Issues

Health Care

In no area of state government has Mitch made more of a difference than Health Care.

In 2009 and again in 2011, Mitch led efforts to provide health care for all our uninsured children and fought to help Oregon become a national leader in Health Care reform.

Looking forward, Mitch is dedicated to continuing the move toward universal access to health care for all Oregonians that started when Mitch led the passage of HB 2009 and HB 2116 during 2009, and HB 3650 and SB 99 in 2011.

Education

Do what is necessary to ensure children can read by third grade, including:

  • Reduce class size in K-3
  • Support teacher continuing education
  • Improve early childhood education
  • Assure full-day kindergarten
  • Involve parents and other citizens in the reading program

We also need to:

  • Stabilize education funding across economic cycles
  • Reduce high school dropout rate and increase number going to college
  • Increase science, technology, and engineering output of higher education

Environment

Mitch stands for protecting the environment:

  • Protect Forest Park from encroaching development East of Skyline Blvd.
  • Eliminate release of persistent, bio-accumulative toxins (PBT) into streams and rivers
  • Link schools and other community groups with individual wildlife habitat sites
  • Protect farmland

Community

Reduce gun violence

  • I support criminal background checks at gun shows to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Improve the transportation system

  • Highways 26 and 217 need improvements sooner, not later.

Manage growth

  • While the urban growth boundaries protect our farmland, we need to improve our ability to manage growth inside them.

Support our families

  • Improve safety and effectiveness of child care system

  • Protect choice