The People’s Budget pushes back against proposed austerity measures, instead calling for investments that address historic inequities, build resilience, and foster long-term opportunity.
SALEM, OR — Oregon lawmakers and community organizations are rallying to support The People’s Budget, which outlines investment priorities that will help the communities most impacted by COVID-19 recover from the economic and health impacts of the pandemic and create opportunities for all working families to thrive. The priorities include economic stability for Oregon families, immigrant rights, relief for workers, and community health and safety.
Published by Fair Shot for All, a group of community organizations and advocates representing impacted communities across Oregon, The People’s Budget responds to the state’s most urgent needs to jump start the recovery and create a stronger future for all Oregonians.
“Oregon cannot recover until we all recover,” Sen. Kayse Jama, said. “From hospitalizations to job loss, Oregonians who identify as women, LGBTQ+, immigrants, and/or Black, Indigenous, or people of color have shouldered the heaviest burdens from COVID-19. It’s time to invest in communities that have been most impacted so all of us can benefit from recovery efforts.”
In the last revenue forecast, state economists made clear that, without a change in course, the impending economic recovery would leave many Oregonians behind. Despite this warning, Oregon’s Ways & Means Co-Chairs have proposed withholding nearly 20% of the $6 billion in federal funding Oregon will be receiving from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) until 2023-2025.
“We know from the last recession that austerity measures only make economic recoveries longer, more painful and inequitable,” says Rep. Khanh Pham. “I urge my colleagues to prioritize investments with a lasting impact that will create long-term economic stability for families.”
Recent statistics paint a stark picture of economic suffering by Oregon families and workers. The unemployment rate remains twice as high as before the pandemic, more than 1 in 10 children have gone hungry, drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed, and 1 in 7 renters have fallen behind on their rent, putting them in danger of eviction and homelessness.
The impacts have been especially severe for people of color. While 9% of white Oregonians lack enough to eat, 18% of Oregonians of color report going hungry — including 31% of Black Oregonians and 18% of Hispanic Oregonians. Among white renters in Oregon, 12% have fallen behind on their rent. By comparison, 25% of Hispanic renters have fallen behind on rent.
“By adopting the People’s Budget, we have the opportunity to build an equity-based budget that ensures Oregon emerges stronger than before, ready to weather future storms,” Rep. Andrea Salinas, said. “Instead of prolonging the widespread suffering Oregonians are experiencing, now is the time to invest. Today is our rainy day.”
“The Joint Ways and Means Committee put out a call for budget recommendations focused on advancing equity and we have answered with The People’s Budget,” said Lamar Wise, AFSCME Oregon political coordinator and member of Governor Kate Brown’s Racial Justice Council. “The investments we have outlined will strengthen Black, Indigenous, and communities of color across the state and create economic opportunities for all. Now is the time to invest in Oregon.”
Fair Shot for All is an economic justice coalition of grassroots organizations and labor unions working together to build power with our communities, to create opportunities for all working families to thrive, and to dismantle historic and systemic economic inequities for Oregonians who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC); women; immigrants; and/or LGBTQ+. Fair Shot’s work centers racial and gender equity that seeks to address inequalities through organizing and concrete policy change. Learn more at fairshotoregon.org.
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