Senator Kim Thatcher Discusses the 2023 Legislative Session 5:08 PM Monday, August 14, 2023, Live on KWRO

Biography

Legislative:
Senate Workforce Committee (2015-present)
Senate Judiciary Committee (2015-present)
Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Information Technology (2015-present)

House Business and Labor Committee (2013-2015)
House Consumer Protection and Government Efficiency (2013-2015)
House Land Use (2013-2015)
Joint Legislative Committee on Audits, Information Management & Technology, Co-Chair (2011-2012)
Joint Committee on Ways & Means (2011-2012)
Joint Committee on Ways & Means Human Services Subcommittee, Co-Vice Chair (2011-2012)
State & Local Government Efficiency Task Force Appointed (2011-present)
Transparency Oregon Advisory Commission, Appointed (2009-present)
Electronic Portal Advisory Board, Appointed (2010-present)
Help America Vote Act (HAVA) state steering committee (2009-present)
House Business and Labor Committee, Member 2009-2010
House Education Committee, Member 2009-2010
House Sustainability and Economic Development Committee, Member 2009-2010
House Committee on Government Accountability & Information Technology, Member 2007-2009
House Elections Ethics and Rules Committee, Member 2005-2009
House Elections and Rules Committee, Vice-Chair 2005
House Interim Economic Development Committee, Member 2005-2006
House Interim Real Estate Agency Oversight Committee, Member 2005-2006
House Transportation Committee, Member 2005
House Judiciary Committee, Member 2005
American Legislative Exchange Council, Member 2004-present
National Conference of State Legislatures, Member 2005-present
National Coalition of State Legislators for Legal Immigration, Co-Founder 2007
Oregon Commission for Women, Appointed 2005-2009

Professional:
KT Contracting, Owner, Founded 1992
Highway Specialties, Owner, Founded 1996
Oregon Contractors Association, Co-Founder, Established 2003
National Federation of Independent Businesses, 1997-2009
Keizer Chamber of Commerce, 2005 -present
Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2005 -present
U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 2005 -2007
National Association of Women in Construction Salem Chapter, 2005 –present
Building Industry Association of Washington 2012-present
Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association, 1992-1997

Community:
SMART – Start Making a Reader Today volunteer, 2006-2010
Barbara Roberts High School Mentor Program, 2006-2007
Church volunteer

Personal:
Married to Karl Thatcher 28 years
Four children 11-26 years old
Instrument-Rated Certified Pilot Small Aircraft
Hobbies include reading, playing piano, and travel

Response to Return of a Quorum

On June 15, some Republican Senators made the decision to provide a quorum to the Democrats through negotiations a lot of us disagreed with. To most of us Senate Republicans, it felt like a surrender to the Democrats, especially concerning a few of the most tyrannical bills being negotiated which, ultimately were amended and made less bad. Also, it was good that some terrible bills died per the agreement.

I am expressing my concerns and disappointment that the Democrats were given so much latitude and the Republicans were given so little as outlined in the negotiations. The Democrats only needed one more Republican to attend Floor Session to meet the quorum requirement, and thus, it happened. It was an agonizing decision for all of us— to support returning or not.

Unfortunately, negotiations did not address the outright and ongoing corruption by the Democrats, nor did they adequately address the tyrannical bills. Negotiations did not address the ongoing Constitutional concerns nor the breaking of rules by the Democrats. Until these concerns are adequately addressed, I cannot in good conscience return this session to such blatant misbehavior being implemented by the Democrats to basically let them continue down this road. This needs to stop. Now.

Unfortunately, the improved, but still despotic bills I have been telling you about, moved through the legislative process at lightning speed on June 15 and will now become law. Make no mistake about it, they are still after our children. The Democrats still want total power over every position of government and every role of families in this state. They want every lawabiding citizen disarmed. That’s a definition of tyranny. But there is more to come.

I will continue to work with my constituents, but I cannot support an autocratic Democrat agenda we had a chance to stop. Unfortunately, even as Democrats were handed a gold platter to continue their scheme on the unaware public, they continue to feed Oregonians half-truths and bald-faced lies to make their propaganda more believable. The media continues to aid them in this endeavor. I ask myself, why can’t they just tell the truth? Putting a spin on what happened is one thing, but having one’s own set of “facts” is another.

Keep in mind: the Democrat corruption, their money-laundered campaign donations, and their stacks of cash yielded us their majority. Only 1500 votes separated their majority from one of shared power. We would not be in this position, but for their corrupt flow of dirty money.

