Oregon State Police Officers Association Endorses Wayne Krieger

Oregon Building Trades Council Endorses Wayne Krieger

Rep. Krieger,

Congratulations.  You have received the Oregon Building Trades Council’s endorsement for the 2012 Primary Election.  Please use the SEL 400 form that will allow you to use our name on your voters pamphlet statement. 

Thank you for taking the time to apply for our endorsement.  Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Paul Phillips

President

News Release of the Estate Tax 2011

House Bill 2541 is the final version of my concept brought forth in HB 3479 that started in the process in the 2007 session.  In 2007 I brought together Democrat and Republican Legislators who had a concern as to how the Death tax was adversely and unjustly affecting natural resource properties.  The powers that be cringe when I call the estate tax a death tax, but to me, that is what it is.

Owners of small woodlands, farmers and ranchers and commercial fishermen were finding themselves barrowing large sums of money or mortgaging those properties, to pay a death tax.  The bigger concern was that many families had to sell all or part of those properties or the timber lands had to be harvested, or a fishing boat had to be sold to pay the death tax.   These properties may have been in a family for 3-5 generations.  They had paid taxes every year on the property and their income and other taxes and fees in support of their businesses.

It was also evident that there was an environmental benefit to keeping these lands and businesses intact and family owned.  These lands were being managed with a stewardship ethic.  They were found to be providing benefits of clean air, water and enhanced wildlife habitat.  Many had forest management plans which protected natural resource values far beyond what was required by law.

Problems arose around the Department of Revenue’s interpretation of the bill and other issues.

The Oregon Law Commission took the concept of the bill and worked on it for 18 months, making recommendations resulting in House Bill 2541 in 2011.  The bill has now passed the House and Senate and is waiting for the Governor’s signature.

Natural resource organizations, such as Farm Bureau, The Cattlemen’s Association, Nursery Association, Small Woodland Owners and Commercial Fishermen all supported this bill.

House Bill 2541 should be provided to lawyers and accountants who represent families with natural resource lands or those involved with commercial fisheries.  The bill revises the definition of “natural resource property” to include both real property and personal property (tangible and intangible).  It would provide a state tax credit for qualifying farms for the first $7.5 million of an estate.  It exempts all estates from the state death tax on the first $1 million in value.  Estates valued at over $1 million are taxed at varying rates, starting with a 10% rate and increasing to a 16% rate cap.  Taxes are incurred only on the amount over the $1 million exemption, not on the first $1million value of the estate.

HB 2541 will help owners of small woodlands, farmers, rancher and commercial fishermen keep their businesses within family ownership.  It’s worth discussing whether we should have a death tax at all, but that debate will have to wait for a future session.

This bill in now being sent to the Governor for his signature.

HB 2183- is the “knowingly” False Reporting of Child Abuse bill

HB 2183 passed the House with all 30 Republicans and 7 Democrats supporting it.

Now it is in the hand of the Senate and I was able to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It is now coming to the Senate floor.

Why was this bill brought forward?  During the interim I was contacted by a lady who had been the victim of the filing of a false report.  This report was made by the person knowing it was false.  False reports are not new or unusual and have ruined many lives.  We had heard of several.  It was then that I decided to summit a bill to protect those that were innocent.  It would be a controversial bill, but as a member of the House Judiciary Committee for the last 11 years that was not new either.

The Oregon Statutes make it a crime to initiate a false report to a fire Department or Police agency.  This statute does not include knowingly making a false report to DHS.

This type of false report most often arises out of a divorce and then custody fight or domestic conflicts.

Knowingly making a false report of child abuse tarnishes the reputation of the accused and puts them in jeopardy of felony charges.  It puts a strain on someone’s reputation that can be hard to erase.

No one should be discouraged from reporting suspected child abuse. Let me emphasize that the bill only penalizes people “who file a claim they know is false.”

Those who are mandatory reporters are not required to prove that child abuse has occurred; only that something leads them to believe it might be occurring.  It is completely different than a known false report.

Hopefully HB 2183 will help reduce the number of false claims of child abuse by those who know the claims to be false.

There were groups that claimed that this would create “even greater barriers for our citizens to protect kids” and some claimed it to be “incredibly dangerous for children” and “that child abuse is already seriously under-reported”.  This is nonsense and unfounded.

