Action: Attend Budget Hearings

Critical Opportunities to Tell Legislators We Need Smarter Public Safety Policies

We Need Your Help

Oregon is looking at a potential $4 to $5 billion deficit, which means legislators need to make very difficult budgetary decisions in the next couple of months. The Ways and Means Committee develops the budget and they need to hear from you! The Committee has scheduled public hearings around the state. This is a very important opportunity to let them know the public wants a smarter approach to public safety policy.

Hearings are in Lincoln City, Portland, Salem, Eugene, Ashland, Bend, Ontario, and Pendleton.

The more people who show up and testify using coordinated messages, the greater impact and influence we will have on this important legislative committee.

What is at stake?

• This is our chance to suggest we need to look at safe and sensible sentencing reform because Oregon spends too much of our money building prisons.
• This is our opportunity to emphasize that preventing cuts to community-based addiction treatment and me.
• ntal health services is smart public safety policy and saves money in the long run.
• This is our opportunity to protect life-saving services to survivors like local domestic violence shelters.

Please do what you can to show up and contribute to our collective voice. This is a very important opportunity.

Important things you should know:
 

• Safety and Justice staff can help you prepare to be as effective as possible even with a short five-minute phone call. Please contact us and let us know if you plan on attending: 503-335-8449.
• These hearings are about the entire state budget so they will be crowded. You will need to arrive very early and expect to wait. Also expect to have only 2 to 3 minutes to talk. But it is still worth it. Your testimony will make a difference!
• It is important that we used coordinated messages. We will have more power that way. The following link to our website shares some key information and tips on testifying and information about the committee's members.

Act Now! Together We Can Change Oregon's Approach to Criminal Justice!