February 2, 2025 • 29 mins
The CEO of the Oregon Food Bank details hunger in Oregon. How to get the Earned Income Tax Credit. OHA updates the Oregon Health Plan and the Marketplace. Former Oregon Governor Kate Brown and former State Senator Tim Knopp remember the late Senate President Pete Courtney.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to local voices. I'm brad Ford. This week, the
Oregon Food Bank is experiencing some of its highest demand.
Tax filers will have tips on how to make sure
you get a credit that could be worth over seven
thousand dollars. And the Oregon Legislature honored one of the
greatest statesmen in Oregon's history with the passing of Senator
Peter Courtney. We'll let you hear some of his celebration
(00:26):
of life. Hunger and Oregon continues to grow. Andrea Williams,
president of the Oregon Food Bank, gave her State of
Hunger address this week along with the announcement of the
Food for All Oregonians. Bill Andrea give us an assessment
of hunger and Oregon.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
This was my first State of Hunger Address of Oregon
to Bank's new president, and I heard some critical information
about hunger today in Oregon. One in eight people experience
hunger and one in six kids don't have enough to
eat eat and this statistic is really felt at food
(01:05):
banks across Oregon. Last year, our network of regional food
banks saw two point five million visits to food assistance
sites across Oregon. That's a thirty one percent increase from
the previous year, and to kind of put it in
some historical perspectives, we are seeing the worst rate of
(01:29):
hunger and food and security since the Great Depression. And
so today's State of Hunger Address was really to emphasize
the rise and need that we're seeing from our communities
and really a call to action for the state legislature
to take action. Food banks and Oregon we're doing our part.
(01:51):
We distributed almost one hundred and ten million pounds of
food last year, and we've learned that it's not enough
food alan cannot solve hunger, and so we also need
policy change in order to address the root causes for
why people need food banks in the first place. And
so we launched and introduced Food Call Oregonians, which is
(02:16):
a statewide bill that would establish a state based program
replicating SNAPS, which is a federal program, and the state
based SNAP program would be available for those community members
who are currently excluded from the federal program. Those are
our immigrant and refugee Oregonians. And so we had Senator
(02:41):
Windsay compos and some of our Foodfall Oregon Coalition partners
asking the legislature to prioritize this very important bill to
address Food and Security and organs.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
What do you think is causing the increase in hunger?
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Well, there's a several facts, but definitely post pandemic inflation,
the cost of food, the cost of housing. I think
we're all feeling it. The cost of everything is feeling
more expensive and not in outpacing the increase in wages,
(03:19):
and so families are having to make choices and using
food banks in order to supplement their income.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
What do you anticipate will be the impacts from the
Trump administration on hunger and Oregon.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
That's a really great point. This Football Orgonians Bill is
incredibly timely given the change in federal landscapes. We are
anticipating an increase in food and security because we into
the pay reductions in federal programs like snaps that provide
(03:55):
cash assistance to buy food at the grocery store. We
into the pay productions and other social safety nets that
will then drive more people to need to use food
banks and other types of charitable support.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So tell us more about the Food for All Oregonians
bill and what it would do.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Sure, Yeah, the Food for All Oregonians Bill has bipartisan
support and it would establish a state based SNAPS program
cash assistance for purchasing food at the grocery store for
our currently excluded communities. Those are immigrants and refugees. This
(04:37):
includes certainly and documented folks and also legal permanent residents
who have been have a green card for less than
five years, people with temporary protective status, people with DHAKA,
and people who are seeking asylum.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
And you said the bill has bipartisan support, but it
also sounds expensive. How do you expect funding for the bill?
What occur? Will it be difficult to get that approval
considering the cuts that are that are also being talked
about in Salem.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
So funding for this program would come from Oregon's general funds.
We in consideration of budget restrictions, have already scaled the bill,
so the bill would cover folks who are ages zero
to twenty five and fifty five and above. So these
are our seniors and our youth that are the most
(05:27):
vulnerable to food in security, and we've focused it on
those populations to help prioritize and in recognition of the
state's restricted budget. But I would also add that you know,
budgets are a moral document there at an expression of
our values and it's about prioritization, and I would say
(05:49):
that this is an important moment for Oregon to lead
and you know, express our values that we are a
state that is welcoming and inclusive of all communities. We
recognize immigrants contributions to our communities and our economy, and
so I think it's an important moment to show support
(06:11):
and so we would hope that the state would prioritize
fruitball Oregonians. I would also mention that we recognize that
the governor Government Code type priorities include affordable housing, behavioral health,
and education, and we would argue that a bill like
foodfral Oregonians is within those priorities. SNAP is a federal program.
