Over the last two weeks the Joint Ways and Means committee has held public hearings around the state. Partnership for Safety and Justice mobilized people for the Eugene and Portland hearings. Members also attended the Bend meeting.

At both events PSJ members and staff had the opportunity to testify on a number of our legislative priorities, including increased funding to the Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Fund, which would allow more people to access basic services to domestic and sexual violence survivors [0] around the state.

Members also had the opportunity to say thank you to specific committee members for supporting SB 856, the Smart on Crime Task Force bill. This bill would create a task force to look at ways to shift the state's priorities in ways that promote public safety and reduce recidivism [0]. Many Ways and Means committee members are supporters of this bill.

The Ways and Means Committee members who support the Smart on Crime Task Force include:

Senators Morse, Brown, Carter, Nelson, Westlund, Winters

Representatives Shields, Bruun, Garrard, Hanna, Holvey, Hunt, Jenson, Lim, Nathanson.

At the budget meetings, Oregonians also showed strong support for community colleges, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health services and services for the elderly.