Speaker Appoints House Small Business Task Force

Work will focus on opportunities for small business and job growth

Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) yesterday announced the formation of a legislative task force to support Oregon small businesses. The House Small Business Task Force will focus its work on existing bills that benefit small businesses and develop recommendations for policy concepts that will help business growth and job creation.

“Small businesses are an essential part of Oregon’s economic vitality,” Kotek said. “By supporting small businesses, we support communities around the state. This bipartisan task force will have the expertise and focus to maximize what the Legislature can do to assist small business job creation.”

The task force will be co-chaired by Rep. Brent Barton (D-Oregon City), an attorney, and Rep. Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg), a small business owner in Douglas County. The task force will have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Other members are Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario ), Rep. Caddy McKeown (D-Coos Bay), Rep. Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) and Rep. David Gomberg (D-Central Coast).

“I look forward to working with my colleagues to do everything possible to support existing and emerging small businesses,” said Freeman.

“We’ve taken many steps already this session that will support Oregon’s economic health. By targeting the needs of small businesses, we will do everything in the Legislature’s power to encourage growth and job creation,” said Barton.

The task force will meet several times before the end of session with a focus on small business legislation currently under consideration.  The group will continue its work into the interim, with a goal of gathering ideas for potential legislative concepts for the 2014 Session.