Budget, budget, budget.
That’s the main focus of the Oregon legislature on any given day, Rep. Jeff Kropf said Friday during a swing through Sweet Home.
“It was voted out of committee to disconnect from the Bush tax cut plan,” Rep. Kropf said. “The Senate has cut the tax cut in half. That means the government will continue to take more money from us.”
Statewide legislators are building a base budget that focuses on core programs.
“The key question is what are the essential core services that government was meant to deliver,” Rep. Kropf said. “Some programs may have to go away for a couple years.”
Rep. Kropf said he support considering a four-way work week for many government agencies.
“It would cut hours to 32 per week and mean a 20% pay cut,” Rep. Kropf said.
Such cuts would not be implemented for the state police and corrections programs that would need to remain on a seven-day schedule.
“If we remain on a five day schedule for most government programs, we might have to raise taxes. If we go to four days, we probably wouldn’t have to raise taxes,” Rep. Kropf said.
Rep. Kropf said he supports bills that would change laws concerning hunting bear and cougars.
Rural areas are being negatively impacted by cougars since hunting with dogs was banned several years ago.
The state must also deal with the possibility of wolves migrating from Idaho into the state.
“I support downgrading the wolf status from endangered to threatened,” Rep. Kropf said.
He also supports a bill that would call for recovery logging after massive forest fires. Often, burned materials are left to rot or become bug infested.
“I believe Congress needs to adopt the president’s healthy forest initiative,” Rep. Kropf said. “Some 900,000 acres of federal timber lands burned last year in Oregon.”
Funding for senior transportation and disabled is being reduced, Rep. Kropf said.
“What may have to happen is that transportation programs are going to have to become more community based and rely on volunteers more,” Rep. Kropf said. “Communities will have to step up.”
The state’s economic woes can be abated through job creation by the private sector, Rep. Kropf said. That means the state should not penalize industry through increased taxes.
“We need to create tax opportunities all right, by creating jobs,” Rep. Kropf said. “We need more enterprise zones because they work.”
Portland is a example of a city whose anti-business climate and taxing structure is driving jobs away.
Rep. Kropf said he’s impressed with new Gov. Ted Kulongoski compared with former Gov. John Kitzhaber.
“Gov. Kulongoski is much more pragmatic and believes in getting things done by consensus,” Rep. Kropf said. “Gov. Kitzhaber wouldn’t take to you. Gov. Kulongski is a realist and realizes he’s going to have to work with both sides to fix the state’s budget problems.”