Public Employees Rally At Oregon Capitol

One of the largest state worker unions rallied in front of the Oregon Capitol Friday. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said budget-balancing discussions by Oregon lawmakers unfairly target public employees.

Brenda Johnson came to the rally from Lakeview, Oregon, where she works as an executive support specialist at the Warner Creek Correctional Facility. Johnson told the crowd she doesn't think state workers should shoulder the blame for the state's budget crunch.

"Once again we are expected to do more with less. The budget cannot be balanced on our backs," she said.

Oregon lawmakers are looking at ways to bridge a $1.6 billion gap between expected revenue and what it would take to provide state services at their current levels. A legislative committee that's expected to examine potential revisions to the state's business tax will hold its first meeting Tuesday morning.

Chris Lehman

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