A reflective piece by State Representative David Gomberg:
The 2016 “Short” Legislative Session has adjourned. It was a compact and intense thirty days, often colored by election-year ballot measures, and not without controversy. Some argued that the legislature tried to do too much. Others said we should have tackled even larger issues, such as a statewide transportation plan.
In the end, we did some good work for Oregon and for the Central Coast and Coast Range. We ended four days ahead of schedule. And we concluded with a remarkable and emotional show of bi-partisan respect and commerodary that I will always remember.
Small Business:
I often observe that ours is a small business district, defined by family farms, fishing boats, and “mom-and-pop” tourist enterprises. And being a real small business owner, I bring that unique perspective to the Capitol. Last week the Governor asked me to serve on her Small Business Cabinet. A few days later, the House Speaker asked me to chair a legislative special committee on Small Business Growth. With these two important and high profile appointments, we’re now in a critical position to address real issues like red tape, support for Small Business Development Centers, funding for start-up or growth, and an improved workforce. My Committee has already begun to meet and I’ll be sitting down with the Governor on Tuesday. If you have suggestions on how to improve our small business climate, please get back to me with your suggestions.
Transportation:
As I write this, major highway projects are underway east of Newport/Toledo, north of Lincoln City, and in Depoe Bay. There is clearly a lot going on! All of this work reflects a significant investment by the state in our own local highways, and as Chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Committee, I’ve been encouraging that. At the same time, I’ve been working with ODOT to try and minimize the inconvenience all this construction will cause to local drivers and to our coastal economy. Certainly there will be some frustrating driving delays ahead. But in the end, our roads will be safer, easier to drive, and more resilient.
