community
august2
8 2018
A Conversation with Representative Brad Witt continued from front page
and trying to bring people into the com-
munity this summer, especially for the
annual Jamboree celebration,” said Witt.
“Both Senator Betsy Johnson and I ap-
proached ODOT and I think they were
sympathetic to the idea that they could
have caused a lot of issues for business
here and they’ve changed their construc-
tion schedule and also assured us and the
community that they’re going to provide
an alternative route. I know it will be an
inconvenience, but hopefully that’s all it
is, an inconvenience and not a major loss
of business. We were very encouraged
by ODOT’s response and willingness to
try and work with the community.”
Among the bills Witt introduced
in the last legislative session, was HB
4056 which creates a stable scholar-
ship fund for the children of deceased or
fallen officers; HB 4111 which makes it
easier for Oregonians to transition to re-
quired Real IDs; and SB 1541 to provide
Oregonians with cleaner air by reducing
toxic emissions.
Witt was also a chief sponsor on
numerous bills this past session, includ-
ing HB 2565 which would help make it
easier for veterans to get a college edu-
cation since they tend to be older than
the average student; HB 3340 which re-
quires the Oregon Department of Edu-
cation to develop and provide to public
high schools written materials regarding
apprenticeship opportunities; HB 2566
which expands hunter mentoring pro-
grams to include youth up to age 17; and
HB 3158 which creates incentives for re-
porting poaching and other wildlife law
violations.
Witt says the last bill will help
create a comprehensive solution to ad-
dress poaching of fish and wildlife in
Oregon. “We’re really pleased with the
coalition of groups and people we’ve
been working with on this issue, includ-
ing hunters and fishers, animal protec-
tion groups, and the Oregon State Police,
Oregon Fish and Wildlife, and other law
enforcement agencies,” says Witt.
Heading into the 2019 Legisla-
tive Session Witt says he would like his
constituents to have a heads-up on some
of the issues he thinks might be ad-
dressed, so they can comment on them.
“I always like to be informed by what
people share with me,” says Witt.
Witt says he expects the upcom-
ing session to include education fund-
ing and economic issues. “We’ve seen
improvements and what investing in our
economy can do to increase vibrancy,”
explains Witt. “We’ve seen what those
investments bring to our communities,
especially investments in education.
Those types of investments portend long
term vibrancy. That is how we provide
skills for our next generation of work-
ers. That’s how we assure ourselves that
our employers are going to be success-
ful with a strong work force. And that’s
how we ensure that our communities, be
it local, county, or state, remain competi-
tive not just with other states, but glob-
ally.”
Witt says he expects to see some
new proposals on some pertinent com-
munity economic issues. “I think we
may be looking at a somewhat different
approach to address carbon reduction
than has been tried before,” says Witt.
“What we’re envisioning would be a
much more direct approach to reducing
carbon emissions. I think it would have
much quicker results than what we’ve
heard about to date, and it will offer
probably the fastest reduction with the
biggest bang for the buck.”
Affordable housing is another
issue of concern for Witt. “We have a
very big challenge state wide concern-
ing housing,” says Witt. “I hear time and
again that workers cannot afford to live
in their houses or in close proximity to
their jobs, because it’s too expensive.”
Witt suggests that the state find ways to
encourage more housing construction,
which not just benefits those in need
of housing, but those who will do the
building and those who supply the con-
struction industry. “This is a chief way
we have to expand our economy and we
need to be very focused on building our
supply.”
Witt expressed concern about
the increasing friction between the ur-
ban and rural portions of Oregon. “We
need each other,” says Witt. “We need
to begin to understand the needs, wants,
and interests of our fellow citizens across
this state. The decisions that we make
here in Columbia County or in down-
town Portland have impacts on our fel-
low Oregonians statewide, and we need
to always consider that. I think we need
to take a lesson from the medical com-
munity, and when we make a decision,
first, do no harm. If we start there, then
we begin to rebuild the cohesiveness of
our state.”
Witt closed with some com-
ments on what he considers the biggest
challenge facing the world today - global
climate change. “Are we going to allow
this to continue until it’s too late and we
tip over the edge and we won’t be able
to recover, or do we, as a global society,
make it our imperative and deal with the
issue?” asks Witt. “Several generations
down the line it may become difficult for
people to exist, economically, socially
and environmentally if we don’t begin
to act now. We’ve seen dramatic chang-
es in the last decade and a half and the
problems are just increasing.”
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