Washington County Public Affairs Forum
Topic: Events

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM DECEMBER 2004 SCHEDULE

Date: December 6, 2004

Topic: What are the Effects of the Uninsured on Oregon's Health System.

Speaker: Ellen Pinney, Executive Director Oregon Health Action Campaign.
http://www.ohac.org

Speaker: Eric Barger, Director of Finance and Accounting, Tuality
Hospital. http://www.tuality.com

Ellen Pinney, Executive Director of the Oregon Health Action Campaign will
discuss how hospitals are effected by the increasing number of persons who
are uninsured or have only limited coverage.

In addition, we'll learn how consumer groups are attempting to effect
changes to the current health insurance system.

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Date: December 13, 2004

Topic: Are We Able to Feed Oregon's Hungry?

Speaker: Rachael Bristo, Executive Director, Oregon Food Bank.
http://www.oregonfoodbank.org

Speaker: Patti Whitney-Wise, Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force.
http://www.governor.state.or.us/Gov/hunger.shtml/

Rachael Bristo will discuss the current need for adequate food supplies.

Patti Whitney-Wise will report on the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force.

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Date: December 20, 2004

Topic: Employer's Support of the National Guard and Reserve in Oregon.

Speaker: General Bill Doctor (Ret), Executive Director Oregon National
Guard.

General Bill Doctor (Ret) will report on the efforts and success in
phasing active duty combatants back into the work force.

Media Contact: Gary Olson
Email Address: webmaster@washingtoncountyforum.org
Phone: 503-245-3498

Forum President: Bob Tenner
Email Address: president@washingtoncountyforum.org
Phone: 503-646-5866

Economic Policy Institute
Topic: Links
For great economic policy analysis, check out the Economic Policy Institute. Below are some samples from their website.

Investing in children yields exceptional returns The problems for children and society that result from childhood poverty cry out for effective policy solutions. There is a strong consensus among the experts who have studied high-quality early childhood development (ECD) programs that these programs have significant payoffs. EPI's latest study--Exceptional Returns: Economic, Fiscal, and Social Benefits of Investment in Early Childhood Development, by EPI research associate Robert G. Lynch--demonstrates, for the first time, that providing all 20% of the nation's three- and four-year-old children who live in poverty with a high-quality ECD program would have a substantial payoff for governments and taxpayers in the future.

Economists speak out for a higher minimum wage The minimum wage helps to fight poverty and bolster the bargaining power of low-wage workers. It's been seven long years since the last increase. That's why over 550 economists--including four Nobel Laureates--unanimously agree that increasing the minimum wage to $7.00 an hour would be beneficial to the labor market, workers, and the overall economy. They also support current efforts--such as those in Florida, Nevada, and New York--to make modest increases in state minimum wages. Read the statement and the list of signatories.

The chronic problem of declining health coverage The persistently weak labor market in tandem with sharply increasing health costs have led to a steady loss of employer-provided health coverage. EPI economist Elise Gould, examines the extent of this erosion in employer-based coverage since 2000 in the Institute's Issue Brief, The Chronic Problem of Declining Health Coverage.

Welcome to the WashCoDems Blog
Topic: Intro
This Blog is open to all Washington County Central Committee members to share news and information. It is viewable by the public and allows moderated comments from the public. To sign up for an account on this blog you must be a PCP and send an email to webmaster@washcodems.org.