(06:33):
It's been well researched, and it's been shown that a
households who are enrolled in SNAP are less likely to
be evicted from our homes, they're more likely to keep
their jobs, and kids are more likely to perform better
in school. So we know that something like fruitfral Oregonians,
increasing the population that can receive SNAP benefits in our
(06:54):
states would only benefit our priorities of affordable housing, behavioral health,
and education for kids.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
How can listeners help the food bank well There's a
lot of ways that folks can support Oregon Food Bank.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You can come volunteer with us. You can check out
our website Oregon Foodbank dot org. We are repacking millions
of pounds of fresh produce in which we need volunteers
to help us with. And you can also get involved
in the Food for All Oregonians campaign. Again, visit our
website Oregon Foodbank dot org and find out all the
(07:30):
ways to sign up to volunteer.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Thanks Andrea. That's Andrea Williams, President of the Oregon Food Bank,
on the status of Hunger and Oregon and the Food
for All Oregonians bill that will be considered by the
Oregon legislature. If you'd like to help the Oregon Food Bank,
their website is Oregonfoodbank dot org. As you're prepared to
do your income taxes if you qualify, you want to
(07:54):
make sure you apply for the federal and Oregon Earned
income tax credits. MAXI with the Oregon Department of Revenue
joins us on local voices, Robin. What is the Earned
income tax Credit?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
So?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
The Earned income tax Credit is a federal tax credit
for people with low and moderate income and rather than
toss about a bunch of numbers about this income or
this credit. The best thing to do is that we
just suggest that people go to IRS do i gov
and use the EITC assistant to see if they're eligible.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Is there a maximum amount that they could receive.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yes, it's a little shy of eight thousand dollars seven
hundred and thirty dollars. All of that depends on the
number of members of the family and the income, and
it's kind of a sliding scale, and they have a
table at IRS dot JEV that helps people determine what
they what they can claim.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Now, what is the Oregon Earned Income Credit.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Well, if you qualify for EITC on your federal taxes,
you can also likely claim the Oregon Income Credit on
your state income tax It's just a percentage of the
federal EITC. For most people, it would be nine percent
of what their e t C would be. For people
with the youngest children children are three, it would be
(09:08):
twelve percent, which means you could earn up to a
nine forty dollars or claim up to a nine hundred
and forty dollars credit on your state taxes.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Oregon has its own direct file. The IRS has direct File.
If people use that free software, does that help with
the calculation for the Earned income Tax credit?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
IRIS direct file is going to help people calculate their
ec the federal credit and then when they transition in
to do their state taxes and direct file Oregan, it
will help people figure their organ income credit.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Now there's also the Oregon Kids Credit. Is that different
from the Earned income Tax Credit from either the federal
or state level?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
It is. It's a state tax credit, you know, so
just people can find information about that and other tax
credits for people of limited means at our website at
Oregon dot joe or slashdr.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Anything else you would like to add concerning their earned
income tax credit, either the federal or state.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
This is the fiftieth year of the Earned Income Tax
Credit and the IRS is free. Crowd that.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Robin, thanks for joining us on local voices. That's Robin
Maxi with the Oregon Department of Revenue and details about
the federal and state earned income tax credits. If you
use tax software, including the free Federal and Oregon direct
file software, it'll guide you through the steps. The Oregon
Health Authorities released the number of people who got health
(10:35):
insurance through the Marketplace, the Oregon Health Plan, and the
Oregon Health Plan Bridge program. The total is one and
a half million people. Thirty two thousand people got insurance
through the new Bridge program. Nearly one hundred forty thousand
people got insurance through the marketplace. Amy Covin with the
Oregon Health Authority joins us on local Voices.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Amy.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
The number of people with health insurance through the marketplace
declined by about five thousand.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
What we're gathering from the numbers is that we did
have a decrease in enrollment through the marketplace, but people
are still really valuing health insurance and we're seeing that
even with folks moving to the new OHP Bridge program,
that folks are still valuing private coverage through the marketplace.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
What is the OHP Bridge program and how does it work?
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Yeah, OHP Bridge is Oregon's latest health coverage program. It's
the basic health program that launched in July, and it
covers it basically expands benefits for free benefits for more
people up to two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So OHP Bridge is for people who just misqualifying for
the Oregon Health Plan.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Yes, it's very very similar to Oregon health Planet, but
basically a little bit higher income.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Level for as well as tell me a little bit
about what the marketplace encourages people with health insurance to do.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Well.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Right now, I know that there's a lot of uncertainty
with things going on on a federal level, but what
we really want to encourage folks to do is to
take advantage of all of the benefits that are still
covered by their plan, including free preventive care. So now
is the time really to get set up for the
new year and schedule all over your checkups and wellness exams.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
What's the best way for a person who has health insurance,
either through the marketplace or through HP to know what
is available for them.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Yeah, So on our website Organhealthcare dot gov, we have
some really great resources that will help you understand what
benefits are covered by marketplace plans and we can also
connect you to Oregon Health Plan to find out more.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Now you touched on the uncertainty from the federal government,
there's talk of Medicaid cuts. Would that affect the Oregon
Health Plan and OHP Bridge program this year?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Well, as you mentioned, there's a lot of uncertainty. What
we do really want people to know though, is that
any changes that take place are not going to impact
their coverage for twenty twenty five. All of the plans
and re are already approved through the state for twenty
twenty five, so no changes will happen for this plan year.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Amy, anything else you'd like to add?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
The only other thing I'd like to add, brought is
just that if anyone is not covered by health coverage
right now and they are still looking even though open
enrollment has ended, they may qualify for a special enrollment period.
