Pacific Green Party Testimony to the Joint Committee on ​Transportation

In Support of HB 2015

May 1^st 2019

The Pacific Green Party supports and urges the passage if HB 2015 because it is the right thing to do economically and morally for the following reasons:

• The agricultural sector in Oregon represents more than 8 billion US dollars; 1/12 Oregonians are employed in agriculture, which is vital for our rural areas. Safe transportation to and from work and being able to rely on your best employees is vital to these businesses.  The constant disruptions from raids or deportations from traffic tickets are an undue burden on our economy.
• This bill is about public safety: guaranteeing that those driving are trained and insured; instead of creating a situation that forces workers to “break the law” in order to meet fundamental needs for work and livelihood.  It is also vital for public safety that those who are picking our blueberries and lettuces be able to freely go to the doctor without fear of getting to the clinic.
• The vote in 2018 repealing measure 205 was loud and clear: after the uneducated vote in 2013 denying drivers licenses, people have affirmed that Oregon is a sanctuary state by a margin of 65%.  Oregonians support the Universal Right of all people to work peacefully to feed their families, without the fear of unjust persecution.
• Immigrants are not criminals; they are not coming to break laws but to seek refuge and hope. They are fellow human beings, neighbors, friends, family, and colleagues; part of Oregon's great economy and community.  We are all immigrants, children of immigrants, natives peoples and descendants of those brought here involuntarily.

It is the US criminal foreign policy that has fueled a safety crisis in Central America.  The US has actively participated or supported military coups of democratically elected governments[1]; deported known gang members to countries without the capacity to retrain or address crime[2]; and ignored the threat of climate change[3].

Therefore, we, members of the Pacific Green Party, urge the members of the transportation subcommittee to approve the bill and submit it for a vote floor.

Respectfully

PGP Coordinating Committee

[1] Guatemala (1954-1996), El Salvador (19079-1981), Nicaragua (1985-1987), Panama  (1990), Honduras (2009)

[2] https://www.apnews.com/61d49124f11c40d4bc73bce244027dfd

[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/13/world/americas/coffee-climate-change-migration.html

Greens Call for Green Economy to Combat Climate Change

• Greens blast corporate cash-in from looming climate disasters and economic collapse; call for new economic paradigm to address effects of climate change.

• Betting on disaster brings profit for a few while the public pays the real cost in terms of pubic health and infrastructure.

• A Green New Deal will provide “green jobs” to aid transition away from fossil fuel economy.

As the April 15th federal tax filing deadline draws near, Greens blast impending bipartisan legislation blocking the IRS from creating a free, public electronic tax filing system.  

Under pressure from lobbyists from for-profit tax preparation companies, the House Ways and Means Committee passed the H.R. 1957, the Taxpayer First Act, on April 11.  If approved by the Senate, the wide-ranging bill would make several administrative changes to the IRS.  One of the bill’s key provisions would make it illegal for the IRS to create its own online system of tax filing.

The Oregon Pacific Green Party opposes attempts by the Trump administration to foment a coup in Venezuela.  This destabilization of Venezuela follows more than a century of North American interference to gain control of natural resources, exploitable land and labor to benefit USA corporations in Latin America.  Since Hugo Chavez's election in 1999, USA administrations have attacked the Venezuelan people through economic sabotage, propaganda and direct support of anti-government "resistance" groups.  Most recently the USA administration urged Juan Guaido, the conservative Speaker ofVenezuela's parliament, to declare himself President, akin to Nancy Pelosi declaring herself the President of the United States at the urging of a foreign power.  There is no constitutional basis for Guaido's claim, nor popular support for the regime change sought by Wall Street and international oil companies.  If regime change is supported by the majority ofVenezuelan voters, let Venezuelans decide that in the next Presidential election.

The Pacific Green Party of Oregon today called for a "Real Green New Deal" that addresses not only the climate crisis but also the corporate control of our government and economy.

While Democrat presidential candidates and Senators Jeff Merkley and Cory Booker, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, this week announced their support for a Green New Deal, based on language and issues the Green Party has been promoting for almost twenty five years, the Democrats' version ignores the economic inequity and rampant corporatism at the heart of our current environmental crisis.

The Green New Deal is a four part program for moving America quickly out of crisis into a secure, sustainable future. Inspired by the New Deal programs that helped us out of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Green New Deal will provide similar relief and create an economy that makes our communities sustainable, healthy, and just.

Part of a platform that has been crafted in dialogue among environmental activists, deep ecologists, urban planners, social justice activists, and committed reformers the ideas at the core of the Green New Deal have been at the heart of Green Party politics for more than a quarter century.

The Good News: the Oregon legislature passed HB 5201 which allocates the exact amount specified in the Benton County voter-approved Ballot Measure to implement RCV in Benton County. The funds will be used to certify the new voting system and to conduct voter education and outreach about the switch to RCV.

However: we have been informed by the County Clerk that the County will NOT use RCV in 2018. The Clerk wants more time to do the education and implementation and believes that trying to get it all done by November would be too much of a push. The Clerk was also concerned that changing the system this late in the election cycle would not be fair to some of the candidates and parties who would not be prepared for campaigning under the new system.

We look forward to working with the County over the next 2 years for a stellar roll-out of Benton County's historic switch to this more democratic form of voting.

Do you want more choices in our elections?

Do you want representatives that share your views on things like gun control, immigration, healthcare and education? RCV PDX is an organization working to bring Ranked Choice Voting to Portland in 2020. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank all candidates in order of preference rather than the current system of plurality voting that fails to require a majority of votes. RCV is the most popular alternative to our current system. We can have a more fair democracy right here where we live. Change comes from grassroots organizations like ours working from the ground up with the local community and we need you!

Come learn and get involved in a fun, relaxing, networking style event at Cider Riot! Sunday, March 4th from 3-6pm, voting begins at 4. No political affiliation necessary, this is a non-partisan issue. Flights will be half off! Four 4oz. ciders for only $10 PLUS 10% of group proceeds go to RCV PDX to continue the fight for a democracy that represents us all.

Come learn more about Ranked Choice Voting and enjoy some exceptional, locally-brewed, artisan cider!

Sunday, March 4
3:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Cider Riot!

807 NE Couch St. Portland, OR 97232