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OBA 2009 Legislative Agenda - Reforming for Results

Good government practices are the foundation for good public policy. Oregon Business Association believes that good government is dependent not only upon public officials who are dedicated to the public interest, but also on processes that are equitable, transparent and accountable.

The OBA Good Government Commitee has identified that the following will substantially improve good government practices:

GOOD GOVERNMENT

Restore Integrity to Oregon's Initiative Process

The current initiative system is flawed, resulting in potentially harmful public policy and costing the state significant revenues. Oregon Business Association has organized a coalition of business and labor leaders, City Club of Portland members, advocates, legislators and the Governor's office to design a package of statutory and constitutional changes to improve the initiative system. The goal is to reform the process so that it is transparent, accessible and works as it was originally intended, while protecting it from potential abuses and harmful unintended consequences.

OBA supports the following potential reforms:

Limit constitutional initiatives to matters involving the structure, power and limitations of government or the rights of people with respect to their government
Adoption of an "indirect" initiatives system
Additional financial and personnel resources to vigorously and proactively enforce regulations governing signature gathering

Modify the Oregon Tort Claims Act

The December 2007 Oregon Supreme Court ruling on the Oregon Tort Claims Act effectively eliminated the tort liability cap for all public bodies in Oregon, providing the potential for harmful consequences for public bodies subject to significant monetary damages.

OBA supports adoption of the agreement reached between Oregon Health Sciences University and the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, as well as amending the Oregon Tort Claims Act to ensure the availability of vital public services while providing access to justice for Oregonians.

Institute Annual Sessions

As the state has grown, Oregon's biennial legislative sessions no longer meet the policy-making and budgeting needs of the state. The fiscal and policy issues facing the state are simply too complex to address every other year.

OBA supports a Constitutional change in order to provide for a 45-day session in the even years and ending the session in June in the odd years.