This session is not going to be the end of the very caustic long-term agenda of the Democrats. Oh, no. They have much more in mind. They have been taking steps every Session to ultimately reach their goals, all while selling their masked agenda to the unaware public through mainstream media – a convenient arm of the Democrat Party. Now, it is up to the public to search for the truth, the whole truth, on their own. Do not be deceived. Ask questions and then search for real answers. If you’re used to relying on mainstream media, reach out to alternative sources, too, they’re numerous. Their agenda is being pushed at full-speed.

Pay closer attention to the words being said and what is being printed in the way of “information.” Watch for their “buzz” words. Nothing is as it used to be. Definitions have changed and nothing in reality is what they want you to think it is. We’re now in a world of good vs. evil where we’re being told that good is evil and evil is good. Please don’t buy into that.

Thank you for your support and for your kind consideration of what I have shared with you. Have a great Father’s Day!

STATE SENATOR KIM THATCHER

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 26, 2023 C

ontact: Linda.Heimdahl@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Thatcher Recaps Successes of 2023 Legislative Session

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Legislature officially adjourned the 2023 Legislative Session. State Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) is recognizing the adjournment of the session by highlighting important legislation passed that will benefit Oregonians.

SB 816 Extends time for certain restraining orders

“I pre-session filed this bill on behalf of a former constituent who went through horrible things after she filed a restraining order against her abuser,” said Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), a co-chief sponsor of the bill. “But her abuser was able to manipulate the system and use legal methods, like dragging out the court process for most of the duration of the one-year restraining order, to harass and torment her.”

Senate Bill 816 extends the duration of a restraining order to two years, which helps increase safety for survivors. It gives the legal system time to determine whether the system is being played.

“This important bill will help reduce the chance of another person going through the suffering my constituent did. It will help stop respondents from using system methods to legally harass and make their victims face them time and time again in court,” said Senator Thatcher.

SB 510 Adequate funding for the, now independent, Office of the Public Records Advocate

“Transparency is vital and public records request are essential in providing information to the public. The Public Records Advocate provides an important role in removing barriers in this process and SB 510 will provide stable funding for the purpose of ensuring the ongoing independence, stability, and success of this office”, said Senator Thatcher.

SB 540 Relief for military pensions

“Individual service men and women do not make much in serving their country, but they sacrifice a significant portion of their lives to defend all of us. Because of their sacrifice I sponsored SB 515 which would exempt all their retirement or pension income from state personal income tax”, says Senator Thatcher. “For the reason that this bill died in committee due to not having a cap placed on the income to be exempt, I became a sponsor of SB 540 which will exempt up to $17,500 in retirement or pension income from Oregon Personal income tax.”

SCR 2 Recognizing and honoring service members of the National Guard

“We all have reason to be grateful for the National Guard”, states Senator Thatcher.

SB 3 Personal finance instruction requirement for high school graduation

“This session on behalf of Oregon State Credit Union, I sponsored SB 743 which would guarantee a full semester of robust personal finance instruction as a high school graduation requirement. It also provided flexibility to schools to apply that credit in lieu of either part of the math or social sciences requirements. The elements of my bill were later amended into SB 3 which received final passage from the Legislature on June 21. We become only the ninth state in the country to guarantee this essential set of tools to our children and I am proud to have helped make this happen”, said Senator Thatcher.

HB 3213 Cruelty free products

“There are thousands of ingredients with a history of proven safe use that are already available for cosmetics manufacturers and there are at least 50 alternative test methods available for use that do not involve animals and provide safety results that are more relevant to humans. HB 3213 will not only help to prevent unnecessary animal suffering but will also orient our state with the direction the industry is already moving,” said Senator Thatcher.

Below is a budget breakdown of budget allocations to Senate District 11:

Willamette Career Academy $1,000,000

East Salem Community Center $625,000

Renovation of ARCHES and Wallace Early Learning

Center Sheltering Services $1,850,000

Chemeketa Community College Building 7 Remodel $8,110,000

Oregon Military Department Owen Summer Building $2,955,000

Oregon Military Department Owen Summer Building Seismic $5,595,000

Vietnam War Memorial Fund for the Vietnam War Memorial

on the Oregon State Capitol Grounds $1,000,000

Senator Thatcher represents Senate District 11 which encompasses Keizer, Woodburn, North Salem, Gervais, Brooks, and Labish Village.

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