Human Services Coalition of Oregon

Revenue Bills are Critical to Protecting Human Services

Oregon faces an unprecedented financial crisis. More Oregonians than ever before are struggling in this difficult economy and demand for emergency cash assistance, food stamps, and other economic supports has already hit record levels. Drastic cuts in health and human services at this time of increased need will only cost us more in the long run. Without significant new revenue, vital state services will be slashed even further.

Further cuts to human services will hurt our already struggling economy. 83% of human service dollars go directly and immediately into private sector jobs supporting seniors, children and other vulnerable Oregonians. They pay for health care services, child care and independent living assistance, and have a multiplier effect in the community – in the local grocery store, office supplier or pharmacist. Cuts to basic human services will hurt Oregonians and leave behind millions in federal matching funds at a time when our economy needs them most.

Oregonians must pull together to get through this crisis, and the state’s wealthiest corporations and individuals must pay their fair share. Oregon families face the double whammy of being victimized by the economy and facing a lack of services when they need them most, but corporations and the wealthiest individuals aren’t being asked to pay their fair share. House Bills 2639 and 3405 raise revenue from the right source – those who are flourishing even in the bad economy. With so many vulnerable Oregonians suffering and so many important services they depend on being slashed, it’s only fair that wealthy individuals and big, successful corporations finally pay their fair share.

Even though the top income tax rate is 9%, the highest earning 1% of taxpayers pay only 6.7% of their income in state and local taxes, while the poorest 20% pay 9.2%.  Many large, profitable corporations only pay the $10 minimum tax. Corporations are paying less than half of the income taxes they paid 30 years ago, as a share of the economy.  This means that individuals and small businesses now pay more. The first step in restoring a fairer balance between corporations and individuals is to reform the corporate income tax system to bring in appropriate revenues. (Source: OCPP)

HSCO urges lawmakers to support House Bills 2469 and 3405 to protect crucial state services for vulnerable Oregonians.

HSCO's position on Oregon's Health Care Expansion and Reform Bills

The Human Services Coalition of Oregon (HSCO) is on record  in support of health care expansion for children and low income individuals and families.  Our support for these expansions was stated in the 2007 session, and in the 2009 session, HSCO joined with the SAFE Coalition in a statement that includes the following:

Sustainable:   We must rein in the skyrocketing cost of health care to help ensure economic security for all Oregonians and Oregon businesses.
Available:   We must create a healthy community by covering all people living in Oregon starting with expanding access to cover all children and more low income adults, as we reduce health disparities.
Funded:   We must maximize the two-to-one match for Oregon's dollars from federal funds to expand our capacity to meet these goals.
Effective:  We must ensure accountability and fairness, focus on treatments that are proven safe, effective and improve health outcomes, and cut waste in the current health care maze.

SAFE and HSCO support covering 80,000 more children, and 100,000 low income individuals and families.The negotiated funding mechanism for expansion now appears to be completed,  and the funding, as well as the expansion populations, are contained in HB 2116.  Meanwhile, a House Bill (HB 2009) and a Senate Bill (SB 856) that deal with structure and reform issues have moved out of committee to Ways and Means.  As we understand it, HB 2009 will be the vehicle for the structural changes and reform efforts this session.

While HSCO fully supports expansion and the SAFE principles, we believe that the creation of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA),  deserves greater discussion and scrutiny.   OHA is a recommendation of the Oregon Health Fund Board, and advocates generally recognize the value that will be gained by greater efficiencies,  as well as integrated health care planning,  and program and policy coordination. However, we believe it is important to raise a number of issues that must be considered in moving major elements around, and eventually out of, the Department of Human Services (DHS.)  These include, but are not limited to the following:
•    First and foremost, the test of this innovation is to ensure that the creation of the OHA will improve services for DHS clients;
•    Internal and external stakeholders, including HSCO, must be involved in planning for the creation of OHA and the form and content of the remainder of DHS;
•    The investments necessary to create OHA must not come at the expense of the remainder of DHS; 
•    Assuming an independent OHA,  the relationship with the remainder of DHS must be delineated on issues ranging from:  the governance of DHS; consumer and advocacy access and involvement; budget processes, including rebalance and reshoot functions; partnerships with local government and the provider network;  policy coordination; eligibility functions; Medicaid authority and the division of acute and long term care responsibilities and administration;  information technology; transformation activities; and more.  In fact planning activities, involving all stakeholders, should identify, flag, and work through all of these critical issues.

