Public Policy Agenda
A Progressive, Comprehensive, Long-Term Plan Leading All of Oregon to Prosperity

AOI membership amplifies your voice thousands of times by combining it with all of the types and sizes of businesses in Oregon. A voice that loud gets the ear of lawmakers. Starting with a big-picture, long-term approach to the Oregon economy, AOI breaks that vision into a hands-on agenda each legislative session. The AOI lobby team, the largest in the state, works effectively to pass pro-business measures and to block anti-business legislation and regulations.

Printable Version of the 2009 AOI Public Policy Positions (PDF)

Education

K- 12 Education
Increasing Access & Performance

Free SAT/ACT Tests. To encourage every Oregon student to seek out scholarships and increase access to higher education, AOI supports free SAT/ACT tests for all 10th through 12th year students.

Full Funding Head Start. AOI supports full funding of Oregon head start from general funds as a proven way to reduce dropout rates and boost educational opportunities for Oregon’s children.

Higher Education & Technology

Creating World Class Research & Innovation

Support Faster Technology Transfer. AOI supports incentives streamlining technology transfer between universities and new job creation by bundling intellectual property among universities, expediting licensing of new technologies, and creating incentives for newly licensed technologies commercialized in Oregon

Support Creation of Bio-Economy & Sustainable Technologies Center. AOI supports this new partnership of Oregon public universities and the Pacific NW National Laboratory.

Support the Cluster Accelerator Fund. AOI supports the Oregon Innovation Councils $5 million fund to be managed by Oregon Inc and the Oregon Dept of Economic & Community Development Department to ensure that opportunities to capitalize on next-generation innovations will not be lost.

Support Continuation of the Oregon Nanoscience & Micro Technologies Institute (ONAMI). AOI continues it sting backing of the Oregon Innovation Council ONAMI Signature centers $10 million privately-sourced capital fund to accelerate commercialization of nanoparticle research.

Support Launch of Oregon Translational Research & Drug Discovery Institute (OTRADI). AOI supports the creation of OTRASDI as a signature research center (OSU, OHSU, and PSU) to help commercialize new technologies to fight infections diseases.

Employment

Creating More Jobs & Safer Workplaces

Oppose Forced Accommodation of Medical Marijuana. AOI supports employer’s right to not be forced to accommodate workers on marijuana since there is no reliable testing for impairment and it may present a danger to other workers.

Support OR-OSHA Funding. AOI supports adequate funding of OR-OSHA’s enforcement and successful consulting programs as a way to increase workplace safety and reduce workplace injuries.

Support Unemployment Insurance Fund Integrity. AOI supports legislation that will protect the integrity of the fund and ensure that benefits are appropriately determined while maintaining a stable and predictable tax structure. AOI also supports existing policies on not extending unemployment benefits for maternity leave.

Oppose Damaging Mandates. AOI supports retaining flexibility for employees and employers on policies regarding family leave, and breastfeeding in the workplace, and new ergonomic standards.

Energy

Stable, Reasonable Rates & Alterative Fuels to Produce Jobs

Support Maintaining 3% Public Purpose Charge Cap. AOI supports continuing the 3% public purpose charge on investor owned utility customers as adequate and viable way to provide increased funding for conservation and renewable fuels.

Support Renewable Power. AOI supports the use of renewables for energy production subject to cost constraints and inflexible mandates.

Support Expand Business Energy Tax Credit. AOI supports expansion of the BETC.

Environment

Science & Incentives Leading to Sustainable Progress

Support Accelerated Willamette River Improvement. AOI supports increased and sustained funding for DEQ efforts to continue improvements in the Willamette River including new standards where needed and effective.

Oppose Stripping of DEQ’s Mixing Zone Authority. AOI supports DEQ’s authority to issues water discharge permits containing mixing zones as allowed by all other states.

Support Credits for Reducing Pollution. DEQ program allowing tax incentives for efforts reducing pollution beyond federal requirements and to help retain and attract family-wage jobs.

Support Existing DEQ Penalty Structure. AOI supports present policy of not using DEQ penalties to fund DEQ programs.

Support DEQ Water Quality Programs. AOI supports 7% increase in DEQ fees as part of the DEQ program improvement agreement.

