1500 Rally at the State Capitol to Restore Driver’s License Access to ALL Oregonians

1500 Rally at the Oregon State Capitol to Restore Driver’s License Access to ALL Oregonians

Members of the immigrant, faith, labor and business communities call for passage of Senate Bill 845

Salem, Ore.. (April 18, 2011)-- Today, 1500 members of the immigrant, faith, labor and business communities rallied at the Oregon State Capitol. The rally took place preceding the Senate holding a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 845--Oregon's bipartisan Driver’s License Access Restoration Act.
Senate Bill 845 is a bipartisan solution to restore access to driver's licenses to all Oregonians, regardless of their citizenship status. Passage of this crucial piece of legislation corrects the error that the State Legislature made in 2008 and is important for Oregon's public safety and economic prosperity.

The Senate Transportation Committee hearing, which took place in Hearing Room B, was standing room only with all of the overflow rooms filled. Barbara Ghio, a local immigration attorney, testified on behalf of CAUSA. She was joined by members of the Latino, immigrant, faith, labor and business communities who testified during the two hour hearing. (Read Barbara Ghio's testimony on SB 845 here)

Supporters of Senate Bill 845 sent a loud and clear message to the members of the Senate Transportation Committee that their communities value public safety and want ALL Oregonians to have access to Driver’s Licenses.

CAUSA is urging people to continue to contact members of the Senate Transportation Committee and urge them to vote "Yes" on Senate Bill 845 when it come up for a vote. For details on how to contact legislators, please link here.

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OR Driver's License Access Bill Gets a Hearing

OR Driver's License Access Bill Gets a Hearing
April 18, 2011

Chris Thomas, Public News Service -OR
Audio

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon's immigrant community is driving home its point – that everyone should be allowed to drive, no matter what their immigration status. They'll rally this afternoon, just before a Senate committee hears testimony on a bill to restore driver's license access to non-citizens. It would change an Oregon law that's been in place since 2008.

Jose Gonzales plans to testify on behalf of Senate Bill 845. As a real-estate agent in Salem and a Latino Business Alliance member, he says the driver's license restriction has sent a chill through the Latino community, prompting some to think differently about putting down roots in Oregon.

"'This community might not be stable for myself, or my family.' And these are people that are documented, the people that have driver's licenses, but they're hearing, they're feeling, that this is not a future, that this place is not the best place to invest."

Gonzales says, in his business, instability translates into fewer home sales, and he has talked with merchants who also are concerned about it.

"We don't simply wait for the phone to ring; we're out there. And it's something we deal with every day. And it's at different levels - I'm talking about first-time buyers, investors, business owners - and even on the corporate level. We deal with people that have never even thought this would have affected them. It's an issue that really has gone the whole spectrum."

The bill has received bipartisan support from some lawmakers, who believe it's a way to ensure that all drivers on Oregon roads are registered and have insurance. Its critics say since licenses are used as identification, granting them to non-citizens creates security problems.

The rally is at 4:00 p.m. today on the State Capitol steps; the hearing is at 6:00 p.m. in the Senate Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee.

Click here to view this story on the Public News Service RSS site and access an audio version of this and other stories: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/19523-1

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Rally to Restore Driver’s License Access to ALL Oregonians

Salem, Ore.-- Last Friday, after several days of phone calls, faxes, visits, and negotiations, CAUSA was notified that the Oregon State Senate will hold a legislative hearing on Oregon's bipartisan Driver’s License Access Restoration Act (Senate Bill 845).