HSCO believes it is possible to make great progress this session in covering more Oregonians while working toward a comprehensive and affordable health care system.  Broad involvement in the implementation of the changes enacted this session will help ensure that we accomplish the SAFE goals and protect the other important programs and services that serve low income and vulnerable Oregonians.

HSCO’s Silver Anniversary, More or Less

About 35 people gathered in Room 50 at the Capitol to celebrate decades of human services advocacy.  The exact date of the formation of Human Services Coalition of Oregon is a bit of a mystery, but a quick search of the HSCO museum archives revealed documents dating back to 1986.

Current Co-Chairs Cathy Kaufmann and John Mullin kicked off the event with letters from Governor Ted Kulongoski, who noted that our voice is needed “now more than ever;” and from one of our key founders, Terry Rogers, who also gave us encouragement, adding that “nothing could be more important” than the work we do.  Terry was unable to join us, as she was on her way to Afghanistan for a short term project to train Afghani women on how to advocate with their parliament.  Amazing!

And we discovered that our former staff, Linda Moro, and a former Co-Chair, Karen Whitaker, have moved to HSCO friendly retirement spots in Mexico. In addition to our international reach, we had a good showing of past Co-Chairs.  Jacqueline Zimmer flew up from Marin County California to join us, and our only Co-Chair to become a state representative, Rep. Tina Kotek, graced us with her presence.  Other former Co-Chairs who joined us were: Ellen Lowe, Sandra Millius, Gina Mattioda, Jim Carlson, Patrick Green, Martin Taylor, Jessica Stevens and Phillip Kennedy-Wong.  We also fondly remembered Jerry Bieberle, a passionate advocate and former Co-Chair who died in 2001.  We miss him.
 
And so far, we have had only one Co-Chair serving twice in that role.  John Mullin assures all that he will begin planning soon for the 50th anniversary.  And who knows, maybe he’ll be back for a third term as HSCO Co-Chair in the 2035 session.  Cathy Kaufmann will be in her second term as Governor, and she will write a lovely letter for the event.  You heard it here first.

Ways and Means’ Budget Hearings

The joint Ways and Means Committee has begun traveling around the state soliciting feedback from everyday Oregonians on the budget situation the state faces. 

Here’s the coverage they have received so far:

A critical halfway mark for Oregon legislators, The Oregonian, April 4, 2009

Panel begins state budget hearings, The Statesman Journal, April 20, 2009

Residents can comment on state budget cuts Saturday, The Argus Observer, April 22, 2009

DHS caseloads continue to rise

The global recession will continue to drive even more Oregonians to seek state benefits to help them through the economic downturn, according to the biannual caseload forecast released by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) today.

The most dramatic increases in the 2009-2011 biennium will continue to be services that are most sensitive to economic downturns, such as food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Oregon Health Plan.

Here are the most significant increases DHS is planning for:

• A 30.2 percent increase in the number of people needing food stamps up to a high of more than 671,000 Oregonians.
• The number of families who will qualify for temporary cash assistance is predicted to increase by 24 percent up to nearly 26,000 families
• The number of Oregonians eligible for health care through the Oregon Health Plan is expected to increase 23 percent to a high of 565,500 

“It’s important to remember that behind these statistics are Oregon families who will be facing job loss and financial difficulty in the months and years ahead,” said Bruce Goldberg, M.D., director of DHS. “We will continue doing everything we can to ensure that people receive the assistance they need to help them get through these tough times.”

The forecast comes after demand for food stamps and cash assistance already hit record levels as Oregon’s economy fell prey to the national downturn.

Representative Peter Buckley and Senator Margaret Carter, co-chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee joined Dr. Goldberg at a news conference releasing the 2009-2011 forecast. The lawmakers said the DHS forecast highlights one of their key challenges – protecting Oregon’s most vulnerable at a time when funding for the programs on which they depend is shrinking.

“Things are difficult for Oregonians in all parts of the state,” said Sen. Carter (D-Portland). “The lucky ones are working two jobs to make ends meet. The others have lost their job and have nowhere else to turn for help. We cannot turn our backs on the people who count on us the most, when they need us the most.”

"Our challenge as we work our way through this budget is to find a balanced approach that helps those Oregonians who need it most and asks those who are able to share in the responsibility of getting Oregon’s economy moving again,” said Rep. Buckley (D-Ashland).

Click here for the DHS Need Forecast 2009-11 report.

Schedule for 2009-2011 budget process

Ways and Means Co-Chairs Senator Margaret Carter and Representative Peter Buckley  announced a schedule for 2009-2011 budget process.

