Welcome to the Young Democrats of Oregon Monthly Digest! This newsletter is designed to keep Oregon’s Young Democrats informed of the latest news within our party, state and national politics. Each month, we bring you a curated selection of news stories, graphics, and information about upcoming events and actions. If you have a news story, event or action you would like to see featured in the YDO Digest please submit it using our Digest Tip Sheet or email us at [email protected] Keep up with the latest from YDO by following us on Instagram!
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Old Business
In August, YDO sent a full delegation to the Democratic Party of Oregon’s biennial Platform Convention in the beautiful city of Monmouth. Over the course of the weekend, our delegates delivered a persuasive and organized argument in support of strong progressive policies that the caucus believes will promote a more equitable and prosperous Oregon. In the end, 9 of YDO’s priority Legislative Action Items (LAIs) advanced to the list of 20 Priority LAIs the party will pursue in the next biennium across federal, state and local governments. The final 2023 Platform and list of Priority LAIs will be available later this month on the DPO’s website.
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New Business
For many Young Democrats, September means back-to-school season. For Oregon’s U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, it is time to get back to Washington and hammer out a budget deal before the federal government runs out of funding on September 30th.
This won’t be an easy task. Before the August Recess, the Democrat-controlled Senate Appropriations Committee approved 12 out of 12 of their appropriations packages, largely maintaining current funding levels with some key changes. Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee only passed 10 out of 12 of their appropriations bills, and the differences between the two chambers are extreme. Let’s look at the House’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for an example – after all, it is Labor Day and Back to School season.
House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger (R-TX) is boasting that the Republicans’ proposal cuts 29% from the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023) levels. She says they are reining in wasteful spending which means: |
- An 80% cut to Title I grants to school districts serving low-income communities
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A nearly 10% cut to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act programs – which are already woefully underfunded
- Zeroing out Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants – even though learning loss following the pandemic is well documented
- Zeroing out funds for English Language Acquisition Programs
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Reducing the maximum Pell Grant from an all time high of $7,395 down to $6,335.
- Eliminating funds TRIO, GEAR Up and related secondary mentorship and support programs
- Slashing one-third of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s funding, even as the agency receives a record amount of unfair labor practice complaints and unprecedented volumes of union election petitions
- An 18% cut to worker protection agencies such as the Wage & Hour Division, OSHA and Employee Benefits Security Administration, despite rising reports of wage theft, child labor and gruesome workplace incidents
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As Young Democrats, we want to make sure to THANK our Democrat delegation of the House and Senate for fighting to keep critical funding that our schools and workplaces rely on. We also want to REMIND our Republican delegation to the House that here in Oregon, we believe in students and we support our workers! Don’t know who represented you in Congress? Use the Oregon Legislature’s Find Your Legislator tool and scroll down to “Congressional District.”
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For three and a half years, tens of millions of federal student loan borrowers have enjoyed an unprecedented respite, not only from their loan payments but from the accumulation of interest on top of those loans. Come October, student loan payments will resume.
WE WANT TO KNOW: How did the Student Loan Payment Pause Impact You? Did you pay down other debt? Did you continue to make payments and actually reduce your principal? Could you afford other purchases? Tell us your Student Loan Story using the form linked here. |
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This is our first issue of the Young Democrats of Oregon Monthly Digest -- so we don't yet have any chatter. Got an announcement? Know of a job opening? Want to give kudos to a fellow Young Democrat? Heard a juicy rumor? Let us know via the Digest Tip Sheet!
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