This bill would make it a violation punishable by a fine of up to $720.00 to Knowingly accuse someone of child abuse. Hopefully, making a separate crime for false child abuse reports would help discourage anyone from filing a false report and it would give the District Attorneys a tool to protect the innocent.

Would you like to be included on Rep. Krieger’s E-Newsletter list – Go to www.waynekrieger.com and sign up.  If you are on the Press Release List but would like to be removed please send a return e-mail with REMOVE in the subject line and we will take care of it.   Thank you

Chairs reach bipartisan agreement on legislative redistricting map

June 7, 2011

Salem, OR – The Co-Chairs of the House Redistricting Committee and Chair and Vice-Chair of the
Senate Redistricting Committee announced today that have reached an agreement on a legislative
redistricting map. If passed by both chambers and signed by the Governor, this would be the first
redistricting map drawn by the Legislature and adopted into law in several decades.

“This bipartisan agreement represents the first step towards approving a final legislative redistricting
plan for the next decade,” said Representative Shawn Lindsay (R-Hillsboro). “This is an excellent
example of how Democrats and Republicans can work together for the people of Oregon.”

The proposed map is based on hours of public testimony. It honors the statutory requirements to create
districts of equal population, not divide communities of interest, and connect communities within
districts by transportation links.

“This bipartisan proposal is the result of hours of testimony and work by both the House and Senate
committees,” said Senator Suzanne Bonamici (D-NW Portland/Washington Co.). “We heard the public
when they overwhelmingly encouraged us to reach a plan within the Legislature.”

The House and Senate Committees on Redistricting will take additional public testimony on the
proposed bill, including proposed maps, later this week.

“We’ve managed to put many of our differences aside in what is typically a very partisan process,” said
Representative Chris Garrett (D-Lake Oswego). “Reaching bipartisan agreement on this plan is a major
achievement for this Legislature.”

“This is an accomplishment that Oregon can be proud of,” said Senator Chris Telfer (R-Bend). “A
bipartisan redistricting map represents the legislature at its best, working together and finding common
ground, even in the face of big obstacles. This is a fair and bipartisan plan that will give Oregonians
quality representation over the next ten years.”

Press Contacts:
Molly Woon, Senate Majority Office (503) 986-1074
Michael Gay, Senate Republican Office (503) 986-1955
Nick Smith, House Republican Office (503) 986-1907
Geoff Sugerman, House Democratic Office (503) 986-1351

‘Isn’t it amazing where life takes us’

By Paul Fattig

Mail Tribune March 27, 2011

It happened 43 years ago this week, but I still get a sinking feeling in my gut when the memory pops up.

That would be the day late in March 1968 when I looked up to see an Oregon State Police game warden on the other side of the stream where I was fishing illegally, along with some childhood chums. There was no doubt in my juvenile mind that I was about to go to prison for a long, long time.

The officer was beckoning with a forefinger, indicating that we should join him and the other young scofflaws he already had in tow. The shiny badge on his chest and rather large firearm at his side suggested we dare not tarry.

In addition to yours truly, the culprits — the statute of limitations has kicked in but we’ll stick to first names — included Cliff, Robert, Gene, Randy, Pat and Doc. We were all 16 or 17, and erstwhile students at Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction.

Spring break that year found us camping at a place known as Sourdough Camp just outside the southern edge of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. We were fishing in Baldface Creek near its confluence with the north fork of Smith River. It’s a wild and woolly site that most definitely is not open to any type of fishing this time of year, let alone the methods we were employing.

The fellow in uniform was Wayne Krieger. If that names rings a bell, it’s because he is now State Rep. Krieger, 70, R-Gold Beach, co-chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. I rang him up a few days ago at his office in Salem to see whether he remembered the incident. I was a tad hesitant, this being the first time I had talked to him since he nabbed us.

“You were the ones who had that old green Jeep,” he immediately responded. “You were snagging salmon and you had some dynamite.”

 Busted.

But I would point out to the jury that I did not personally have any dynamite. True, someone within our group may have had a few sticks containing nitroglycerin. The culprit is now an upstanding, retired citizen.

About now you are thinking that we Kerby kids were mad dog urchins who should never be unleashed upon a civilized society. But you would be wrong. Two lived in the Cave Junction area and two others hailed from O’Brien.

Seriously, I do not condone our behavior. You are absolutely correct: It was stupid, dangerous, destructive to a valuable resource and unfair to those who abide by the laws of our society.

What’s more, we knew better. No, it was not our finest hour.

