. Big Lane County Field Kickoff for Governor Kate Brown on Saturday, August 25th at 11am. The local campaign will be launching out of 224 E 11th Ave, Eugene (Democratic Party of Lane County Headquarters). Folks can find more information about the event and RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/2119845954757264/. You may also contact Ryan Kounovsky, Lane County Regional Field Director,Team Oregon, 541-225-7232. Oregon NOW has endorsed Kate Brown for governor, and we will continue to provide information on ways you can get involved.

Join the fight against confirming Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Kavanaugh has an extremely conservative record on many issues of importance to NOW.  Two key areas of concern are  his attitude with respect to Roe V Wade and his extreme positions on gun rights. We have the opportunity to join allies like Planned Parenthood and Moms Demand Action to work against his nomination. Both of these organizations have organized phone banks for calling voters in states of key senators, encouraging them to contact their senators on this matter.

Moms Demand Action here in Eugene is planning phone banks every Wednesday morning (11a-1p) to call residents of Maine and Thursday afternoons to call residents of Alaska. We will update this blog with specifics of location when they become available. Check your email from swvnowltf@gmail.com for more info on making calls.

There is a less precise schedule for the Planned Parenthood activities, but you can sign up here to become a Planned Parenthood Defender. (PPD): I Stand with Planned Parenthood: Take Action

As a PPD you will receive notifications of new activities.

Did you think it was going to be a quiet summer? Think again!

As the summer temperatures heat us, so does the opportunity for political involvement. Here are a list of upcoming opportunities, listed in chronological order, for all of us to get revved up for the upcoming elections and legislative sessions.

1. Saturday, June 30th, 11a, at the Federal Court House in Eugene: Join the Families Belong Together rally protesting current administration policies with respect to the treatment of immigrant families entering the United States. See this page for more information and to RSVP to attend: Families Belong Together March
2. Monday, July 2nd, 12 noon at Roosevelt Middle School, 500 E 24th Ave, Eugene, OR 97405, USA Eugene: Senator Ron Wyden holds a town hall meeting. Time to speak, to listen, and to learn.
3. Monday, July 2nd, 6-7:30p (officially, unofficially for as long as we want to stay and work): a social chapter meeting with a purpose at Sam Bond's Brewing Co., 540 E 8th Ave, Eugene, This event will combine a postcard writing party with an opportunity to plot strategies in response to recent events, including the resignation of Justice Kennedy from the US Supreme Court and the apparent success of IP1 supporters in bringing an anti-abortion measure to the Oregon ballot this fall.. This should be an evening of purpose and fun, despite the heavy topics that will be at the forefront of the discussion. Please join us. We will provide postcards but bring stamps if you can.
4. Monday, July 16th, 9-11a, i Room 350 of the state Capitol Building in Salem. Next meeting of the legislature's Family and Medical Leave Work Group. Contact Glenna if you're interested in carp;ooling.

If there are events you'd like to see highlighted in this blog, please send a message to swvnowltf@gmail.com. We'll work to get more frequent postings up now that a spring hiatus is over.

Continue the Push for Paid Family and Medical Leave in Oregon

This guidance is provided by the Time To Care coalition. You can find the original version plus a sign up screen that will connect you to the source of new materials directly at this location: https://familyforward.salsalabs.org/t2cpfmlaction022818/index.html

Call Your Congressman: Stop the Gutting of the ADA

The US Congress is scheduled to vote on HR 620, ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, tomorrow, Wednesday, February 14th. As a valentine for citizens with disabilities, the US House of Representatives will vote a bill that essentially tells business that they need not install accommodations for persons with disabilities unless and until a citizen initiates a lengthy process to force them to do so. The ACLU has posted a good discussion of the myths and realities of this bill (https://www.aclu.org/other/hr-620-myths-and-truths-about-ada-education-and-reform-act).

Please call or write your Representative (Peter DeFazio for most of us: 541-465-6732, Eugene office; 202-225-6416, Capitol (DC) office) and urge opposition to this bill.

NOW members in Eugene: are you ready to become a participant in government?