And of course OHP programs like Oregon Health Plan and
OHP Bridge have continuous enrollment, so you can enroll anytime
throughout the year. So we really just encourage folks to
(13:31):
come to our website Oregon Healthcare dot gov to see
what might be available to them.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Still, that's Amy Covin with the Oregon Health Authority on
the number of people who signed up this year for
the Oregon Marketplace, the Oregon Health Plan, and the OHP
Bridge program. Family, friends and colleagues celebrated the life of
former Oregon Setate President Peter Courtney this week. He died
last year following cancer. Courtney was known as a true
(13:56):
statesman who put Oregon. First, he was the longest serving
state legislator in Oregon history and the longest serving Senate president.
Here's former Oregon Governor Kate Brown.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
I think we all know in this room that Peter
thought the most important people in any room were the staff.
And I like to say that Peter hired most of
the best staff. I hired the rest. It's truly an
honor to join with all of you today to celebrate
the life, the legacy, and extraordinary accomplishments of Peter Michael
(14:31):
Coleman Courtney, the longest serving legislator and longest serving Senate
president in Oregon's history. To Peter's beloved Margie and sons Peter,
Sean and Adam, and your respective families, know that he
(14:51):
loved you more than life itself. Our hearts ache for
your loss. I think you also know that after you,
he had no greater love than the Oregon Legislature. So
it is right and fitting that we gather in this chamber.
(15:13):
As Contie mentioned, I had the tremendous opportunity to work
with and alongside Peter for over thirty years as a legislator,
caucus leader, Secretary of State, and as governor. And as
you might imagine, there are countless stories I could share
(15:34):
about my friendship and interactions with Peter over those three decades.
Some are not fit to be repeated publicly. But there
is one story that stands above all the others. It
is the story of why, at the end of my
time as governor, I signed an executive order naming the
(15:58):
Oregon State Hospital after Peter. It all began in two
thousand and four, when both The Oregonian and the Statesman
Journal began a series of stories about the travesties happening
at the State Hospital. The stories revealed heartbreaking and terrifying
(16:20):
conditions at the hospital buildings, with lead paint curling from
the walls and abestos, frost floating in the air, inadequate
staffing levels, and a severe lack of services to the
nearly seven hundred and fifty residents. Was nothing short of
(16:41):
patient abuse. And all of this was taking place in
a billing that was literally just a mile from the
State Capitol building. The stories and the dark and depressing
photos that ran with them were agonizing to Peter, because
Peter saw the humanity in every single human being. Spurred
(17:07):
by what he saw and read Peter took action. He requested,
or perhaps demanded, a tour of the facility, and he
invited Rick attg and Doug Bates, two members of the
Oregonian editorial board, to join him. During the tour, they
came upon a small building that was locked. Peter ordered
(17:30):
the staff to unlock it. Inside the small dark room
were filthy, dirty shells, and on those shelves were over
thirty five hundred corroded and dented copper cans containing the
cremains of patients who had died during the stay at
(17:53):
the hospital. Peter would say that nothing in his life
prepared him for what he had discovered.
Speaker 6 (18:04):
He very clearly saw that what he would forever call
the Room of the Forgotten Souls was emblematic of the
state's utter failure to address.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
The needs of some of its most vulnerable citizens. And
so Peter Courtney did what he always did. He rolled
up his sleeves and went to work. Peter has never
been a micromanager, but in this case he made an exception.
(18:38):
For month after month, year after year, he was engaged
with Governor Kulenkowski and his administration's efforts to make dramatic
improvements to Oregon's behavioral health system. In two thousand and five,
those efforts would include passage and the signing into law
(18:59):
of what Peter did designated Senate Bill one, which mandated
mental health parody, and in two thousand and seven he
was able to procure a roughly half a billion dollars
to build a brand new six hundred and twenty bed
hospital sited in Salem and a three hundred and sixty
(19:19):
bed facility located in Junkston City, oh Yes. Peter also
created and appointed a task force to recommend a site
for the urns containing the forgotten souls who were, thanks
to Peter, forgotten no longer. And if you find yourself
(19:41):
with a quiet afternoon, I urge you to take a
walk to the hospital grounds and see the memorial center
that resulted from the work of Peter's task force. So
now you know why I was honored to sign that
executive order naming the Oregon State Hospital for Senator Peter
(20:04):
Michael Coleman Courtney. Let me conclude by saying that in
some ways the urns that Peter discovered impacted him for
the rest of his life. He noted at the time
that no one, no one wanted to be laid to
rest without some kind of acknowledgment that you were here,
(20:30):
that you lived, that you mattered. The good news, Peter,
is that gathered in this room and across our state
are countless souls who are very grateful for the work
you did, the example you set, the difference you made,
(20:51):
and the life you led. Your name, your work, and
your legacy will truly not be forgotten. Rest in peace.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
From the other side of the aisle. Former State Senator
Tim Canope honored former Senator Peter Courtney during his celebration
of life this week at the state Capitol.
Speaker 7 (21:11):
Such an honor to be here and talk about and
celebrate Peter Courtney, Margie and family, thank you so much
for sharing Peter with us, with the state, with our country.
There are things that I want to focus on about
(21:34):
Peter and being second to last. Some of those have
been covered, but thankfully there are a couple things on
my list that haven't been covered.
Speaker 8 (21:44):
Now. Peter's nickname for me was no notes can open.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
So I have already disappointed Peter because I have a few.