The hearing is scheduled for the afternoon on Monday, April 18th in the Senate Transportation Committee. We will hold a rally on the front steps of the Oregon State Capitol starting at 4:00pm. It is very important that supporters of Senate Bill 845 attend the rally and hearing to send a message to the members of the Senate Transportation Committee that our communities value public safety and want ALL Oregonians to have access to Driver’s Licenses

Rally to Restore Driver’s License Access to ALL Oregonians
Date: April 18, 2011
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Oregon State Capitol
900 Court St. NE, Salem, Oregon

In the meantime, please call the following State Senators who sit on the Senate Transportation Committee and urge them to vote “Yes” on Senate Bill 845 when it comes up for a vote.
• Senator Lee Beyer (D- District 6, Chair 503-986-1706
• Senator Jason Atkinson (R – District 2), Vice-Chair 503-986-1702
• Senator Ginny Burdick (D – District 18) 503-986-1718
• Senator Chris Edwards (D- District 7) 503-986-1707
• Senator Fred Girod ( R – District 9) 503-986-1709
• Senator Bruce Starr (R – District 15) 503-986-1715

Tell them:

“My name is _____ and I live in _____. I support Senate Bill 845 because it’s important for me to know that ALL Oregon Residents have access to a driver’s license and driver’s insurance. It’s a matter of public safety, fairness, and common sense. Please vote “Yes” on this important legislation when it comes up for a vote.”

Your phone calls are extremely important to help push this bill forward, however please feel free to also send a message via our system. After you send your message, please also add your name to our petition that will be delivered to legislators.

Thank you for taking action on this important issue for the safety and well-being of ALL Oregonians!

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Over 1500 turn out to Leaders’ Assembly in Portland

Over 1500 turn out to Leaders’ Assembly in Portland

Portland, Ore.--Yesterday evening, it was standing room only as over 1500 people attended the Leaders’ Assembly at the Portland Lutheran School in Portland. The event was sponsored by Parish Health Promoter Program and CAUSA Oregon. Among those attending included Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Clackamas County Director of Social Services, Brenda Durbin.

Issues discussed during the evening included legislation affecting access to Oregon Driver’s Licenses (Senate Bill 845) and Tuition Equity (Senate Bill 742). Individuals gave personal testimony asking elected officials to support removing unnecessary barriers to obtaining an Oregon Driver's License and buying car insurance for the safety and well being of their communities. Likewise, they called for passage of Tuition Equity that will make access to affordable and quality higher education possible for all Oregon students, regardless of their status.

Those in attendance also committed to rent 6 buses and attend the May 1st March and Rally commemorating International Worker’s Day in Salem. In addition, those that attended donated over $800 to go toward work being done to pass Driver’s License Access Restoration and Tuition Equity Legislation.

Last week, Oregon's Tuition Equity Bill (SB742) cleared the Oregon State Senate Education Committee and is expected to be voted on by the full Senate as early as this Thursday. CAUSA is encouraging all constituents to continue calling their State Senator and urge them to vote "Yes". Contact information for State Senators can be found by linking here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/ or by calling 1-800-332-2313 and asking for them by name.

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Leaders discuss bipartisan legislation to remove barriers to OR Driver’s License Access

Salem, Ore- Yesterday, CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and allies held a press conference at the Oregon State Capitol in support of Senate Bill 845. 

Senate Bill 845 is a bipartisan solution to restore access to driver's licenses to all Oregonians, regardless of their citizenship status. Passage of this crucial piece of legislation is important for Oregon's public safety and economic prosperity.

Moderator Aeryca Steinbauer,CAUSA

The bill will remove unnecessary barriers for Oregon residents to legally drive and purchase insurance and will eliminate subsequent unintended consequences that were created by the Oregon State Legislature in 2008. Those affected not only include immigrants but older people, who cannot find or may not have personal-identity documents, and also people with disabilities.

Speakers  included Oregon State Representative Ben Cannon (Portland-D), Oregon State Senator Chip Shields (Portland-D), Jose Ibarra, Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, David Leslie, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Rev. Melanie Oommen, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Eugene, Jose Gonzalez, Latino Business Association and Tu Casa Real Estate, Esequiel Regalado, Farmer's Insurance, Carmen Rubio, Latino Network and Alberto Moreno, Oregon Latino Agenda for Action.

Senate Bill 845 was introduced on February 17, 2011 in the Oregon State Legislature by State Senator Chip Shields (D-Portland) and Representatives Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Ben Cannon (D-Portland) and Tina Kotek (D-Portland).

