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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I
hope you had a wonderful summer. September is my favorite month of the
year because I have fond childhood memories of going back to school,
full of excitement about the possibilities of the school year ahead. I
hope every young person in Oregon is similarly excited. I want to thank
every teacher and school employee who will strive to make this school
year a success, in spite of the budget challenges facing our schools.
And I want to thank all the parents who will sacrifice for their
children so they can have a better future. Thank you!
This
issue of my e-newsletter discusses new resources for homeowners facing
foreclosure and for small businesses looking to get started or expand.
There's also a brief update on the latest financial forecast for the
state. Last but not least, I hope you'll take a few minutes to complete a
short survey. As preparation for next year's legislative session
begins, I would like to hear about your priorities for our community and
the state.
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Help for Distressed Homeowners
In
July, I joined with my Portland-area colleagues to host a town hall to
explain the new foreclosure protections provided by Senate Bill 1552,
which was passed earlier this year. If you or someone you know is in
foreclosure (or worried about defaulting on a mortgage), please
seek out help. There are new resources to help you navigate the
process, know your rights, and possibly stay in your home. The following
links are a good place to start:
Please contact my office if you need additional assistance. My district number is 503-286-0558 and my email is rep.tinakotek@state.or.us.
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One Stop Shop for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Small
business owners and entrepreneurs now have the resources they need at
an online "one stop shop," thanks to legislation I co-sponsored last
year. The successful bill called for the creation of a business internet
site to streamline information to assist small business owners as they
work to launch, grow and hire. Thanks to this central hub, business
owners can spend less time on red tape and more time on moving the
economy forward.
Business Xpress includes
information on permitting requirements, services and resources for a
number of business filings, as well as tax, business assistance,
promotion and regulatory programs. The portal also helps business owners
obtain information on hiring, training, exporting goods, and
contracting with public agencies.
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State Financial Update
Last
week, the state's economist released the latest revenue forecast - a
report on the projected amount of money the state will have available
for essential services. The report showed that anticipated tax revenues
for this biennium are up $80.6 million over the previous forecast, with
both personal and corporate income tax receipts increasing. However, the
anticipated increase in revenue for the 2013-15 biennium will be $318
million less than what was previously predicted. What does this mean? It
means the current two-year budget remains balanced and that Oregon's
economy has stabilized, although we are not out of the woods yet. This
report helps us be cautiously optimistic for the future as the economy
continues a slow recovery.
But
a lot of folks are still struggling. We need to continue to prioritize
job creation and education so that Oregon will be poised to thrive as
the global economy fully recovers. Education at all levels will play an
increasing role in the economic vitality of our state. That is why we
need a renewed effort to invest in education, from pre-K through
advanced college degrees.
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What Are Your Priorities?
A key to responsive decision-making is understanding people's priorities. Please take a few minutes to complete a quick survey to help me understand your priorities. Thank you!
Please take the survey by clicking here.
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As always, it's a pleasure to represent you. I hope to hear from you soon.
Best wishes,
Rep. Tina Kotek
House District 44
House Democratic Leader
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