Oppose Shifting Taxes from Income to Emissions. AOI opposes substituting the corporate tax with a tax on emissions as this would result in an incentive to close facilities and job loss during periods of economic downturn.

Support DEQ Air Quality Programs. AOI supports increases in air permitting fees provided that DEQ continues program improvements and institutes a process of scientific justification for going beyond federal requirements.

Support Expanded Use of Biofuels. AOI supports incentives and voluntary actions expanding the use of biofuels.

New Standards & Going Beyond Federal Regulation. AOI supports new environmental standards going beyond federal requirements if there is a clear, demonstrated need and a formal process for making a Scientific Justification of Need.

Fiscal Policy

A Tax Structure Leading to More Prosperous Oregon

Support Comprehensive Fiscal Reform. AOI supports comprehensive tax reform that promotes job creation, economic development, capital investment, a fair tax burden, and provides form adequate educational funding during years of economic downturn.

General Business

Support Manufacturing 21- Increased Worker Training. AOI supports Manufacturing 21 Coalition seeking $5.2 million for faculty and equipment to train skilled, well paid workforce to meet the needs of existing and potential cutting edge manufacturing companies.

Support Better Funding of State Courts. A competent and efficient system of justice is a vital part of maintaining a strong business community. AOI supports increased funding of state courts and judges compensation.

Oppose Slowing of Private Construction Caused by Expanding Prevailing Wage. AOI supports the ability of business to expand, construct, and create maximum prosperity without having prevailing wage expansion slow the economy

Health Care

More Affordable Coverage for All Oregonians
Expanding Insurance Opportunities for Employees. AOI supports expanding the employer-based voluntary programs such as Family Health Insurance Assistance Program to provided coverage for younger Oregonians and hold down health care costs.

Support Retaining Association Health Plans as Large Groups. AOI supports legislation that ensures association health plans remain as a viable option for employers, particularly, smaller employers to offer health coverage to their employees.

Support Policies Avoiding Mandates that Reduce Number of Insured Oregonians. AOI supports retaining maximum flexibility in employer- employee health coverage and avoiding mandates that drive up costs and reduce the number or Oregonians covered by insurance.

Support Justification Before Pooling of School Employees. AOI supports pooling of Public School employees for health insurance purposes only after documentation indicates that there would be actual savings and not cost shift to the private sector.

Oppose Creation of New Health Commission Agency as Not Needed. AOI supports retaining the existing Oregon Insurance Division's authority to regulate the rate process as opposed to creating a new bureaucracy and convoluted process.

Elections

More Choices for More Voters

Allow Open Primaries. AOI supports allowing Oregon voters to nominate two candidates to appear on the general election ballot regard of political party of the candidate or elector.

Retail & General Business

Healthy Retail Sector Offering Maximum Choice to Maximum Consumers

Support Fighting Organized Retail and Metal Theft. AOI supports clarification of laws and increased penalties for certain forms of retail and metal theft, especially in cases where it is the product of an organized crime ring.

Support Increased Opportunity for E-Waste Recycling. AOI supports opportunities for electronic product stewardship recycling that do not impose a sales tax or advanced recovery fees.

Support Better Rigid Plastic Container Recycling Reporting. AOI supports existing rigid plastic container law and bottle bill, and supports revision in DEQ recycling accounting procedures to reflect actual recycle rates or allow averaging and avoid punitive measures against Oregon retailers and manufacturers.

Support Better Privacy, Data Protection, and ID Theft Laws. AOI supports protecting both consumers and businesses by allowing for the safeguarding of personal information and for providing protection for both parties.

Support More Security Through Biometric Data. AOI supports use of biometric data for driver’s licenses and complying with federal state ID requirements.

Support an Open and Vital Retail Climate. AOI supports the ability of retailers, including “Big Box” stores, to locate in areas where consumers can have full and convenient access to the products they desire.

Transportation

Moving People & Freight More Safely & Efficiently

Support More Infrastructure Improvements. AOI supports bonding for infrastructure improvements to the highway and intermodal transportation projects such as ConnectOregon

Support More State Police. AOI supports expanded funding of OSP patrols out of the gasoline tax or general fund.