Finding Common Cause for Kids-- An Interview with Holly Pruett

 

Justice Matters: What do you see as the most important connection between the work you do for Stand for Children and your volunteer work at Partnership for Safety and Justice?

 

Holly Pruett: I want to make sure that every child in Oregon has the chance to grow up, succeed, and contribute to their community. In order to do that, we need to invest in public schools that are among the best in the nation, health care and other essential services.

 

Oregon is headed in the wrong direction, in terms of budget priorities – specifically the prison build-up. Not only has this money not contributed to true public safety, but it’s threatening to seriously diminish our ability to adequately fund schools and other vital services that kids and communities depend on.

 

In addition to the budget impact, another aspect of our failed public safety policies is the scarcity of treatment for addictions. That ends up leaving too many parents unable to adequately provide for their kids, and driving too many kids into the foster care system.

 

In addition to the public policy considerations, I’m motivated to work with Partnership for Safety and Justice (PSJ) because I think everyone benefits when we have a powerful network of grassroots advocates uniting to move Oregon in the right direction. Stand for Children’s work is stronger with the support of PSJ’s membership, and Stand for Children’s members are committed to helping to advance many of the same goals as PSJ.

 

JM: Can you give us some examples of where we share goals?

 

HP: Specifically, pursuing smart on crime policies and reducing the over-reliance on incarceration that mortgages our children’s future and impairs our ability to fund schools and essential services right now. Stand for Children members have voted overwhelmingly to oppose Measure 61 and to support Measure 57.

 

Stand for Children’s members have taken seven positions on measures on the November ballot. We’ve determined which of the ballot measures have the most direct impact on children and schools – five measures that we’re saying “no” to and two that we’re saying “yes” to.

 

The fundamental choice in this election comes down to what we value and what direction we want Oregon to go in. Many PSJ members, like Stand for Children members, want to make sure that there’s adequate funding for schools and other essential services, which means voting no on measures like Measure 59.

 

Measure 59, a measure written to benefit the wealthy, would cut billions from state revenues, leaving less money for schools, so we oppose it.

 

Measure 62, which we also oppose, diverts lottery funds away from schools – that’s the one that moves funds towards district attorneys. This is another ‘Mannix scheme’ to shift the state’s investment priorities away from smart on crime, and away from schools – which is the wrong direction.

 

Then there are two measures that target the children of immigrants and also teachers. Measure 58 puts a one-size-fits-all approach onto English Language Learning, and will limit English Language Learning in schools.

 

Measure 60 will base teacher pay solely on classroom performance. The problem is that “classroom performance” is vague and undefined, which is unfair to teachers.

 

JM: I think that sometimes people are focused on a particular ballot measure and they know they’re going to vote on that measure. But they may not feel like they have time to learn about all the other issues on the ballot. What if people still feel unsure and just skip voting on some of these other measures?

 

HP: One of the biggest challenges in this election cycle is that so much is at stake in Oregon – not just with candidates but with these ballot measures. Oregon voter participation could be higher than ever because of the presidential election and an election for a U.S. Senate seat, and those items at the “top of the ticket” are going to get record participation. But we’re at risk of too many voters not going “down the ticket,” to vote on ballot measures and local issues.

 

That’s why the grassroots work of PSJ and Stand for Children is so important. It’s not just about turning in your ballot by November 4, but voting on all the issues on the ballot that affect your community. People who feel overwhelmed by the number of choices can use their Voter’s Pamphlet, or the information they get from PSJ or Stand for Children , and look at who has endorsed each side of any measure then decide, “whose opinions do I trust?” You don’t have to be an expert. You can take your lead from the organizations whose values are the same as yours.

 

JM: We’re including ballot measure endorsements in this issue of Justice Matters. (Note: see page 15). Now, as you’ve pointed out, voting on ballot measures may be especially important because some folks won’t vote on the measures. So, in some ways, it will make our vote count more.

 

HP: There are many examples of elections being decided by literally just a handful of votes. And in Oregon, for too long, public debate and public policy have been set by Kevin Mannix, Bill Sizemore and other folks who have set Oregon in the wrong direction by taking advantage of the ballot measure process. That’s not going to change until every person who wants to see sensible public safety policies and adequate investment in our schools and other services steps up and makes their voice heard.

 

JM: Some of our readers may not realize the extent to which Mannix and Sizemore have been manipulating the initiative process. Can you explain more about that?

 

HP: Kevin Mannix and Bill Sizemore are largely funded by out-of-state interests who are advancing their own very narrow policy agenda – often in multiple states. Their policies benefit a very few at the expense of many while appearing to be populist reform. For example, Sizemore’s Measure 59 on this ballot will save 75% of taxpayers less than $1 a year, while cutting $2.4 billion away from classrooms, healthcare and public safety.

 

JM: Right, because it’s reducing state taxes for the super-wealthy.

 

HP: Then pair that up with Measure 61, which is going to require the construction of thousands of new prison beds. Mannix’s Measure 61 could cost up to $400 million, and lawmakers have already said the majority of those funds would have to come from education. This is going to mean increasing Oregon’s class sizes, which are already the largest in the nation.

 

JM: And of course, a strong education system has a lot to do with reducing the number of people going to prison.

 

HP: Yes, some states base their long-term prison-population projections on how many kids are reaching the third-grade reading benchmarks. The stronger our schools are – including reasonable class sizes – the more kids are graduating. It means we’re going to have a young adult population that’s less vulnerable to winding up in the criminal justice system.

 

Right now, 7,000 young people drop out of Oregon high schools each year. How many of them wind up with limited opportunities and end up in the criminal justice system?

 

There are going to be other places this issue is on people’s ballots. In Portland, the Children’s Investment Fund invests in early childhood development, child abuse prevention and treatment – a range of services that are all designed to improve the chances for success for kids in tough situations. Portland voters will be asked to renew their support for that. Salem and Eugene both have school bonds on their ballots.

 

JM: Right, those are local issues, so not all voters will see them, but they will all see the state ballot measures. And a state that’s spending more and more on prisons can’t afford world-class schools. We’re going to find out how Oregon voters react when they are faced with these choices directly.

 

HP: Yes, this is an election for anyone who wants to see an increase in opportunities for kids from all walks of life. There are chances to invest in and make sure that state budget priorities don’t get skewed further. People can also check out Stand for Children’s ballot measure endorsements at www.stand.org/or/ballotmeasures.