Ted Has Led Oregon Through the Worst Recession Since the Great Depression. Under Ted’s leadership, Oregon has more than 100,000 new jobs than in 2003 and the fifth fastest growing economy in the nation. More Oregonians are employed today than at any point in the state’s history. Oregonian’s average personal income is also up $2,942 (10 percent) since 2003. [US Department of Labor; Census Bureau]
Ted’s Regulatory Streamlining Initiative Reduced Paperwork for Businesses by a Quarter of a Million Pages. After reviewing state regulations, the legislature approved 29 bills proposed by the governor to cut administrative paperwork. In total, they eliminated a quarter of a million pages in forms, reports and other paperwork businesses had been previously required to file every year.
Ted Lowered Payroll Taxes for Businesses. The Governor signed into law HB 2127 to lower payroll taxes for Oregon employers by $211 million and create a stable funding source for Employment Department services. This legislation will help strengthen Oregon’s business climate by reducing unemployment insurance taxes by 12% and serve as a tool to retain and recruit new business to Oregon.
Ted Expanded Opportunities for Small and Emerging Minority Businesses. In 2005 Governor Kulongoski enlarged Oregon’s Emerging Small Business Program (the state’s race and gender-neutral certification program), increasing the number of ODOT projects designated for businesses owned by minorities, women and/or certified emerging small businesses. The expansion also nearly doubles the time a business may participate in the program, as well as increasing the size of contracts that can be awarded. For the first time, the Governor required the state to track the contracts awarded to women and minority-owned businesses through the program to ensure such enterprises are taking advantage of the opportunities available.
Ted Created Two Important Plans to Help Small Businesses Purchase Health Coverage. As part of Governor Kulongoski’s commitment to expanding access to health care coverage, the Governor created two health insurance benefit plans targeted towards small businesses. The Alternative Group Plan provides a low-cost alternative to existing basic and catastrophic plans by covering essential services for employees and their spouses. The Children’s Group Plan is a comprehensive health benefit plan, covering children up to age 23, which can be purchased as a stand-alone or as a companion to the Alternative Group Plan. There are an estimated 30,000 employers with as many as 200,000 employees in Oregon that are potentially eligible for these plans.
Ted Streamlined Access to Services for Workers and Employers: In January 2004 Governor Kulongoski launched the WorkSourceOregon.org website to make it easy for businesses and workers to get services. The site connects employers to a network of WorkSource Oregon Centers, skilled workers, training opportunities, and resources to make them productive and profitable. More than 250,000 Oregonians accessed WorkSource Oregon services in 2005.
Ted’s Workforce Initiative is Helping Businesses Train Their Employees. His workforce development initiative has partnered with over 300 businesses across the state to train over 15,000 Oregonians in skilled professions like manufacturing, health care and high technology. Ted’s Workforce Manufacturing Strategy is building partnerships with private industry across the state. Since taking office, the number of Oregon manufacturing jobs have increased by 9,300, even though the nation overall lost 630,000 manufacturing jobs. [Worksource Oregon, http://www.oregon.gov/WORKSOURCE/GOV/index.shtml]
Ted Investing in our Education System to Create a Skilled Workforce Governor Kulongoski’s Education Enterprise plan will provide a 10 % increase in funding for K-12, community colleges and higher education every budget cycle. We will take an integrated approach towards education to track the needs and interests of students, with particular attention to reinvesting in vocational education. Providing renewed attention to job skills training will go hand-in-hand with a renewed investment in our community colleges. These institutions are vital as stepping stones to a four-year degree and in meeting the needs of local business and industry.
Ted Attracting Businesses to Oregon. When Ted took office, Oregon had no designated large open industrial spaces, which are critical to attracting major businesses to locate in the state and allowing existing ones to expand. Under his leadership, 41 such sites have been launched, attracting major employers like Google, Yahoo, Lowe’s, Genentech and Amy’s Kitchen to Oregon. Small business owners know the value of these additions in also helping local economies expand and providing the foundation of regional economic clusters.
For more information Please visit the site http://www.tedforgov.com/