The City of Eugene is looking for citizens to take roles in city Boards and Commissions. Here's the flyer. Applications are due by March 31st.

ACLU Public Forum: District Attorney Patty Perlow

January 25th
6p: Strategy Session (Open to public but register)
       Lane County Behavioral Health Building
       2411 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Eugene, OR 97401
7p:  Public Forum with Patty Perlow
       Lane County Youth Services, Carmichael Room
       2727 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Eugene, OR 97401
  

The ACLU announcement notes that this is a rare opportunity to engage publicly with the DA, a chance to let local justice officials know that people care about criminal justice reform.  

More details and link for RSVP at this site.

Upcoming Events

With voting on Measure 101 in progress until January 23rd and the legislative session beginning in early February, there are many opportunities to take action over the next few weeks. This list is long, and I am ordering events in order of occurrence. Please take the time to read through to the end. You may find something further down the list for which you will want to plan ahead.

• January 9th: Web-based, interactive advocacy training with Family Forward (see NOW emails and earlier posts for details)
• January 9th, 7p: Public forum on Measure 101, Wildish Theater, Springfield, sponsored by League of Women Voters
• January 10th, 8a: Legislative hearing on current concepts for Clean Energy Jobs bill
• January 10th, 2p: Legislative hearing on concepts relating to elections and balloting, including proposals to require financial disclosure by Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and a proposal for a referendum on joining the National Popular Vote Compact
• January 10th, 3p: in person advocacy training with ShelterCare in Eugene; info lower in this page
• January 12th, 5:30p: Ron Wyden Town Hall at LCC
• January 15th, a smorgasbord of Martin Luther King Day activities:
  • 9a-noon: Community march sponsored by NAACP. March begins at Autzen Stadium, ends with a community meeting at the Shedd. NOW will table at this event.
  • Noon-3p: Yes for Healthcare canvassing in support of Measure 101
  • 1p-3:30p: 20th Annual Springfield MLK Celebration and March, 1pm march begins at Justice Center; 1:30p celebration at Springfield HS
• January 17th, 5:30p: Nina Turner (Our Revolution national president) Live at LCC! This event is an opportunity to support Measure 101, particularly with the student population.
• January 20th, 1p: Indivisible Eugene's Women's March for Action. March begins at the Federal Court House and ends downtown. After parties are planned as well. Also a last ditch opportunity to support Measure 101.

Canvassing and phonebank events for Measure 101 are available on a daily basis until January 23rd. Phone banks held Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; canvassing Friday through Sunday plus special MLK Day event.

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Info on ShelterCare training:

NOW supports Measure 101: Yes for Healthcare

Two events are upcoming in the next week or so:

Postcard Party
Thursday, December 28,
6-9p, Sam Bond's Garage, 407 Blair St, Eugene

Ready to break away from holiday revelry for a few hours? Come to Sam Bonds Thursday night and write postcards to alert voters to Measure 101 ballot and to spread the word about the January 4th Healthcare Town Hall in Junction City. Postcards provided and some stamps, but bring your own stamps if you can. Also, feel free to bring your own list of people in the Eugene / Lane County area to whom you'd like to send cards: friends, family, members of organizations with which you are affiliated, any cohort that you think should be aware of this measure. And enjoy the company of friends at the same time! See you there?

Measure 101 Healthcare Town Hall
Thursday, January 4th, 6-7:30p
Viking Sal  Senior Center
245 W 5th Avenue, Junction City

This townhall style meeting features Senators James Manning and Lee Beyer and Representative Julie Fahey as well as members of the healthcare community. They will answer your questions about Measure 101 and its impacts on healthcare in Oregon. For more details and to indicate your interest in attending, see the Facebook event page here.

More chances for Family Forward training on Family and Medical Leave Insurance

[Updated 12/13/2017]

Reyna Lopez of Family Forward has organized a web-based training session for NOW members. The objective of the training is to enhance members' skills in advocating for the Paid Family and Medical Insurance bill that will soon be before the Oregon legislature. This educational session will be held on January 9th from 7-8:30p.