Today the co-chairs will release a list of potential cuts from every state agency amounting to 30 percent. That information can be found at a new website - http://www.leg.state.or.us/budget - put together by the Legislative Fiscal office. The list will be posted at 1 p.m.

Carter and Buckley noted these are not cuts recommended by the Legislature, but give legislators a list of cuts to prioritize as they prepare for the May revenue forecast.

Buckley said after the agency lists are released, the Ways and Means Committee will embark on two weeks of public hearings around the state. The first of those hearings is scheduled for Lincoln City on April 20. Additional hearings will be held April 21 in Portland and April 23 at the State Capitol, where video feeds from other cities will also be prepared. The following week’s hearings include visits to Bend, Ashland and Eugene. The full schedule will be released next week.

Following the public hearings in late April, Ways and Means subcommittees will begin public hearings on various agency budgets as they work to prioritize the cuts list. When the revenue forecast is delivered in mid-May, legislative budget writers will issue the “co-chairs budget,” hold additional hearings and begin sending budget bills to the floors of the House and Senate.

Dealing with the Crisis Today while Laying the Foundation for Future Prosperity

Oregonians understand that the road to economic recovery will not be short, but we will emerge stronger as a state, and in the meantime we must protect the health and safety of our citizens.

As The Oregonian reported on March 30, 2009, Oregonians depend on public services to help get back on their feet.

Read the entire article entitled: “Oregon drug treatment cuts: a lot to lose.”

Now more than ever we must address the issues that put families into crisis: substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health.

Families will be stronger, children will grow up in safer environments, and by providing the resources necessary to Oregon citizens we will deal with the immediate economic crisis while laying the foundation for future prosperity as a state.

For every dollar the state spends on substance abuse treatment, Oregon saves up to $7 in other costs, such as foster care or state custody bills.

Our state’s success is based on the power of ordinary citizens working together.  That’s why we cannot tie the hands of the public sector through limited funding that reduces its flexibility.

Now’s not the time to go backwards.

Now Hiring!

Legislative and policy leaders, along side senior and human service advocates, today announced a federal-state partnership to create nearly 300 nursing assistant jobs across the state that will simultaneously improve nursing facility safety and quality.

Using a combination of increased federal stimulus dollars and state funds, House Speaker Dave Hunt and Senate President Peter Courtney joined with Dr. Bruce Goldberg of the Department of Human Services and advocates to explain how the state will be able to move forward with plans to help pay for 300 new certified nursing assistants to work in nursing facilities across the state. The new staffing levels – recommended by a special Governor’s commission on the issue in 2007 and approved by the Legislature – go into effect on Wednesday, April 1.

Leveraging $8 to $10 million of federal funds with just $3 to $4 million in state funds to help keep our seniors and people with disabilities safe was “just the kind of offer Oregon couldn’t refuse” said Dr Goldberg.

As Rick Bennett, director of government relations for AARP Oregon, and a Nursing Facility Staffing Commission and HSCO member, added: “It’s a great day when doing the right thing is also the fiscally and economically responsible thing to do, especially now.  Thanks to this effort, Oregon long-term care employers can say 'We’re Hiring!' and our most vulnerable citizens benefit, too.”

Read the joint announcement from Senate President Courtney and House Speaker Dave Hunt.  Read the first snippets of coverage by the Associated Press  , The Oregonian  and Register Guard. Oregonians interested in CNA jobs can visit www.ohca.com to start the application process.

Learn more about Oregon’s Economic Stimulus and Recovery at www.oregon.gov/recovery.

Best bang for the buck

Earlier this week Rep. Chip Shield held evening hearings that looked at the connection between money spent on drug and alcohol treatment and money spent on prisons and other public services.

No surprise that when people get the treatment they need they are less likely to end up in prison and their children less likely to be in foster care. For every dollar spent on treatment, the Oregon Department of Human Services estimates savings of $4 to $7 in other costs.

During the hearing, Sen. Jackie Winters (R-Salem), said appropriate treatment for a parent with a drug problem can save thousands of dollars for foster care for a child in state custody  and for a prison stay for the parent. She also called on ensuring that the public dollars spent on treatment are accounted for.

The Salem Statesman Journal covered the hearings and threats to programs that provide addictions treatment in their Sunday edition. Get the story here.

2009-11 DHS budget documents available online

The Obama administration has brought a new awareness of the need for government transparency. In line with that value, the Oregon Department of Human Services has been posting all its budget documents and division presentations to the legislature online.

The budget documents on the site include an agency overview and the presentations that have been done so far to the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources.

And here’s a really useful tool, especially during the legislative session: get DHS budget updates via email.