Jason Conger in 2014 OR Senate debate
On Foreign Policy:
Russia emboldened in Ukraine by Obama's weak foreign policy
[Wehby and Conger] agreed that federal funding for education is increasing the cost of college tuition and that
Russia felt emboldened to intervene in Ukraine because of President Barack Obama's weak foreign policy stances.
Source: Statesman Journal on 2014 Oregon Senate debate
Mar 9, 2014
On Health Care:
State-run Cover Oregon exchange better than ObamaCare
Wehby said, "It sounds a lot to me like those politicians who voted for ObamaCare and Cover Oregon and who are all of a sudden leading the charge to get rid of the laws they voted for in the first place," she said. "That's not me." She was clearly
referring to the votes Conger took in the state Legislature to establish a state-run health exchange known as Cover Oregon under the terms of the federal health care law.Conger once again insisted that he voted for Cover Oregon not because he
supported the federal law but because he thought it would be better to have a state-run exchange than to be part of the federal exchange, as is the case with several other states.
He even took the step of brandishing an opinion from the
legislative counsel noting that state legislators didn't have a say in approving the new federal law. "I think that it is time that we stop with misinformation," Conger said, "and we start being transparent and honest with voters."
Source: The Oregonian on 2014 Oregon Senate debate
Mar 8, 2014
On Homeland Security:
Opposes reduction in size of America's military force
[Wehby and Conger] held their first head-to-head debate on the opening night of the Dorchester Conference, the annual issues conference for Republicans.For the most part, both were quick to follow Republican orthodoxy. The two, for instance,
both insisted that the Russians were emboldened to take the Crimean Peninsula because of the weakness of President Barack Obama's foreign policy. And each opposed the Obama administration's plans to reduce the size of America's military force.
Source: The Oregonian on 2014 Oregon Senate debate
Mar 8, 2014
On Environment:
Higher timber harvests on public land
Conger criticized Merkley for not jumping into the fight over legislation on the management of the Oregon & California Railroad grant lands in western Oregon. Merkley has said he's ready to work with Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden--who chairs the committee
with jurisdiction over federal forest lands--and others on a solution to the O&C issue.
Conger comes from a more rural part of the state and has a record in the Legislature of supporting higher timber harvests on public land.
Conger supports a House-passed bill that would put about 1.6 million acres of O&C land into a state-managed trust primarily for timber production. Wyden has introduced a bill with more environmental safeguards that would have lower timber harvest targets
Said Conger in a release: "Sen. Jeff Merkley has not taken a position on any measure to reform O&C forest management or taken any action to effectively reduce joblessness and poverty in the state's forested communities."
Source: The Oregonian coverage of 2014 Oregon Senate race
Dec 5, 2013
On Environment:
Voted NO on prohibiting motorized mining in riverbeds
SB 838: Prohibits Motorized Mining (Bill Passed House, 33-27); Conger voted NayThe Legislative Assembly finds that:- Prospecting, small scale mining and recreational mining are part of the unique heritage of Oregon
- Prospecting & small scale
mining provide economic benefits to Oregon and local communities and support tourism, small businesses and recreational opportunities
- Exploration of potential mine sites is necessary to discover the minerals that underlie the surface and inherently
involves natural resource disturbance
- Mining that uses motorized equipment in the beds and banks of the rivers of Oregon can pose significant risks to Oregon's natural resources, including fish and other wildlife, riparian areas, and water quality
A moratorium is imposed until 2021 on mining that uses any form of motorized equipment for the purpose of extracting gold, silver or any other precious metal from placer deposits of the beds or banks of the waters of this state.
Source: 2013-2014 Oregon Senate & House legislative voting records
Jul 7, 2013
On Drugs:
Voted NO on retail medical marijuana establishments
HB 3460: Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments (Concurrence Vote Passed House, 31-28); Conger voted Nay- The Oregon Health Authority shall establish by rule a medical marijuana facility registration system to authorize the
transfer of usable marijuana and immature marijuana plants from a marijuana grow site to the medical marijuana facility.
- The registration system must require documentation that demonstrates the medical marijuana facility meets the state qualifications
- To qualify for registration, a medical marijuana facility:
- Must be located in an area that is zoned for commercial or industrial use
- May not be located at the same address as a marijuana grow site
- Must be registered as a business with
the Office of the Secretary of State
- Must not be located within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school
- Must not be located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana facility.
Source: 2013-2014 Oregon Senate & House legislative voting records
Jul 6, 2013
On Crime:
Voted NO on reducing sentences for non-violent offenses
HB 3194: Reduces Prison Sentences for Certain Crimes (Bill Passed House, 40-18); Conger voted Nay- Whereas Oregon continues to focus prison resources on violent offenders
- Whereas Oregon can maintain an effective public safety system by directing
savings from averted prison growth toward investments in our local communities
- Therefore, Be It Enacted:
- MARIJUANA OFFENSES: [Increase the definition of] "substantial quantities" of a controlled substance to mixtures containing 5 grams of marijuana
with detectable heroin, or 10 grams of marijuana with detectable cocaine or methamphetamine.