If the NOW-specific training event doesn't fit into your schedule, there are a couple of opportunities still available in December to participate in this training:

• Thursday, December 21st
• Thursday, December 29th

You may may register for any of these sessions by clicking through on this link:

PLEASE REGISTER USING THIS LINK TO RECEIVE THE WEBINAR LINK. 

One tip: if you haven't used google hangouts before, allow up to half an hour to get this software up and running on your machine, be it PC, tablet, or telephone.

Here's a brochure about the program:

Need something to do this Saturday, December 9th? A few ideas...

Several awareness / activism events are planned for Saturday, December 9th:

1. "Carpe D!emocracy: Sieze the Helm", sponsored by We the People, Eugene.

This event, which begins at 1:30p, at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene, is described as a town hall for discussion of ways to defend democracy by working towards equality in our political and electoral systems.. Find details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/255495998310912

2. Canvassing in support of Measure 101

Canvassing efforts begin at the Democratic Party of Lane County headquarters ( 224 E. 11th Ave., Eugene) at 1pm. This is designed as a "friendly" canvass, knocking on the doors of people who are likely to support Measure 101 to ensure that they're aware of the upcoming vote.

3. Persuasive Speaking Workshop - Registration required

Event sponsored by Health Care for All Oregon. This event in scheduled from 10a-4p, also at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene. Search down this page (http://www.hcaoeugene.org/) for more information. As of Tuesday night, there were a few slots available in this workshop on how to present a position (on anything!) persuasively.

Whatever you do earlier in the day, don't forget to drop by the NOW fundraiser event at Sam Bond's on E 8th in Eugene from 6-9p: Feminist Forces of the Galaxy - an all ages, family-friendly event.

A few days in the life of a Eugene activist...

Carol Scherer, one of our activist members, gives some insight into the potential scope of involvement around Eugene. She sent this list of activities over the next couple of weeks:

What a whirl-wind of actions for justice!  Besides the Yes on 101 rally Sunday [Dec 3rd], 350 Eugene is having a rally at REI as part of a wider effort to get the corporation to stop working with financial institutions that have clients working with the fossil fuel industry.  There is an on-line petition if you go to the 350 Eugene page.  Also Sunday, an excellent presentation by a noted forester about proper forest management, sponsored by the Many Rivers Sierra Club. 

Tuesday is the Noon Tuesday rally hosted by Indivisible and Take Action Eugene.  Got an email from an ACLU People Power leader just moments ago about a Tuesday action ALCU is proposing regarding the Supreme Court "cake case".  Perhaps Noon Tuesday will focus on this issue.  Each week it varies.

Thursday, December 7, Our Revolution Lane County has organized a demonstration outside the Coburg Verizon store in support of net neutrality.  This is also on the facebook pages.  That evening is another excellent film at the Bijou on 13th, hosted by Encircle Films.  Always sold out.  So get tickets ahead.  Highly recommended.

Planning to attend Saturday, December 9, at a Health Care for Oregon seminar regarding Yes on 101 and how to effectively communicate about the issue.  Let me know if you would like particulars.  It may be on their websites.

Monday, December 11 is another Eugene City Council meeting.  350 Eugene will be continuing to emphasize the importance of an ordinance to stand with the Thin Green Line being formed along the west coast to prohibit fossil fuel transportation to China.

Thursday, December 14, is Friends of Sanctuary monthly meeting.  I and another will be presenting information about the Gorge ICE Resistance and how we might be helpful.

Will be tabling for 350 Eugene at the Holiday Market at the fairgrounds December 17, providing information about why it is important to stop the Jordan Cove LNG pipeline.

Get to work, you people!...Please?!

There are two activities of some urgency that we recommend that you support:

First, this Sunday:

Yes on 101 Rally and Canvass

Sunday, December 3, 2017 -

12:00pm to 1:00pm

Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza • 125 E. 8th Ave., Eugene OR

Join Yes for Healthcare volunteers at a Eugene rally and canvass to help make sure every voter knows to vote YES on Measure 101 - which would protect healthcare for vulnerable Oregonians, including seniors, people with disabilities, and 400,000 children. Rally from 12-1 p.m., then hit the streets to do some door-knocking. Bring your rain boots and umbrella.