Speaker 8 (21:54):
It's much better.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Than the nickname that the good senator sitting behind me
has for me, which is canope.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
You bad eyed little weasel.
Speaker 7 (22:05):
Sometimes yelled down the hall.
Speaker 8 (22:09):
So you can see why I have such an affinity
for Peter. Uh.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
Peter Michael Coleman Courtney, the most influential figure in Oregon
state politics in our history, accomplished so many things. Husband, father, attorney,
academic advisor, university professor, political advisor, football fan. This man
(22:46):
knew more mascots than anybody I've ever known, and I
think we should probably file for Againest Book of World
Records on that, because literally every time you mentioned a school,
Peter had the mascot. He was a House member, he
was a Senate member, he was a House leader, he
(23:06):
was a Senate president, longest serving Senate president in Oregon's history,
twenty years. Leadership positions like this are often one or
two terms, and for good reason, because, quite frankly, rank
(23:26):
and file members like myself eat you up and spit
you out, and leaders always take the brunt of criticism,
rarely compliments. So I'm sure Peter took some of that
home and gave some of that burden to Margie. So collectively, Margie,
(23:50):
I would like to apologize for everyone who ever served
with Peter.
Speaker 8 (23:54):
And gave him a bad time.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
No one yet has talked about Peter as two things,
Peter the actor and Peter the doctor, and some of
you I'm sure going excuse me Peter the doctor.
Speaker 8 (24:14):
That is correct.
Speaker 7 (24:15):
Little known fact Peter Courtney had more people admitted to
OHSU than most doctors who work at OHSU. If you
knew Peter Courtney, either a family member, yourself, or somebody
you know was admitted to OHSU by Peter Courtney. He
(24:36):
loved if you had a problem, a physical problem, he
was there. Do you need to go to Ohsu? I
can get you in? And he did. And I know
there are a bunch of people in this room that
have those stories, as do I. But Peter's also competitor,
and our competition was which one of us had been
(24:58):
to more floors at the South Waterfront Tower at OHSU,
because if you know Ohsu, each floor has pretty much
a different, uh well, genre of medical attention that you
might need, and a medical department. And so Peter and
I would regale ourselves with our most recent visits, and ultimately,
so far, Peter, you have won. However, I hopefully have
(25:21):
a few years left and may catch up to you.
Uh Peter, was a caretaker. He cared for people so much,
and you saw that in how he reached out. There
was an important moment in a senator's life that he
wasn't involved with in some way. In congratulating you, in
(25:45):
having compassion for you, in being there with you, discussing it,
and you know, being your confidant and many times your protector.
One of the things that Peter and I got along
with really well. I think the reason we connected so
(26:08):
much other than the fact that he liked redheads and
Irish people, and then of course Catholics, and I wasn't Catholics,
so I had to perform on the other two. And Peter,
I do have an admission to make yes, the red
hair is real a twenty three and meters test recently.
Not so much Irish as I thought, but still Irish nonetheless.
(26:33):
So Peter also cared so much about veterans. He worked
so hard right across the street Courtney's Place. He loved
to help veterans. Love the YMCA, many of you know
that was a big part of his life. He stayed
there when he first came to Oregon, loved the YMCA
(26:53):
and was a huge supporter of that, and I will
say one of the last bills that Peter worked on,
I think the last bill was mine in the twenty
twenty fourth session. It was Senate Bill fifteen seventy nine,
and that was providing more money for child advocacy centers
and best practices for child advocacy centers. And it was
(27:14):
such an arn or privilege to work with Peter on
things that he cared about and we cared about. Connie
mentioned breakfast. We had many breakfasts. Chuck Adams, his friend
later in life, was also there, and we would love
to have Chuck there because Peter and I would give
(27:34):
him such a hard time and we enjoyed that so much.
Chuck and Peter, he loved to do that. He would smile,
and I think we all took it with a grain
of salt. If Peter liked you, he poked.
Speaker 8 (27:52):
Fun at you.
Speaker 7 (27:52):
He made fun at you, but not in a cruel way,
but in a very kind way, and you knew that
he cared. The other thing I think we connected on
was the fact that we both care so much about
the institution, and we'd both served in the minor and
the majority, and so therefore we understood what it was
(28:13):
like when the shoe was on the other foot, and
Peter was always a protector of the minority. He wanted
to make sure that things were fair and the voices
were heard, and he spent a lot of time working
with minority members to make sure that they weren't left
(28:36):
behind as well. And it's no secret by Peter survived
twenty years, treated people with respect and with dignity, and
he genuinely cared for people. And so I counted a
privilege to have been able to serve with Peter Courtney
(28:58):
for twelve years when I was in the Senate. And
I know that those of you who have served with
Peter feel the same way. I see so many former
senators out there who served with Peter, and it's such
an honor and a privilege to have been able to
(29:19):
share our lives in this place with Peter Courtney.
Speaker 8 (29:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
That's former Oregon State Senator Tim Canobe honoring the late
Senator Peter Courtney. He died last summer following a battle
against cancer. Courtney was the longest serving state legislator in
Oregon history and the longest serving Senate president. Thanks for
listening to local voices. I'm brad Ford You can hear
past episodes on the iHeartRadio app under the podcast tab.