But Krieger, who would serve in the OSP from 1964 to 1991, displayed a wisdom that belied his age of 27 at the time.

“With juveniles, you have to weigh carefully what you do,” he said, explaining his 1968 rationale. “Do you want them to pay a heavy penalty? Or is it better that they understand our natural resources have to be taken care of so they will always be there for the next generation?

“It doesn’t take a lot of brains to write a ticket,” he added. “A lot of times, the best a law enforcement officer can do is change behavior. You have to make a decision about what you feel needs to be done in each case.”

So he took us back to our camp, sat us down and talked to us about why what we were doing was wrong. I remember a lot of very solemn “Yes, sirs” and “No, sirs” on our part.

At the end, he took the two fish we had caught as well as any illegal materials — namely dynamite — and issued us warning tickets.

His message stuck.

Now, it would be stretching it a bit to say we all became model citizens overnight, but, aside from one becoming a journalist, no one in our group pursued a life of crime. Indeed, one became a police officer, another an engineer, one retired from the U.S. Forest Service, one went into timber industry management. Four served in the Army; two of us are former Marines.

Sadly, two died relatively young. Robert was killed in a logging accident shortly after serving in the Army in Vietnam; Doc died from a kidney disease.

And none of us ever forgot Wayne Krieger for giving us a break. He has had our lifelong respect and gratitude.

“Isn’t it amazing where life takes us,” he said. “That’s something kids need to be reminded of, that life can be a great experience, taking you places you would least expect.”

Particularly when someone in authority takes the time to help guide you through the missteps of youth.

Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at pfattig@mailtribune.com.

News release for HB 2712

The House Judiciary Committee is the largest policy Committee during this 2011 Legislative session.

It is a Committee of 10, comprised of 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats.  There are two Co-Chairs, myself and Representative Jeff Barker.

Our Committee is historically the busiest committee and this year is no exception.  We have had over 500 bills assigned to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

The range of topics is nearly as great as the number of bills.   It includes issues around DUII, Child Porn, Strangulation, Elder Abuse, 2^nd Amendment, Land use and many others.

Since passing HB 2287 in 2009, a work group of interested parties, the joint Interim Committee on State Justice System Revenues, has spent many hours considering how to make the system of fees and fines more transparent and efficient.  Inherent in their mission was mandated to retain the millions of dollars of additional revenue generated by the substantial increases in civil fees and criminal/traffic fines included in HB 2287.  HB 2710 and HB 2712 are the result of the work group.

HB 2712 is a bill that could affect nearly everyone, especially if you drive.  HB 2712 came forward to continue adequately funding our courts.  HB 2712 is the product of the Joint Interim Committee on State Justice System Revenues.  The bill modifies presumptive fines for violation, establishes some as minimums and prohibits downward deviations.  What this means is you $285.00 stop sign violation will cost you the full $ 285.00 period.  The Judge has no discretion to lower the fine.   He can’t consider your good driving record.  He can’t consider your family size, income or anything else.  Our Courts and the Judge that presides there must have the latitude to consider and weigh the evidence and circumstances in each case. The emphasis seems to be raising money with the traffic fines.

It is my belief, the traffic citation and the fines are supposed to change driving behavior for the purpose of promoting public safety on our roads and highways.  There is a concept; a word that I too often find mission in the debate on proposed legislation, that word is “JUSTICE”.

If our Judicial System is to be respected and the public to have confidence in it, we need to let our Judges deliver justice in a complex justice system. 

As Co-Chair of the Judicial Committee, I value justice more than dollars.  As such HB 2712 will be amended to give our Courts discretion or I will see that the bill dies.

HOUSES PASSES BILL TO RENAME LOCAL BRIDGE

SALEM— Rep. Wayne Krieger (R-Gold Beach) yesterday secured passage of legislation to rename the bridge crossing at Euchre Creek on U.S. Highway 101 as the Wilbur C. Moore Bridge.  HB 2185 directs the Oregon Department of Transportation to create and post markers designating the name.

 “This bill honors Wilbur Moore’s legacy as a local pioneer and pillar of his community,” Rep. Krieger said.  “Euchre Creek borders the complete north side of the ranch. Old Hwy 101 was built running through the Moore ranch in about 1926.  In 1959-1961 the new hwy 101 was built again running through Wilber’s property so it’s appropriate to rename the bridge in honor of Mr. Moore and his contributions to Oregon.  The ranch has been in the family for about 125 years.”