This event has been organized by the Democratic Party of Lane County, but it is a bipartisan activity of interest to anyone who wants to maintain current levels of access to health insurance in Oregon. No registration is required; just show up. We will add details on how the canvassing is expected to work if they become available. Link to DLPC event info: http://dplc.org/calendar/yes-101-rally-and-canvass 

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Second, National NOW asks us to work hard to counter the current US Senate tax bill. This information has been distributed via email (and it's long), but we repeat is here for completeness:

Senate Bill Cuts Taxes for Top One Percent, Raises Taxes on Others, Kills the ACA

Tax Breaks for the Very Rich - This week the Senate will likely vote on a cruel tax bill which increases taxes on 87 million middle-class taxpayers while granting a huge tax break for the richest one percent and for wealthy corporations. As Donald Trump urged, the Senate bill would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance mandate, causing 13 million persons to lose coverage and an inevitable collapse of the ACA. Loss of affordable health insurance will disproportionately harm women and their families.

With their inability to pass any major legislation this year, Republicans are under immense pressure to have a win. They are especially anxious to reward their millionaire and billionaire donors. The vote will be very close, so please call your two senators ASAP, 202-224-3121 or find their office phone numbers here.

Raises Taxes on Everyone Else – The bottom 80 percent of the income distribution would see a tax hike by 2027 and, according to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation this would result in higher rates for persons earning under $10,000 to $75,000. The harshest impact would be on women who are paid less due wage discrimination and on those with poverty level incomes. At the same time, everyone with incomes $75,000 and higher gets a cut in their rate. A change in the inflation adjustment is made, resulting in permanent changes for tax brackets so that taxpayers would be paying more over time. These unfair and unbalanced approaches will further grow the nation’s already yawning wealth gap.

The Senate Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would:

• Cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent and set an even lower rate on U.S. taxes that multinationals would pay on foreign profits, thereby encouraging more off-shoring of U.S. companies and profit shifting, while killing more jobs.
• Pay for the cost of reducing taxes on the wealthy by permanently repealing the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that everyone have insurance, causing 13 million persons to lose coverage and raising premiums for those remaining in the program. The ACA would ultimately collapse.
• Mandate automatic Medicare cuts of at least $24 billion in 2018 and $400 billion over ten years, causing seniors to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy. Also, there will be a $1 trillion Medicaid cut that means far fewer low-income persons -- a majority being women -- will have access to health care services.
• Add at least $1.4 trillion and perhaps as much as $1.8 trillion to the deficit, jeopardizing critical services and undermining Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, public education, and a wide range of critical human needs programs.
• Endanger funding for such programs as Social Services Block Grants which help fund child care, foster care, elder abuse prevention, Meals on Wheels plus various higher education programs aiding historically black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions and tribal colleges, vocational rehabilitation state grants, and an array of farm support programs – to name just few of the many vital programs that will come on the chopping block.

PLEASE CALL NOW – Urge both of your senators to vote against this cruel tax bill that makes women, low and middle-income families, and seniors pay for huge tax cuts for the rich and for wealthy corporations. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or click here to find the senators’ office phone numbers.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR WOMEN AND FOR NOW!

Summary for October 2017, covering Legislative Forum

Appeal for time-critical action: Measure 101

Funding to support Oregon’s Medicaid extension under the ACA will go to the voters for approval in a special ballot on January 23rd. The gist of the measure is this: by design, the ACA funded Medicaid expansion fully until 2017. At the point, states have to step up their Medicaid support, beginning with 5% this year and stepping up to 10% of the cost of folks added under the expansion in a few years. The legislature passed a bill that levied an assessment on elements of the healthcare industry to cover the new funding gap. This approach was developed with the cooperation of the healthcare industry. Because of this challenge by initiative, Oregon voters must vote for Measure 101 to maintain this critical funding. Oregon NOW endorses a "yes" vote on Measure 101.