(29:46):
Local Voices is a public affairs presentation from iHeartRadio.
Welcome to local voices. I'm brad Ford. This week, the
Oregon Food Bank is experiencing some of its highest demand.
Tax filers will have tips on how to make sure
you get a credit that could be worth over seven
thousand dollars. And the Oregon Legislature honored one of the
greatest statesmen in Oregon's history with the passing of Senator
Peter Courtney. We'll let you hear some of his celebration
(00:26):
of life. Hunger and Oregon continues to grow. Andrea Williams,
president of the Oregon Food Bank, gave her State of
Hunger address this week along with the announcement of the
Food for All Oregonians. Bill Andrea give us an assessment
of hunger and Oregon.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
This was my first State of Hunger Address of Oregon
to Bank's new president, and I heard some critical information
about hunger today in Oregon. One in eight people experience
hunger and one in six kids don't have enough to
eat eat and this statistic is really felt at food
(01:05):
banks across Oregon. Last year, our network of regional food
banks saw two point five million visits to food assistance
sites across Oregon. That's a thirty one percent increase from
the previous year, and to kind of put it in
some historical perspectives, we are seeing the worst rate of
(01:29):
hunger and food and security since the Great Depression. And
so today's State of Hunger Address was really to emphasize
the rise and need that we're seeing from our communities
and really a call to action for the state legislature
to take action. Food banks and Oregon we're doing our part.
(01:51):
We distributed almost one hundred and ten million pounds of
food last year, and we've learned that it's not enough
food alan cannot solve hunger, and so we also need
policy change in order to address the root causes for
why people need food banks in the first place. And
so we launched and introduced Food Call Oregonians, which is
(02:16):
a statewide bill that would establish a state based program
replicating SNAPS, which is a federal program, and the state
based SNAP program would be available for those community members
who are currently excluded from the federal program. Those are
our immigrant and refugee Oregonians. And so we had Senator
(02:41):
Windsay compos and some of our Foodfall Oregon Coalition partners
asking the legislature to prioritize this very important bill to
address Food and Security and organs.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
What do you think is causing the increase in hunger?
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Well, there's a several facts, but definitely post pandemic inflation,
the cost of food, the cost of housing. I think
we're all feeling it. The cost of everything is feeling
more expensive and not in outpacing the increase in wages,
(03:19):
and so families are having to make choices and using
food banks in order to supplement their income.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
What do you anticipate will be the impacts from the
Trump administration on hunger and Oregon.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
That's a really great point. This Football Orgonians Bill is
incredibly timely given the change in federal landscapes. We are
anticipating an increase in food and security because we into
the pay reductions in federal programs like snaps that provide
(03:55):
cash assistance to buy food at the grocery store. We
into the pay productions and other social safety nets that
will then drive more people to need to use food
banks and other types of charitable support.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So tell us more about the Food for All Oregonians
bill and what it would do.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Sure, Yeah, the Food for All Oregonians Bill has bipartisan
support and it would establish a state based SNAPS program
cash assistance for purchasing food at the grocery store for
our currently excluded communities. Those are immigrants and refugees. This
(04:37):
includes certainly and documented folks and also legal permanent residents
who have been have a green card for less than
five years, people with temporary protective status, people with DHAKA,
and people who are seeking asylum.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
And you said the bill has bipartisan support, but it
also sounds expensive. How do you expect funding for the bill?
What occur? Will it be difficult to get that approval
considering the cuts that are that are also being talked
about in Salem.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
So funding for this program would come from Oregon's general funds.
We in consideration of budget restrictions, have already scaled the bill,
so the bill would cover folks who are ages zero
to twenty five and fifty five and above. So these
are our seniors and our youth that are the most
(05:27):
vulnerable to food in security, and we've focused it on
those populations to help prioritize and in recognition of the
state's restricted budget. But I would also add that you know,
budgets are a moral document there at an expression of
our values and it's about prioritization, and I would say
(05:49):
that this is an important moment for Oregon to lead
and you know, express our values that we are a
state that is welcoming and inclusive of all communities. We
recognize immigrants contributions to our communities and our economy, and
so I think it's an important moment to show support
(06:11):
and so we would hope that the state would prioritize
fruitball Oregonians. I would also mention that we recognize that
the governor Government Code type priorities include affordable housing, behavioral health,
and education, and we would argue that a bill like
foodfral Oregonians is within those priorities. SNAP is a federal program.