- CRIMINAL DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED: [Decrease penalty unless] the suspension resulted from any degree of murder, manslaughter, or assault resulting from the
operation of a motor vehicle, or from a conviction for felony driving while under the influence of intoxicants.
- [MANDATORY MINIMUM guidelines are relaxed unless two or more previous convictions for any combination of [serious or violent] crimes.
Source: 2013-2014 Oregon Senate & House legislative voting records
Jun 27, 2013
On Energy & Oil:
Voted NO on electronic energy efficiency standards
SB 692: Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards (Bill Passed House, 40-19); Conger voted Nay. The following minimum energy efficiency standards for new products are established:- Automatic commercial ice cube machines must
have daily energy use & water use no greater than state-determined applicable values.
- Commercial clothes washers must have a minimum modified energy factor of 1.26 & a maximum water consumption factor of 9.5.
- Commercial pre-rinse spray valves must
have a flow rate equal to or less than 1.6 gallons per minute.
- Commercial refrigerators or freezers must meet the applicable state requirements.
- Illuminated exit signs must have an input power demand of five watts or less per illuminated face.
-
Metal halide lamp fixtures designed to be operated with lamps rated greater than or equal to 150 watts but less than or equal to 500 watts may not contain a probe-start metal halide lamp ballast.
- Torchieres may not use more than 190 watts.
Source: 2013-2014 Oregon Senate & House legislative voting records
May 30, 2013
On Immigration:
Voted NO on drivers licenses for non-resident aliens
SB 833: Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence (Bill Passed House, 38-20); Conger voted Nay.-
Directs Department of Transportation to issue driver card to applicant who does not provide proof of legal presence in United States but otherwise has complied with all requirements for
[license or permit] type of driving privileges and has resided in Oregon for more than one year.
- Provides that driver card may be used only as evidence of grant of driving privileges.
-
Provides exceptions.
- Limits expenditures by department, for biennium beginning July 1, 2013, for carrying out provisions of Act.
Source: 2013-2014 Oregon Senate & House legislative voting records
Apr 30, 2013
On Immigration:
Stricter rules for non-citizen college tuition equity
House Bill 2787 would grant in-state tuition for undocumented students who have attended school in the country for at least 5 years; studied at an Oregon high school for at least 3 years, and graduated; and show intention to become a US citizen or lawful
permanent resident. Supporters said it would allow children raised in Oregon to contribute to the state's economy.House Republicans unsuccessfully proposed an alternative version that would have let the bill expire in 2016 and limited tuition equity
to undocumented immigrants who are in the US by July 1. Republicans also sought stricter guidelines on how students could demonstrate they intend to become lawful residents. The House rejected the alternative proposal 23-33, leading several Republicans
to attack Democrats for what they saw as a wasted opportunity to compromise. "We could have achieved some admirable goals with this bill without ignoring the concerns of many Oregonians," said Rep. Jason Conger, R-Bend. "I consider this a failure."
Source: The Oregonian on 2014 Oregon Senate debate
Feb 22, 2013
On Environment:
Rated 53% by Conservation Voters; 80% by Humane Society
2011: Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV)--Positions: rated Congers at 53%.Organization description: "Oregon League of
Conservation Voters is the political arm of the environmental movement in Oregon. OLCV is supported by environmentally concerned Oregonians who believe in using the political process to protect Oregon's environment."
2011: Oregon Humane Society--Positions: rated Congers at 80%.
Organization description: "To foster an environment of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals through education, legislation, and leadership.
To care for the homeless, to defend the abused, and to fight with unrelenting diligence for recognition of the integrity of all animals."
Source: VoteSmart ratings: 2014 Oregon Senate legislative session
Dec 31, 2011
On Families & Children:
Rated 79% by Oregon Stand for Children
2011: Oregon Stand for Children--Positions: rated Congers at 79%.Organization description: "Stand for Children is a leading voice for Oregon's children. We bring together people from all walks of life--parents, grandparents, people who work with
children, and others who care about the next generation--in order to make children a top political priority. Since 1999, Stand for Children has championed countless policy and budget choices across ten states that continue to benefit millions of children
today. For the organization's first 13 years, members in Stand states and chapters worked independently to identify local challenges facing children, and to advocate for effective solutions. In 2012, to ensure that we are maximizing our collective
impact, we decided to develop a shared viewpoint on how to accomplish our mission and to prioritize strategies that have proven effective in closing the achievement gap. "What We Stand For" is that shared point of view.
Source: VoteSmart ratings: 2014 Oregon Senate legislative session
Dec 31, 2011
Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018