Resources:

• FAQ as well as ways to get involved in the “Yes” campaign appear here: http://yesforhealthcare.org/
• We encourage you to reach out to friends and family to ensure that this measure is supported actively in January.

Recap of Oregon NOW Legislative Forum

Our recent efforts have focused on organizing and hosting the Oregon NOW Legislative Forum which was held here in Eugene on 4 November 2017. The meeting served to (1) build a common understanding of legislative challenges at the state and (to some extent) national levels and (2) to initiate cooperation among chapters in our response to those challenges. Highlights:

• Attendance (and participation) by about 25 NOW members from around the state. All five NOW chapters were represented as well as the state board.
• Two panel discussions:
  • An advocacy panel with Kate Newhall, Policy Director, Family Forward, advocating for Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance and Stable Housing bills; Penny Okamoto, Executive Director, Ceasefire Oregon, advocating for gun safety legislation at state and national levels. These panel members also discussed mechanisms through which our organization can interact with the legislature to influence their decision-making.
  • A legislative / governmental panel with local representatives Julie Fahey and Phil Barnhart, our local senator James Manning, and Karmen Fore, Senior Director for Federal Affairs and Transportation, Office of the Governor. These panelists extended the discussion on key legislative measures as well as means for interaction, adding the perspective of the government side of the citizen / government interaction.
• An extended discussion regarding priority issues for NOW as well as some brainstorming about how we can continue the collaboration that we began at the forum. Key takeaways from this session:
  • Oregon NOW endorses Measure 101, Yes on Healthcare, which comes to a vote on January 23. Each chapter agreed to take support for this measure up locally. We will continue to investigate and publicize opportunities for supporting this key financial measure.
  • Although environmental issues have not been identified as a priority at the national level of NOW, the consensus of this group was that these issues are of critical concern in Oregon. A special interest group will be performed to support, among other legislation, the Oregon Clean Jobs (cap and invest) bill that is a current subject of intensive legislative consideration.
  • It is hoped that some straight-forward gun safety legislation is within reach in the short 2018 Oregon legislative session. In particular, the governor has identified closing the “Charleston loophole” and closing the “boyfriend loophole” as objectives for this session. These two loopholes currently allow, respectively, (1) sale of a gun to an applicant without an affirming background check if the check fails to complete within a statutory time period (currently 3 days) and (1) sale of a gun to a person who has been convicted of stalking or of violence against a dating partner (current law only protects family members and persons who have co-habited). Another legislative interest group is anticipated to follow legislation relating gun safety and violence.
  • NOW should continue to support issues affecting the welfare of women and families in Oregon. A special interest group will also be formed to further our support for Family and Medical Leave Insurance and fair affordable housing among others.
  • Revenue is the key to closing Oregon budget gaps and enabling the extension of services that will help to close income gaps and protect families. This topic may lead to another interest group.
  • Although we didn’t have enough time to address these topics at more than a cursory level, we also want to organize our support to protect women’s rights and immigrants’ rights at the national level.

We plan to follow up on this one-day session through any means we can find that prove effective: conference calls, email lists, face-to-face meetings, web sites. We will keep you posted on emerging activities.

Legislation: Past, Present, Future

As the new academic year starts, we have the opportunity to review recent accomplishments in the legislature and get involved in planning for the upcoming short session in 2018. Here are several places to look for more information. Please look beyond the Ceasefire event, which is first because of time-criticality, to find links to one recorded forum and one report.

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Ceasefire Leads Discussion of Firearms Legislation

On September 26th, Ceasefire will host a discussion of the current status of firearms legislation in Oregon and at the federal level. Location is local in Eugene, but you will need to email Ceasefire for location details.

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Oregon Women's Equity Coalition

A recording of the forum held on September 15th is available on facebook at this location. Representatives from the legislature, including our local representative Julie Fahey, and from organizations fighting for all aspects of women's rights, participate in a wide-ranging discussion of past legislative accomplishments and future objectives.

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League of Women Voter's

And you can find the latest edition of the Oregon League of Women's Voters Legislative Report (September 2017) here.