October 19, 2023 – Rep. Kevin Mannix: Facebook Post
Yesterday, I participated in the first Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response. It is my hope that this committee will put action to words and tackle Oregon’s drug crisis as a result of Measure 110.
We must not forget that I attempted to make necessary changes to Measure 110 during the 2023 Legislative Session with HB 2310, a bill I chief sponsored. This legislation would have reinstated criminal penalties for street drugs while still providing funding for addiction services – something we know more than 63% of Oregonians support.
However, the House Judiciary Committee refused to schedule this bill for a public hearing, therefore denying Oregonians a chance to provide public input. Then, all 25 House Republicans and 5 Democrats joined in an attempt to pull this bill to the Floor so we could act upon it. This failed on a 30-30 vote. I wish more Democrats would have joined us in this effort as 31 votes was the magic number.
I am pleased that the Senate and House leadership is now engaged in this conversation. I intend to work hard on this committee to give legislators a chance to adopt necessary reforms, which are long overdue.
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