(06:33):
It's been well researched, and it's been shown that a
households who are enrolled in SNAP are less likely to
be evicted from our homes, they're more likely to keep
their jobs, and kids are more likely to perform better
in school. So we know that something like fruitfral Oregonians,
increasing the population that can receive SNAP benefits in our
(06:54):
states would only benefit our priorities of affordable housing, behavioral health,
and education for kids.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
How can listeners help the food bank well There's a
lot of ways that folks can support Oregon Food Bank.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You can come volunteer with us. You can check out
our website Oregon Foodbank dot org. We are repacking millions
of pounds of fresh produce in which we need volunteers
to help us with. And you can also get involved
in the Food for All Oregonians campaign. Again, visit our
website Oregon Foodbank dot org and find out all the
(07:30):
ways to sign up to volunteer.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Thanks Andrea. That's Andrea Williams, President of the Oregon Food Bank,
on the status of Hunger and Oregon and the Food
for All Oregonians bill that will be considered by the
Oregon legislature. If you'd like to help the Oregon Food Bank,
their website is Oregonfoodbank dot org. As you're prepared to
do your income taxes if you qualify, you want to
(07:54):
make sure you apply for the federal and Oregon Earned
income tax credits. MAXI with the Oregon Department of Revenue
joins us on local voices, Robin. What is the Earned
income tax Credit?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
So?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
The Earned income tax Credit is a federal tax credit
for people with low and moderate income and rather than
toss about a bunch of numbers about this income or
this credit. The best thing to do is that we
just suggest that people go to IRS do i gov
and use the EITC assistant to see if they're eligible.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Is there a maximum amount that they could receive.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yes, it's a little shy of eight thousand dollars seven
hundred and thirty dollars. All of that depends on the
number of members of the family and the income, and
it's kind of a sliding scale, and they have a
table at IRS dot JEV that helps people determine what
they what they can claim.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Now, what is the Oregon Earned Income Credit.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Well, if you qualify for EITC on your federal taxes,
you can also likely claim the Oregon Income Credit on
your state income tax It's just a percentage of the
federal EITC. For most people, it would be nine percent
of what their e t C would be. For people
with the youngest children children are three, it would be
(09:08):
twelve percent, which means you could earn up to a
nine forty dollars or claim up to a nine hundred
and forty dollars credit on your state taxes.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Oregon has its own direct file. The IRS has direct File.
If people use that free software, does that help with
the calculation for the Earned income Tax credit?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
IRIS direct file is going to help people calculate their
ec the federal credit and then when they transition in
to do their state taxes and direct file Oregan, it
will help people figure their organ income credit.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Now there's also the Oregon Kids Credit. Is that different
from the Earned income Tax Credit from either the federal
or state level?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
It is. It's a state tax credit, you know, so
just people can find information about that and other tax
credits for people of limited means at our website at
Oregon dot joe or slashdr.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Anything else you would like to add concerning their earned
income tax credit, either the federal or state.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
This is the fiftieth year of the Earned Income Tax
Credit and the IRS is free. Crowd that.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Robin, thanks for joining us on local voices. That's Robin
Maxi with the Oregon Department of Revenue and details about
the federal and state earned income tax credits. If you
use tax software, including the free Federal and Oregon direct
file software, it'll guide you through the steps. The Oregon
Health Authorities released the number of people who got health
(10:35):
insurance through the Marketplace, the Oregon Health Plan, and the
Oregon Health Plan Bridge program. The total is one and
a half million people. Thirty two thousand people got insurance
through the new Bridge program. Nearly one hundred forty thousand
people got insurance through the marketplace. Amy Covin with the
Oregon Health Authority joins us on local Voices.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Amy.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
The number of people with health insurance through the marketplace
declined by about five thousand.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
What we're gathering from the numbers is that we did
have a decrease in enrollment through the marketplace, but people
are still really valuing health insurance and we're seeing that
even with folks moving to the new OHP Bridge program,
that folks are still valuing private coverage through the marketplace.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
What is the OHP Bridge program and how does it work?
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Yeah, OHP Bridge is Oregon's latest health coverage program. It's
the basic health program that launched in July, and it
covers it basically expands benefits for free benefits for more
people up to two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So OHP Bridge is for people who just misqualifying for
the Oregon Health Plan.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Yes, it's very very similar to Oregon health Planet, but
basically a little bit higher income.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Level for as well as tell me a little bit
about what the marketplace encourages people with health insurance to do.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Well.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Right now, I know that there's a lot of uncertainty
with things going on on a federal level, but what
we really want to encourage folks to do is to
take advantage of all of the benefits that are still
covered by their plan, including free preventive care. So now
is the time really to get set up for the
new year and schedule all over your checkups and wellness exams.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
What's the best way for a person who has health insurance,
either through the marketplace or through HP to know what
is available for them.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Yeah, So on our website Organhealthcare dot gov, we have
some really great resources that will help you understand what
benefits are covered by marketplace plans and we can also
connect you to Oregon Health Plan to find out more.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Now you touched on the uncertainty from the federal government,
there's talk of Medicaid cuts. Would that affect the Oregon
Health Plan and OHP Bridge program this year?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Well, as you mentioned, there's a lot of uncertainty. What
we do really want people to know though, is that
any changes that take place are not going to impact
their coverage for twenty twenty five. All of the plans
and re are already approved through the state for twenty
twenty five, so no changes will happen for this plan year.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Amy, anything else you'd like to add?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
The only other thing I'd like to add, brought is
just that if anyone is not covered by health coverage
right now and they are still looking even though open
enrollment has ended, they may qualify for a special enrollment period.