 The bridge is located at Mile 317 on Highway 101 near the town of Ophir.

 Wilbur came from a pioneer family and was born Aug. 1, 1922 in Ophir.  He attended the Ophir School including high school.

 After school he served in the Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate 2^nd Class.  After being honorably discharged in 1946 he attended Oregon State College for a few months.

 Wilbur married Ellen Nowlin in 1948.  They later moved to Klamath Falls where Wilbur attended Oregon Technical Institute and graduated with a degree in diesel mechanics before returning to Ophir to help his family on the ranch.

 Wilbur was always ready to help his neighbors and taught many young people about ranching.

 Wilbur was deeply involved in the community; serving on the Ophir School Board for many years, Gold Beach Union High School Board, Curry Intermediated Education District, Ophir Water Board, Farmers Home Administration Board (FHA) and Curry County Livestock Association.  While a member of the FHA he was instrumental in establishing the Cedar Bend Golf Course.

 Wilbur served as a 4-H Livestock Club leader for many years.  He held Pre-fairs at his ranch to prepare his members for the County Fair.  He also hosted a tri-county livestock and crops judging tour, at his ranch, in the early 1950’s.

 He and his wife Ellen were honored as the Curry County Grand Marshals in 2004.

 Wilbur passed away September 3, 2008 in his home at Ophir at the age of 86.  He was a true Curry County Pioneer and Legend.

 ODOT testified that they would place a plaque at each end of the bridge.

HB 2185 now moves to the State Senate for further consideration.

Should we raise taxes to grow Government?

Measures 66 and 67 the tax increases are center stage now and they should be.  If passed they will have a far and long lasting negative impact on All Oregonians.

I am one of the Republican Legislators that did not sign a No Tax Pledge.  I was elected to use my judgment as to when or if taxes needed to be raised.  On these bills I voted NO.

Oregon does not have a shortfall in revenue to fund the State.  It has a spending problem.  The Legislature failed to properly prioritize spending and fails to recognize we as a State can not do everything for everybody.  We have grown Government dramatically every year since 1983.

In the last decade Oregon’s population grew 10%.  In that same decade the State all Funds budget grew 60%.  We can not sustain that kind of growth in Government.

In the 81-83 recession, Governor Victor Atiyeh actually cut spending, put in a Temporary tax increase in place to balance the budget. Note- the tax increases in 81-83 were temporary.

Measures 66 & 67 constitute the largest tax increase in Oregon‘s history and it is permanent.

We have lost over 130,000 private sector jobs, while at the same time the Democrat controlled Legislature is hiring over 1500 new State employees.  How does the Legislature with a straight face say this is necessary and fair?  They can’t.

What is the business community facing?

1. A brand new entity tax of $150.00 per year

2. A new gross receipts tax on a sliding scale of $150 to as much as $100,000 even if they don’t make a profit.

3. Double the corporate filing fee from $50.00 to $100.00.

4. And to continue to pay and increased corporation tax of 7.89% in 2009 and 2010 and 7.6 % there after.

5. This gives Oregon the highest business tax in the nation.

6. We also have the 2^ndhighest capital gains tax.

Measure 66 is the increased tax on individuals who make $125,000.00 and couples over $250,000.00.  They would pay 11% in 2009-2011.  This gives Oregon the highest tax rate in the nation.

These taxes are retroactive to the first of 2009.  Business and individual payers had no way to plan for these taxes.  Businesses by the hundreds are already failing.  Their taxes will cause more businesses to lower wages, cut benefits and close the doors.  This is turn causes more unemployment.

Everyone will pay these increased taxes by paying more for groceries, gas, and other services.

Seniors, veterans and the poor will be hit hardest.

Consider these budget facts.

1. Despite claims of spending cuts, the Total All Funds budget grew by 9.3 %.

2. Discretionary General Fund spending grew by 3.8%.

3. The 2009-2011 budget used $980 million in federal stimulus dollars.

4. Used $394 million from the Education Stability Fund.

5. Used $225 million from the Rainy Day Fund.

6. Includes $1.6 billion in new taxes and fees (392 million in fees).

7. Includes $38 million in General Fund debt costs from the Democrat’s stimulus package, though it created 572 jobs.

8. Includes $1.258 billion in new overall debt costs.

9. Funds $581 million of state employee benefit premiums.

10. Funds $237 million in roll-up costs from pay raises for state employees.

The State’s own Comprehensive Accounting Financial Report found that the state had 4.9 billion in unreserved cash funds with 71.5% available at the state’s discretion.

