... legislative accountability report., January 01, 2007, Page 7, Image 7

Accountability and Redemption:
Governor Stands Up For Working Families
In past sessions, our union has had its ups and downs with
Governor Kulongoski.
This session, the Governor came through for working families time and
time again.
The Governor signed Executive Orders recognizing the right to organize
for 12,000 child care providers and for 3,700 adult foster care providers.
Understanding Executive Orders can be overturned by future Governors, he
stood with us in our fight to get these rights written into law. The passage of these
laws is the biggest expansion of bargaining rights for Oregon workers in 34 years.
Governor Kulongoski played a key role in the negotiations to suspend the
corporate kicker in order to create a rainy-day fund. His efforts played no small
part in making corporations pay their fair share in funding public services during
the next economic downturn.
He led the fight in the Capitol for Healthy Kids. This program would provide
health coverage to all Oregon children. This was the Governor's top priority in
2007, but it takes a supermajority of the legislature to enact this law. There were
enough legislators willing to stand up to Big Tobacco to get the issue on the
November ballot, but not enough to pass the legislation outright.
His commitment to children was further demonstrated by his push to improve
the child care program for working parents. Oregon had been 49th in the country
in affordable and accessible day care for low-wage parents. The Governor fought
for increased funding and subsidies so more working parents can find someone
to watch their kids. Oregon is now a top tier state in child care.
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