And of course OHP programs like Oregon Health Plan and
OHP Bridge have continuous enrollment, so you can enroll anytime
throughout the year. So we really just encourage folks to
(13:31):
come to our website Oregon Healthcare dot gov to see
what might be available to them.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Still, that's Amy Covin with the Oregon Health Authority on
the number of people who signed up this year for
the Oregon Marketplace, the Oregon Health Plan, and the OHP
Bridge program. Family, friends and colleagues celebrated the life of
former Oregon Setate President Peter Courtney this week. He died
last year following cancer. Courtney was known as a true
(13:56):
statesman who put Oregon. First, he was the longest serving
state legislator in Oregon history and the longest serving Senate president.
Here's former Oregon Governor Kate Brown.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
I think we all know in this room that Peter
thought the most important people in any room were the staff.
And I like to say that Peter hired most of
the best staff. I hired the rest. It's truly an
honor to join with all of you today to celebrate
the life, the legacy, and extraordinary accomplishments of Peter Michael
(14:31):
Coleman Courtney, the longest serving legislator and longest serving Senate
president in Oregon's history. To Peter's beloved Margie and sons Peter,
Sean and Adam, and your respective families, know that he
(14:51):
loved you more than life itself. Our hearts ache for
your loss. I think you also know that after you,
he had no greater love than the Oregon Legislature. So
it is right and fitting that we gather in this chamber.
(15:13):
As Contie mentioned, I had the tremendous opportunity to work
with and alongside Peter for over thirty years as a legislator,
caucus leader, Secretary of State, and as governor. And as
you might imagine, there are countless stories I could share
(15:34):
about my friendship and interactions with Peter over those three decades.
Some are not fit to be repeated publicly. But there
is one story that stands above all the others. It
is the story of why, at the end of my
time as governor, I signed an executive order naming the
(15:58):
Oregon State Hospital after Peter. It all began in two
thousand and four, when both The Oregonian and the Statesman
Journal began a series of stories about the travesties happening
at the State Hospital. The stories revealed heartbreaking and terrifying
(16:20):
conditions at the hospital buildings, with lead paint curling from
the walls and abestos, frost floating in the air, inadequate
staffing levels, and a severe lack of services to the
nearly seven hundred and fifty residents. Was nothing short of
(16:41):
patient abuse. And all of this was taking place in
a billing that was literally just a mile from the
State Capitol building. The stories and the dark and depressing
photos that ran with them were agonizing to Peter, because
Peter saw the humanity in every single human being. Spurred
(17:07):
by what he saw and read Peter took action. He requested,
or perhaps demanded, a tour of the facility, and he
invited Rick attg and Doug Bates, two members of the
Oregonian editorial board, to join him. During the tour, they
came upon a small building that was locked. Peter ordered
(17:30):
the staff to unlock it. Inside the small dark room
were filthy, dirty shells, and on those shelves were over
thirty five hundred corroded and dented copper cans containing the
cremains of patients who had died during the stay at
(17:53):
the hospital. Peter would say that nothing in his life
prepared him for what he had discovered.
Speaker 6 (18:04):
He very clearly saw that what he would forever call
the Room of the Forgotten Souls was emblematic of the
state's utter failure to address.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
The needs of some of its most vulnerable citizens. And
so Peter Courtney did what he always did. He rolled
up his sleeves and went to work. Peter has never
been a micromanager, but in this case he made an exception.
(18:38):
For month after month, year after year, he was engaged
with Governor Kulenkowski and his administration's efforts to make dramatic
improvements to Oregon's behavioral health system. In two thousand and five,
those efforts would include passage and the signing into law
(18:59):
of what Peter did designated Senate Bill one, which mandated
mental health parody, and in two thousand and seven he
was able to procure a roughly half a billion dollars
to build a brand new six hundred and twenty bed
hospital sited in Salem and a three hundred and sixty
(19:19):
bed facility located in Junkston City, oh Yes. Peter also
created and appointed a task force to recommend a site
for the urns containing the forgotten souls who were, thanks
to Peter, forgotten no longer. And if you find yourself
(19:41):
with a quiet afternoon, I urge you to take a
walk to the hospital grounds and see the memorial center
that resulted from the work of Peter's task force. So
now you know why I was honored to sign that
executive order naming the Oregon State Hospital for Senator Peter
(20:04):
Michael Coleman Courtney. Let me conclude by saying that in
some ways the urns that Peter discovered impacted him for
the rest of his life. He noted at the time
that no one, no one wanted to be laid to
rest without some kind of acknowledgment that you were here,
(20:30):
that you lived, that you mattered. The good news, Peter,
is that gathered in this room and across our state
are countless souls who are very grateful for the work
you did, the example you set, the difference you made,
(20:51):
and the life you led. Your name, your work, and
your legacy will truly not be forgotten. Rest in peace.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
From the other side of the aisle. Former State Senator
Tim Canope honored former Senator Peter Courtney during his celebration
of life this week at the state Capitol.
Speaker 7 (21:11):
Such an honor to be here and talk about and
celebrate Peter Courtney, Margie and family, thank you so much
for sharing Peter with us, with the state, with our country.
There are things that I want to focus on about
(21:34):
Peter and being second to last. Some of those have
been covered, but thankfully there are a couple things on
my list that haven't been covered.
Speaker 8 (21:44):
Now. Peter's nickname for me was no notes can open.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
So I have already disappointed Peter because I have a few.
Speaker 8 (21:54):
It's much better.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Than the nickname that the good senator sitting behind me
has for me, which is canope.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
You bad eyed little weasel.
