Advocacy Day 2012

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the CAC’s Advocacy2012 in Salem on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Our performers who opened the Session for the House and Senate were outstanding. Thank you to Metropolitan Youth Symphony and Cappella Romana for sharing your time and talents, on behalf of Oregon’s arts and culture community, with those serving in Salem. 

We want to extend our appreciation to legislators who spoke with our group in the final busy weeks of this short Legislative Session! These legislators clearly articulated the process and the politics of the 2013 Legislative Session and took time out of hectic schedules to spend time with CAC members.

Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Ginny Burdick

Senator Jackie Dingfelder

Senator Betsy Johnson

Representative Jules Bailey

Representative Vicki Berger

Representative Michael Dembrow

Representative Margaret Doherty

Thank you! 

We also want to thank:  Kendall Clawson, Office of the Governor Executive Appointments Director and Arts and Culture Policy Advisor; Chris D’Arcy, Oregon Arts Commission and Oregon Cultural Trust Executive Director; Kristina McNitt, KLM Consulting; and Vince Porter, Office of Film and Television Executive Director. This group of talented and committed professionals gave presentations that helped us prepare to build or strengthen relationships with policymakers; influence legislative outcomes and tell our compelling stories in a way that offers relevant solutions to the challenges facing policymakers in Salem.

It was an important day with great opportunities to connect directly with legislators and hear from those working in the political trenches on behalf of arts, humanities and heritage. Thank you to those who joined us, as well as those who presented.

Legislative Report 2012

Oregon’s historic, first annual session opened February 1st and adjourned March 5th. The session produced a balanced state budget and policy agreements, including: payment extensions for homeowners with reverse mortgages, more work on health care transformation, further education reforms and a last-minute deal on foreclosure protections.

There were many unknowns going into this session, but the good news is that Oregon’s cultural partners weathered the session well and were not specifically targeted, for good or for ill. The Cultural Advocacy Coalition’s top bills of interest are listed below, including one CAC will monitor closely as it is implemented, related to Percent for Art; as well as a bill that creates opportunities for communities around arts education. More details below:

PASSED:

Education: SB 1581 requires new “achievement compacts” between school districts and the Oregon Education Investment Board (OEIB). SB 1581 requires the OEIB to establish the terms for achievement compacts and that each school district form an “achievement compact advisory committee” to develop and ensure that compacts are implemented. Each advisory committee will “develop plans for achieving district outcomes, measures of progress, goals and targets expressed in an achievement compact, including methods of assessing and reporting progress…” This substantial policy legislation could be a critical opportunity to engage community values around educational outcomes and arts education.

Percent for Art: CAC tracked about 10 pieces of legislation “relating to education” for the purpose of ensuring no negative changes were made to the Percent for Art Program. HB 4061, which establishes a Special Committee on University Governance, directs a task force to study and report on the interest of some in the higher education community to establish independent boards at state institutions; specifically at the University of Oregon and Portland State University. Recommendations will be available no later than November 2012. This is a task force CAC will actively monitor, to ensure that greater autonomy does not equate to the abrogation of Percent for Art programs in higher education institutions.

Heritage: SCR 204 commemorates the centennial of woman’s suffrage in Oregon. After five failed statewide ballot measures, and eight years before ratification of the 19thAmendment to the United States Constitution, Abigail Scott Duniway witnessed the culmination of 42 years of advocacy when, on November 5, 1912, Oregon voters amended Section 2, Article II of the Oregon Constitution to read “citizen” rather than “white male citizen” when referring to a right to vote.

Non Profits: HB 4047 allows nonprofits that do not hold an OLCC license to annually auction or raffle up to four liters of liquor. The bottles must be imported and/or distributed in Oregon through the OLCC, and events are limited to those held annually, lasting no longer than one day. Prior approval required.

FAILED:

Revenue: HB 4065 would have directed the Oregon State Lottery Commission to establish lottery games to benefit veterans’ education and economic development. The bill received one hearing and died in committee. This lottery bill was of interest as a template to evaluate the viability of exploring modifications to existing lottery programs, as a source of new revenues dedicated to cultural programs.

 

Advocacy

The CAC is a grassroots advocacy organization. We exist to advocate on behalf of all arts, culture, and heritage organizations, working to increase funding and policy on the state level. The most important piece in our work is your involvement. As an individual, organization, or business; we rely on your advocacy work to be successful.

Learn more by visiting the CAC’s Legislative Action Center.

What you can do

1) Sign up for capwiz, our email and advocacy system. Follow this link.

2) Read about the simple ways you can advocate as an individual, organization, or business.

3) Be informed. 2011 Legislative Session Report.

Some facts about the creative sector

Sources: Oregon Arts Commission, Americans for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Entertainment Software Association