Policy Areas

Given the uncertain effects of inflation and tightening monetary policy on Oregon’s economic outlook and given the continued effects of significant state and local tax increases, OBI’s tax policy priorities will remain largely unchanged in 2023.

Even as they continue to struggle with the effects of the pandemic while adjusting to complex legal and regulatory changes, employers face serious labor shortages. For 2023, OBI urges the Legislature to help businesses in their recovery and spare them additional regulatory and cost burdens.

OBI will continue to work with a broad base of stakeholders, makers and innovators to provide opportunities, remove barriers and create the jobs that fuel Oregon’s economy and support its quality of life.

Regulatory programs should be focused on achieving objectives to protect public health and the environment without imposing excessively burdensome or costly requirements.

In recent years, retailers have been asked to pay ever-increasing costs of doing business while seeing much of their traditional business shrink. They also have invested heavily in new technology and service delivery models. State and local government should focus on helping with those difficult transitions rather than imposing additional costs on the delivery of goods and services.

It is not enough to simply put more money into a system. We must ensure that the system is collaborative, effective, streamlined, and rooted in the needs of both workers and employers.

Oregon has passed several transformative health care measures in recent years. The healthcare system needs time to stabilize and evaluate the effects of these measures on cost and health outcomes. Now is not the time for big new programs.

With most priorities and projects in the 2017 transportation package moving forward, the transportation focus for the 2023 legislative session will be on funding the replacement of the Interstate 5 bridge. The bridge is in critical need of replacement.