As the 2024 Oregon Legislative short-session began in Salem on Monday, House Republicans launched "Back to Basics," the caucus' vision for the policy needed to lead the state into a brighter future.
The "Back to Basics" plan focuses on the issues that matter most to Oregonians: affordable housing, clean and safe streets, an end to the drug crisis, and a strong economy.
House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich of Hood River said "it is time to end this radical left-wing experiment and get back to the basics." He said they can find a bipartisan path forward if they can put polarizing politics aside and focus on the real issues that matter most.
Helfrich said it's too expensive to build in Oregon due to overregulation, which has led to a lack of affordable housing and -- in some cases -- homelessness. He said Measure 110 opened the floodgates to access to deadly drugs like fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, adding that Oregon leads the nation in new opioid overdose deaths.
The House Leader stated that overregulation and taxes make it harder and more expensive to do business in Oregon. He said House Republicans want to open the door to opportunity so that working families can thrive. He also said Oregonians deserve to feel safe where they live, work and play.
The House GOP has introduced a number of bills aimed at tackling these issues.
