Betsy Johnson appointed to serve on Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board

Following the adjournment of the 2011 Legislative Session, Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) was appointed by Senate President Peter Courtney to serve on the Emergency Board – commonly called the “E-Board.” As a member she will be one of 10 senators and 10 representatives chosen to work on urgent budget issues that may arise when the Legislature is not in session during the 2011-13 biennium.

“It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the Emergency Board,” said Johnson, who is also Senate Vice-Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee, the chief budget committee during session. “These continue to be economically uncertain times for our state and for too many Oregon families and business owners. The budget we passed in 2011 will need continuous monitoring with respect to both revenue and expenditures.”

Johnson also served as a member of the Emergency Board during the 2009-2011 interim. At that time, the ongoing shock waves of the global recession required the Board to reallocate resources to protect essential services and manage state finances. The E-Board played a critical role in rebalancing the state budget following steep revenue declines, and it was the work of the E-Board in 2010 that prevented the need for a costly special session last summer.

“Even with annual sessions, these board members have an important duty to help guide the state during the interim,” said Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem/Woodburn/Gervais). “The Emergency Board members are the experts on the state budget. They understand how the numbers work and what it means in terms of real services for Oregonians.”

The E-Board does not plan to meet in the months prior to the February session unless there is a real emergency to address. Following February, the E-Board will meet periodically until the start of the 2013 session.

By law, members of the Legislative Emergency Board are appointed after each legislative session. The presiding officers of both chambers and most recent leaders of the joint budget committee are automatically members.