Statement on the "Reset"
I think the Governor has properly identified the scope, depth and urgency of the financial crisis we are facing, which is an essential first step. The next step is to put together the plan to address the problem. We are already doing that – I don’t think it can wait until after November. First and foremost we have to help recover the economy and get Oregonians back to work. We also have to get our arms around the cost of delivering essential state services.
We need to scour the budget for any savings that can be found through slimming management, consolidating departments and evaluating if there are things we are doing that are not central to the mission of state government. Then we are going to have to start from the bottom up. How much money do we have, and what are the highest priorities for the use of that money? That is a discussion that will have to include all Oregonians, not just politicians. Ultimately, Oregonians will need to decide what resources we need to do what needs to be done.
When it comes to priorities, here are mine: providing the front-line services that are of direct benefit to Oregonians and their future. That is education (including ensuring that children get the right start), public safety and the help and protection of our most vulnerable citizens. These services are not only the foundation of our economic and social success – they are an expression of who we are as Oregonians.
I also want to stress that these services are delivered by extraordinarily dedicated public employees – in our schools, those helping the vulnerable and in the public safety system. I believe that by bringing them to the table we can find ways to lower health care and pension costs. It will take, however, a governor who can actually work with all sides of the issue and with the understanding of how to get it done.
None of this will be easy: we need a realistic, step-by-step plan to get us moving in the right direction. My campaign has been organized around offering those real solutions, and we need them now more than ever. Our problems certainly will not be solved through slogans or 30 second television commercials. Oregonians are rightly suspicious of those who provide easy answers to tough problems. That is certainly not what you will be getting from me.
What it will take is an ability to cut across party lines, bridge the urban/rural divide and work with the public and private sectors – both of whom need to be a part of the solution. That is the kind of leadership I can provide as Governor, and it is the difference in this race.