Speaker 7 (22:05):
Sometimes yelled down the hall.
Speaker 8 (22:09):
So you can see why I have such an affinity
for Peter. Uh.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
Peter Michael Coleman Courtney, the most influential figure in Oregon
state politics in our history, accomplished so many things. Husband, father, attorney,
academic advisor, university professor, political advisor, football fan. This man
(22:46):
knew more mascots than anybody I've ever known, and I
think we should probably file for Againest Book of World
Records on that, because literally every time you mentioned a school,
Peter had the mascot. He was a House member, he
was a Senate member, he was a House leader, he
(23:06):
was a Senate president, longest serving Senate president in Oregon's history,
twenty years. Leadership positions like this are often one or
two terms, and for good reason, because, quite frankly, rank
(23:26):
and file members like myself eat you up and spit
you out, and leaders always take the brunt of criticism,
rarely compliments. So I'm sure Peter took some of that
home and gave some of that burden to Margie. So collectively, Margie,
(23:50):
I would like to apologize for everyone who ever served
with Peter.
Speaker 8 (23:54):
And gave him a bad time.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
No one yet has talked about Peter as two things,
Peter the actor and Peter the doctor, and some of
you I'm sure going excuse me Peter the doctor.
Speaker 8 (24:14):
That is correct.
Speaker 7 (24:15):
Little known fact Peter Courtney had more people admitted to
OHSU than most doctors who work at OHSU. If you
knew Peter Courtney, either a family member, yourself, or somebody
you know was admitted to OHSU by Peter Courtney. He
(24:36):
loved if you had a problem, a physical problem, he
was there. Do you need to go to Ohsu? I
can get you in? And he did. And I know
there are a bunch of people in this room that
have those stories, as do I. But Peter's also competitor,
and our competition was which one of us had been
(24:58):
to more floors at the South Waterfront Tower at OHSU,
because if you know Ohsu, each floor has pretty much
a different, uh well, genre of medical attention that you
might need, and a medical department. And so Peter and
I would regale ourselves with our most recent visits, and ultimately,
so far, Peter, you have won. However, I hopefully have
(25:21):
a few years left and may catch up to you.
Uh Peter, was a caretaker. He cared for people so much,
and you saw that in how he reached out. There
was an important moment in a senator's life that he
wasn't involved with in some way. In congratulating you, in
(25:45):
having compassion for you, in being there with you, discussing it,
and you know, being your confidant and many times your protector.
One of the things that Peter and I got along
with really well. I think the reason we connected so
(26:08):
much other than the fact that he liked redheads and
Irish people, and then of course Catholics, and I wasn't Catholics,
so I had to perform on the other two. And Peter,
I do have an admission to make yes, the red
hair is real a twenty three and meters test recently.
Not so much Irish as I thought, but still Irish nonetheless.
(26:33):
So Peter also cared so much about veterans. He worked
so hard right across the street Courtney's Place. He loved
to help veterans. Love the YMCA, many of you know
that was a big part of his life. He stayed
there when he first came to Oregon, loved the YMCA
(26:53):
and was a huge supporter of that, and I will
say one of the last bills that Peter worked on,
I think the last bill was mine in the twenty
twenty fourth session. It was Senate Bill fifteen seventy nine,
and that was providing more money for child advocacy centers
and best practices for child advocacy centers. And it was
(27:14):
such an arn or privilege to work with Peter on
things that he cared about and we cared about. Connie
mentioned breakfast. We had many breakfasts. Chuck Adams, his friend
later in life, was also there, and we would love
to have Chuck there because Peter and I would give
(27:34):
him such a hard time and we enjoyed that so much.
Chuck and Peter, he loved to do that. He would smile,
and I think we all took it with a grain
of salt. If Peter liked you, he poked.
Speaker 8 (27:52):
Fun at you.
Speaker 7 (27:52):
He made fun at you, but not in a cruel way,
but in a very kind way, and you knew that
he cared. The other thing I think we connected on
was the fact that we both care so much about
the institution, and we'd both served in the minor and
the majority, and so therefore we understood what it was
(28:13):
like when the shoe was on the other foot, and
Peter was always a protector of the minority. He wanted
to make sure that things were fair and the voices
were heard, and he spent a lot of time working
with minority members to make sure that they weren't left
(28:36):
behind as well. And it's no secret by Peter survived
twenty years, treated people with respect and with dignity, and
he genuinely cared for people. And so I counted a
privilege to have been able to serve with Peter Courtney
(28:58):
for twelve years when I was in the Senate. And
I know that those of you who have served with
Peter feel the same way. I see so many former
senators out there who served with Peter, and it's such
an honor and a privilege to have been able to
(29:19):
share our lives in this place with Peter Courtney.
Speaker 8 (29:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
That's former Oregon State Senator Tim Canobe honoring the late
Senator Peter Courtney. He died last summer following a battle
against cancer. Courtney was the longest serving state legislator in
Oregon history and the longest serving Senate president. Thanks for
listening to local voices. I'm brad Ford You can hear
past episodes on the iHeartRadio app under the podcast tab.
(29:46):
Local Voices is a public affairs presentation from iHeartRadio.
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