Rep. Helfrich: An ex-cop take on Measure 110

House Republican Leader Helfrich Testimony in M110 Hearing
By Oregon House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich,

SALEM, Ore. – House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) testified during the Measure 110 hearing on the need to pass HB 4036, which Helfrich sponsored. The remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:

Members of the committee,
Thank you for allowing me to testify today. I’m Jeff Helfrich, House Republican Leader from Hood River.

I’ll keep it short and sweet:

It is time to stop enabling drug addiction in the state of Oregon.

It is time to end Measure 110.

I’m a retired Portland police sergeant . I worked for over 25 1/2 years to keep Portland safe.

It breaks my heart to see what has happened to our cities.

Let me be clear: There is nothing compassionate about allowing people to die from drug overdoses.

My Republican colleagues are united in our belief that Oregon deserves better than the status quo.

People have a right to safe communities.

Kids have a right to safe parks free of needles.

Businesses and shoppers shouldn’t have to share streets with drug markets.

People struggling with addiction and homelessness need the help Measure 110 promised but failed to deliver.

That is why Republicans have introduced HB 4036.

Our bill provides criminal justice accountability and a mechanism to get people help.

We ensure that money goes to counties for treatment

And, insure drug dealers are held accountable .

HB 4036 will get the drugs off the street, addicts into treatment, and our state on the path to healing.

This is what the people of Oregon have demanded.

I am imploring my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with us.

Meet this moment and deliver for the people that we swore an oath to serve.

half measures won’t cut it. Neither will inaction.

Measure 110 as rolled out has failed.

We can see it on the streets.

We can see it in the statistics.

We can hear it in the voices of the victims.

The time for talk and task forces is over.

Now is the time for action.

Thank you.