Today is the 81^st day of the Oregon legislature’s 2007 session.  If Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Grants Pass) has his way, by this time in 2009 school districts around the state will know exactly how much money they’ll have for their next school year. 
 
SJR 16 would require the legislature to pass the budget for k-12 schools by 81^st day of legislative session, or to lose their pay. 
 
Why 81 days?  Here’s what Senator Atkinson has to say:
 
Well to be honest, it’s a little art, somewhat out of my hat, but all very generous.  81 days is 21 more days than other states like Washington, Utah, and Idaho who can pass their entire state budget in 60 days.
 
Special interests tell me, “Senator Atkinson, if we wait until the revenue forecast we’d get more money.”  Let me tell every Oregonian one thing: that’s not true.  We know roughly how much education will get in January. The revenue forecast in my experience has never changed the k-12 budget one dime, and the delay is for politicians and special interests to beat each other over the heads with and make campaign fodder for the next round.
 
Imagine if you bought groceries, went to the movies, got back from vacation or clothes shopping, bought a new car, and then paid your mortgage seven months late every two years.  In Salem, its how its always been done.   No wonder Oregonians don’t trust us to manage their money.