2007 Legislative Priorities
Improving Health Care Quality and Affordability
Health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs continue to rise, putting the squeeze on everyone, and pricing many people out of access to health care. In the 2007 session, OSPIRG advocated reforms to address quality concerns as well as the rising cost of health care. Key results include:√ Victory! HB 2524 protects health and safety through public disclosure of hospital infection rates.
√ Victory! HB 2213 ensures health insurance companies give consumers the right to know in advance estimated out-of-pocket costs for treatment.
√ Victory! HB 362 expands Oregon’s drug purchasing pool to the private sector to further reduce prescription drug costs.
√ Victory! HB 2221 regulates “medical discount cards” to protect consumers.
√ Victory! HB 3103 requires public disclosure of health insurance companies’ premium rate filing information with the Department of Consumer and Business Services.
• Goes to Voters – The Healthy Kids Plan was referred to the November 2007 ballot, to make children’s health care more affordable and improve smoking prevention programs through an 84.5-cent per pack increase in the tobacco tax. OSPIRG urges a YES vote in November.
• Progress – SB 329 establishes health care reform goals and sets up a board to propose specifics to ensure Oregonians have access to affordable, quality care.
• Stalled – HB 3321 would have strengthened the rate review process and standards for health insurance rate increases, including allowing public hearings. OSPIRG will continue fighting for these reforms.
Reducing College Textbook Costs
OSPIRG worked to address publishing industry practices contributing to the rapidly rising cost of college textbook prices, such as lack of price transparency.√ Victory! SB 365 Requires publishers to be upfront about college textbook costs and options, and gives faculty the option to order only the textbook products needed for the class, without bundled CDs and workbooks that drive up the cost.
Cutting Energy Costs
Oregon can use energy efficiency to reduce energy bills, and put renewable energy to work to cut our dependence on high-price fossil fuels. Results include:√ Victory! SB 838 establishes a Renewable Energy Standard requiring utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from new renewable energy sources by 2025.
√ Victory! SB 375 sets energy-efficiency standards for appliances including DVD players and commercial refrigerators.
Veto Gov. Kulongoski vetoed a budget bill raiding public purposes payments of PGE ratepayers dedicated to Energy Trust conservation and renewable energy program to pay back a $4.6 million debt owed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Prohibiting Predatory Lending
OSPIRG worked with a coalition of groups to advocate limits on the high fees and interest rates gouging consumers. Results include:√ Victory! HB 2871 enacts a 36% interest rate cap on all consumer finance loans, such as those made by payday and car title loan outfits.
√ Victory! HB 2203 limits interest rates on loans made via Internet, mail and telephone to Oregon residents, and improves Oregon’s ability to enforce the law.
√ Victory! HB 2204 caps fees and interest rates on car title loans and closes the loophole lenders have used to evade the law in other states.
√ Victory! HB 2202 caps fees that check-cashing stores charge Oregonians for access to their own money.
• Stalled – SB 965 would have reined in predatory mortgage lending practices. OSPIRG will continue making the case for these protections.
Preventing Identity Theft
OSPIRG has long advocated solutions to prevent identity theft and protect consumers. Results in 2007 include:√ Victory! SB 583 gives all Oregon consumers the right to place a security freeze on their credit reports. It also requires data dealers and others to notify consumers if the security of their personal information is breached.