Issues

Moving Oregon Forward

During my time in the Legislature, it has been my goal to craft policies that will create an economic environment that attracts and retains the type of investment in Oregon that creates family-wage jobs. When we bring good jobs to this state, we generate the revenue we need to educate, medicate and incarcerate without raising anyone’s taxes. We can achieve an Oregon that is economically and environmentally sustainable, and that benefits everybody.

Mike Schaufler

[ Creating & Saving Jobs | Health Care Access & Affordability | Protecting Oregon Families | Government Accountability ]

Creating & Saving Jobs

In this tough economy, our district is really feeling the squeeze. One of my top priorities this year was to pass bills that create and save jobs.

We passed the bipartisan Jobs and Transportation Act, which will put thousands of people to work, while updating our roads and highways to cut down on congestion and spur economic growth.

I voted in favor of stimulus projects that are creating jobs in the hard-hit construction sector, and making long term investments in Oregon's future by upgrading our community college campuses.

I supported increased staffing levels at nursing homes, adding 300 certified nursing assistants in private facilities across the state.

Health Care Access & Affordability

Kids deserve health care and parents ought to be able to take their kids to a doctor. That's why I helped pass landmark reforms aimed at covering kids and the uninsured, and containing the rampant escalation in the cost of health care. These reforms will begin to mend our broken health care system.

Our plan covers an additional 80,000 Oregon kids and an additional 35,000 low-income adults. Increased coverage for the previously uninsured means lower costs for those who already have insurance.

The reform package we passed makes government lean and efficient by cutting red tape and consolidating agency functions in one central location.

Our plan is a win-win for everyone. We are giving pregnant women, people with disabilities, low-income adults, and foster-care kids and all Oregon children access to health care.

Protecting Oregon Families

I am proud that I took bold steps this year to protect the middle class, children, seniors and the small businesses that will be the engines of our economic recovery.

I fought for adequate, sustainable funding for our schools, from Head Start to K-12 to our community colleges and universities. Because of these efforts kids will have a complete school year, and teachers can be where they belong - in the classroom.

Government Accountability

I know that, just like the rest of the country, Oregon is hurting. And just like Oregon families are doing, state government should tighten its belt. I fought to make tax dollars go further and streamline government to make it more efficient.

I am committed to maintaining a robust Rainy Day Fund because putting away savings now is the best thing we can do to guard against future economic downturns. That's why I voted to divert some revenue directly into Oregon's Rainy Day Fund... before the Legislature spends it.

I voted in favor of strengthening accountability measures in public contracting, which will result in increased quality and efficiency in state funded projects.

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