John Kitzhaber in 2011 gubernatorial press release


On Education: Governor's Cool Schools project is funded by teachers union

Governor Kitzhaber and the American Federation of Teachers announced a partnership including $15 million for investment in the Governor's Cool Schools Initiative. Today's announcement gives validation to our Cool Schools project. I welcome the national interest in this program, and look forward to working with friends in labor. Cool Schools provides access to financing for school districts to fix leaky roofs, upgrade inefficient lighting and heating and make other improvements.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release #111011 Nov 10, 2011

On Environment: Seeks to balance environmental and economic interests

We must view our forests in the context of the larger forest landscape. We must aggressively pursue the latitude to engage in environmentally sound, active management to restore the health of our federal forest lands. And we must develop policies and strategies that will result in logs harvested off private lands being as valuable here in Oregon as they are in Asia. My vision centers on creating a path that can unify the often competing interests that have divided us in the past.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release #110311 Nov 3, 2011

On Health Care: Healthcare reform needed at both state and federal levels

The Governor emphasized the need to focus on the "triple aim" of improving the health of the population, reducing per capita cost, and improving the patient experience. Transforming the system involves reorganizing the delivery system to get at the root causes of medical inflation: overutilization; lack of prevention; and poor service integration and care coordination. There is clear waste and inefficiency in the system and as a state--and a nation--we cannot afford to pay for it.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release #100411 Oct 4, 2011

On Education: Welcomes waiver from No Child Left Behind standards

I welcome President Obama's leadership in providing relief from the punitive provisions of No Child Left Behind. No Child Left Behind has twisted accountability through its single-minded focus on high-stakes standardized testing and labeling schools and students as failures. We look forward to working with the U.S. Secretary of Education on a waiver that establishes school accountability based on meaningful information about student progress and delivers appropriate support for schools.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release #092311 Sep 23, 2011

On Free Trade: Encouraging more trade agreements with China

Gov. Kitzhaber arrived in Shanghai, China, today to promote Oregon goods and products in hopes of further increasing trade with Oregon's largest export market. This has been a great opportunity to connect with businesses that are on the ground here in Shanghai, and let them know about the Oregon goods and services that are available. This trip has helped us solidify existing business relationships and set the stage for new ones we will now be able to build.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release #092111 Sep 21, 2011

On Energy & Oil: Making renewable energy in state also keeps dollars in state

An economy of innovation is within our reach--a low carbon economy--one that leads the way in manufacturing and designing products that use less energy; one that rewards efficiency rather than excess. Oregon companies supplying Oregon companies--where communities capture their local value streams--their energy savings, wind, sun, forest slash--and drive their economies by keeping that value at home instead of those dollars leaking out into the world economy for imported energy.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Oregon Jobs" Apr 13, 2011

On Budget & Economy: Budget to focus on people's futures, not taxes or problems

The resources we have are increasingly being spent on corrections, health care and the consequences of neglect, while our investment in educating children and building a better economy is decreasing. The first way we spend money is by investing in people The other way we spend money is by taking care of problems after they have developed. We must change the focus from cutting budgets and raising taxes to investing in children, education and workforce development.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release "Inaugural" Jan 10, 2011

The above quotations are from 2011 gubernatorial press releases.
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Page last updated: Feb 13, 2019