Related Press Coverage:
Driver's license bill would drop residency requirement Salem Statesman Journal
New Law Could Give Immigrants Right To Drive KPTV FOX News 12
Under Ore. bill, citizenship proof would not be required for a driver's license The Republic, Columbia, Indiana
Conference in Support of Drivers License Restoration Act KEZI TV ABC
Drivers' License Debate Crosses the Border Lake Stevens Journal, WA
Oregon May Reverse Drivers License Limit KTVZ TV 21 NBC Bend 
KATU News Channel 2 KATU TV ABC Portland

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Drivers' License Debate Crosses the Border

Drivers' License Debate Crosses the Border
Oregon News Service
Chris Thomas

AUDIO: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/mp3.php?f=rss-18745-1.mp3

SALEM, Ore. - Four Oregon lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow people to drive motor vehicles, no matter what their immigration status. Across the border in Washington, however, the State Legislature is discussing doing exactly the opposite, restricting drivers' licenses only to people who can prove they are U.S. citizens or in this country legally.

That's the way it has been in Oregon for two years. But state Representative Bob Jenson, a Republican from Pendleton, doesn't think the restriction has been very practical, so he has joined forces with three Democrats to try to change it.

"If you've ever been involved in having an accident with somebody that's uninsured, that's kind of a messy situation. I know that won't completely solve that problem, but it will solve some of it. And that would be a significant benefit, to individuals and to the state."

Opponents of the idea see allowing undocumented immigrants to drive as a form of amnesty. They point north to Washington, where some people from Oregon go to get licenses because they haven't had to prove their citizenship status.

But Jenson sees the matter as a public safety issue, in that it's better to have people behind the wheel who have been tested and licensed. He also says the legislation creates a sub-category of license only for driving; it cannot be used as identification for other purposes. Jenson says he's talking up the bill in Salem and it has some support.

"Whether that support will be adequate or not, I don't know. It draws a little opposition, but that's okay. I mean, it'll start some conversation, anyway."

Today Jenson and other backers of Senate Bill 845, the Driver's License Restoration Act, make their case in a news conference at 10:00 a.m. in the Press Room of the State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem.

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18745-1

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Two Bipartisan Bills, Tuition Equity and Driver's License Access, introduced in OR State Legislature

NEWS RELEASE
February 18, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

Two Bipartisan Bills, Tuition Equity and Driver's License Access, introduced in OR State Legislature

Salem, Ore.--This week was a very busy one for CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition. Two important bipartisan bills were introduced in the Oregon State Legislature and we held our briefing at the Oregon State Capitol on our 2011 Latino Legislative Agenda.

On Monday, CAUSA participated in a Press Conference with the Oregon Student Association (OSA) and several other individuals and organizations, as Representative Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) and Senator Frank Morse (R-Albany) announced their co-sponsorship of the bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill, SB742.

The bill will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education and will make it possible for every student regardless of their status, to be able to pay in-state tuition. Besides capitalizing on the investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it would boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and bring in more tax dollars to the state's general fund.

Cosponsors of Senate Bill 742 include Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D-Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), and Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton).

On Tuesday, CAUSA presented it's 2011 Latino Legislative Agenda in a briefing at the Oregon State Capitol. Those attending and participating in the briefing included Oregon State legislators from both sides of the aisle, members of Oregon’s government, coalition partners and leaders from the community. Issues discussed included affordable housing, education, public safety, health, and jobs and the economy. For more information on the briefing, link here.

Yesterday, State Senator Chip Shields (D-Portland) joined with Representatives Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Ben Cannon (D-Portland) and Tina Kotek (D-Portland) to introduce Senate Bill 845 – the Oregon Driver License Access Act. The bipartisan bill will restore access to driver’s licenses to all Oregonian residents, regardless of their status.

Both of these important pieces of legislation--SB742 and SB845--are a good first step in ensuring that all Oregonians will be able to lead safe and productive lives while being the best contributors to Oregon and nation as they can be.

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit http://www.causaoregon.org/

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