Rep. Matt Wingard to Focus on Job Creation, DEQ Reform with 2012 Legislation
Posted on January 4, 2012
Rep. Matt Wingard today announced he’ll introduce two measures during the 2012 legislative session to promote private sector job creation and to phase-out Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) expensive and outdated vehicle testing stations.
To promote job creation, Rep. Wingard will propose giving businesses a tax incentive to Oregonians who’ve exhausted their state and federal unemployment benefits. He said the measure is necessary because employers are often reluctant to hire individuals with significant gaps in their employment history.
“Through no fault of their own, many Oregonians have lost their jobs and later exhausted their 99 weeks of unemployment benefits.” Rep. Wingard said. “These Oregonians are uniquely disadvantaged because they’ve been out of our workforce for nearly two years. Our long-term unemployed deserve our help, and the Legislature should pass this measure to encourage employers to hire these citizens.”
Rep. Wingard will also propose phasing-out DEQ’s emissions testing stations that have been made obsolete by the production of cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Subject to approval by the federal government, the proposal would halt mandatory testing of new vehicles and eliminating testing for other vehicles by 2022.
“Because modern vehicles produce far less pollution, we no longer need this program to achieve our objective of clearner air.” Rep. Wingard said. “Today, DEQ’s emissions testing stations are unnecessary, expensive, and burdensome to our citizens. As emissions technology continues to improve, phasing out these testing stations will save taxpayer dollars over the next 10 years.”
Under House Rules, Representatives are allowed to introduce two measures for the shortened legislative session. Rep. Wingard will formally introduce his bills when the Legislature reconvenes next month.