Anyone who has a 401 K, any retirement type account or State PERS, individual investments, State deferred comp or owns stock in a Corporation or Business needs to consider that it is these investments into Corporations and business that pay the dividends that make your retirement investment work.  Why would you raise taxes on Corporations which in turn lowers your investment value?  What the State will take in taxes lowers your savings retirement account.

Remember the Governor held off signing the bill to make it more difficult to get the number of signatures to allow you to vote on measures 66 & 67.  Why would he do that? He doesn’t respect our initiative process and didn’t want you to have a chance to vote on the taxes.

We don’t have to cut schools, we don’t have to cut public safety and we don’t have to cut DHS programs.  Our Oregon Constitution specifies that it is mandatory to fund Education, Transportation and Public Safety.

Tell the Legislature NO!! Vote No and force them to prioritize spending and stop growing government.

KRIEGER ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION

 “It’s not about what party you represent, it’s about getting the job done,” said Wayne Kreiger (R-Gold Beach) who announced this week he is seeking his 6th term of office as the State Representative for House District 1 covering Coos and Curry counties.

“I have enjoyed working across the aisle on bi-partisan projects. It’s a very gratifying experience. There are many issues that we still need to resolve at the state level so I am throwing my hat in the ring for another two-year term,” explained Krieger. “Oregonians in my legislative district are hurting from this economy and the last thing they need is higher taxes. You don’t tax your way into prosperity. I try to add a voice of common sense to what’s going on at the State Capitol.”

Besides his background in law enforcement as an OSP officer for 27 years, Krieger also has years of experience in fisheries and forestry. “The salmon and steelhead runs drive our coastal community everything from the sport and commercial fishing industries to the tourism trade.”

Kreiger points to a 2002 study which showed 50% of the smolts in the Nehalem Bay were being eaten by Cormorants. He believes the same is true on the Umpqua, Siuslaw, Rogue and Coquille River systems but those looses need to be verified. Krieger established a special work group which involves all the parties and will leverage federal money to deal with the predation problem. “We need to keep working with our partners at the state and in the private sector to study and document the losses of fish due to predators,” noted Krieger.

During the 2009 Legislative Session, Krieger was able to pass bills to improve technology at Oregon’s fish hatcheries and develop a process for future marine reserves without adversely impacting costal communities.

Krieger pointed out, “our natural resource based economy has always relied on fisheries and timber but it has been eroded due to extreme environmentalism, the inability to adapt to science and other factors. We need to get back to the business of providing jobs in our community to help our kids raise families here.” He has always felt education was critical to that goal and spent the past several years helping Southwestern Oregon Community College establish a satellite campus north of Brookings. “SWOCC can offer the retraining we need for forestry and fisheries. However, the nearest campus is 100 miles away,” said Krieger. “I look forward to helping the institution secure the final funding needed to get this new campus up and running in the near future.”

Children have always been a key priority for Representative Krieger. He is known as a leader in the child welfare arena, helping to bring reforms to the Department of Human Services foster care system. “Over the past few years I’ve brought together several legislators, judges and experts in the field of child welfare to provide safeguards for our kids once they enter the state system.”

In 2007 Krieger formed a bi-partisan group of lawmakers to get more than a dozen bills passed dealing with the safety and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable children in Oregon. “We’ve made lots of progress,” stated Krieger, “but there is more to be done, especially for kids being removed from their home while the parents are getting counseling and other services. That’s one of the most drastic things you can do, so there needs to be proper balance.” Krieger has also been a foster parent.

Curry County has the highest percentage of veterans in Oregon and Curry County has the highest percentage of seniors in the country. Krieger is concerned about the 17% budget cut in state funded veteran services this year. Krieger sponsored legislation in 2009 to designate a Veteran Service Officer in every county. “I believe we owe our veterans and their families the services they deserve. He is also working with the Curry General Hospital Health District and others to set up medical offices and an emergency care center in Brookings to expand access to medical services in Southern Curry County.

Public safety remains a high priority for Representative Krieger. He’s been a member of the House Judiciary Committee since he was first elected to serve in 2001, and was the Committee Chair in 2005. “We’ve taken a bite out of meth crimes but we need get after those offenders who prey on our kids and enhance the laws to protect legal and responsible gun owners.”