Vicki in the News
Committed to Education
“Sen. Vicki Walker, a Eugene Democrat, persuaded a bipartisan group to include the pilot project in the bill.” “Voters lose their say in leadership of ESDs” – Statesman Journal, August 14, 2005“Winner: Sen. Vicki Walker. It took a Eugene legislator to rectify a problem from the Salem-Keizer schools.” “2005 Legislature: Winners and losers” – Statesman Journal, August 12, 2005
“At the urging of Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, the measure now specifies that students take extra Math and English classes on top of, not instead of, electives. Students who enter eighth grade this fall would be required to earn 24 credits, up from the current 22 credits, to graduate.” “Bill would stiffen rules for high school diploma” - The Oregonian, July 27, 2005
“‘It’s important for you, as a community member or Oregonian, to know what’s happening in our schools,' said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, who sponsored the bill. . .” "Lawmakers act on bills to prevent child abuse” – East Oregonian, June 16, 2005
“Oregon State has, according to State Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, developed a policy ‘that wakes people up. It says (the school) is doing something about this.’” “OSU taking hard line on misdeeds – Beaver athletic director Bob De Carolis announces a new code of conduct for all of the university’s athletes” – The Register-Guard, April 30, 2005
“These are kids who are currently paying taxes and working and are upstanding citizens. . . It’s not their fault that they haven’t been able to obtain citizenship.” “Education bill aims to broaden in-state tuition requirements” – Oregon Daily Emerald, April 12, 2005
“Sen. Vicki Walker questioned the use of state funds to support OHSU. ‘With its emphasis on research . . . OHSU appears to be losing its focus on medical education and care for the poor.'”
“OHSU outlines results if state funding falls” – The Oregonian, February 25, 200
“‘But it would be a terrible burden for Oregonians without health insurance, who’d have to pay for a visit to the doctor just to get their hands on allergy and cold medicine’ . . . We credit legislators like Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, for making waves.”
“Hands off state meth laws” – Bend Bulletin, July 18, 2005
“‘You pass this bill in its current form and Oregonians are going to be furious.’”
“Drug makers, other critics seek to block anti-meth provision” – The Register-Guard, July 14, 2005
“The senators receiving the award are. . . and Senator Vicki Walker (Eugene).”
“Oregon State Senators Receive Award for Increasing Hepatitis C Awareness” – Medford News, May 30, 2005
“Walker noted that ‘Oregon hosts several groups of physicians who do nothing but perform independent medical exams. . . Senate Bill 311 could prevent rejection of workers’ comp claims out of hand.’ . . The bill comes as part of a 10-point workers’ compensation reform plan she unveiled last fall.”
“Senate bill takes look at workers’ comp exams” – Business Journal, February 25, 2005
“‘Charging these phony income taxes to ratepayers is a profit center for the utilities and has the effect of increasing their financial returns on investment to absurd levels.’”
“Stop the giveaway of ratepayers’ utility taxes” – Op-Ed, The Oregonian, July 7, 2005
“Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, estimated that ratepayers over the past eight years have paid more than $1 billion to major utilities for state and federal taxes that wound up not being owed.”
"Senate Oks utility tax funding change” – Daily Astorian, June 9, 2005
“State Sens. Rick Metsger, D-Welches, and Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, decided this should not stand. Frustrated by the utilities’ lobbying muscle in Salem, the two senators assembled a team of business and consumer groups to draft a plan to end the phony tax collection.”
“Legislature takes an Italian holiday” – The Oregonian, Steve Duin, June 2, 2005
“‘Many employers and workers have received different interpretations . . . regarding when someone working as an independent contractor must instead be treated as an employee,’ said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, chief sponsor of SB 323. She said the bill brings ‘clarity and consistency to the law . . .’”
“Contract bill passes Senate inspection” – The Oregonian, July 6, 2005
“Taking a leadership role in the legislature with this bill were Senator Vicki Walker (D-Eugene). . . AOI appreciates their efforts.”
“Independent contractor bill passes conference committee” – AOI Leading Issues, July 1, 2005
“State Sen. Vicki Walker, who sits on the committee that confirmed Durant, says of her qualifications, “I wasn’t overwhelmed, which isn’t a good thing.”
“Power Connection: Kulongoski’s appointment for powerful investment council raises questions” – Willamette Week, July 6, 2005
“Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, who has been championing reforms . . . blamed Gov. Ted Kulongoski . . ‘The governor has made it clear he doesn’t want SAIF reform . . .’”
“SAIF-reform bill dead for now” – Statesman Journal, June 14, 2005
“Sen. Vicki Walker, sponsor of the bill, said ‘it took three sessions to get it passed, but it was worth the fight because it provides important information to voters on political candidates . . . Our principles of transparency and openness should apply to each and every candidate for office. Voters should know and understand the interests and holdings of anyone who wants to serve in a position of public trust.’”
"Oregon Governor Signs Bill Expanding Ethics Rules For Political Candidates” – Medford News, June 12, 2005
“‘People own their government, and they have a right to know what the government is doing,’ said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene.”
“Secret settlement ban sent to governor to sign” – The Oregonian, June 8, 2005
“Senate Bill 324 was designed to shine a light on our state’s secrets, said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene.”
“Senate: No more hush money” – The Oregonian, May 7, 2005
“‘As the current law stands, the state is not allowed to release any information,’” said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, who sponsored Senate Bill 947. ‘The public has no way of knowing how much time, effort and care the state has taken to protect these children.’” [note: Sen. Walker did not sponsor SB 947; she carried the bill on the Senate floor] “Senate Approves opening state child-care records” – The Oregonian, May 7, 2005
“They are lining up behind a proposal by Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, to let the Senate conduct its own research about people nominated for top state posts.”
“Senators seek more clout” – Herald & News, The Associated Press, April 28, 2005
“‘The public has this perception that we are wasting their tax dollars on schools. I believe we are when we are offering these golden parachutes.’”
“Bill would cap school departees’ compensation” – Statesman Journal, April 21, 2005
“‘I am not going to allow this conspiracy of silence to continue,’ Walker said.”
“Walker files complaint against school officials” – The Register-Guard, January 26, 2005
“A persistent legislative critic of SAIF, Democratic Sen. Vicki Walker of Eugene, said the board members are ‘jumping ship.’”
"Directors ‘jump ship’ from troubled SAIF board” – Associated Press, November 5, 2004
“State Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, said the payouts are higher than SAIF revealed to lawmakers . . . ‘I feel like we’ve been lied to.’”
“SAIF’s invoices reveal higher payouts” – The Register-Guard, November 21, 2003
“Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, has been named to a national education panel and two regional energy committees.”
“Walker named to panel, energy committees” – The Register-Guard, February 11, 2005
“‘We haven’t seen him at all this session,' said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene. ‘The Legislature and the executive, we should be working on a common message, on a common theme.’” “Governor stirs from behind budget curtain” – Statesman Journal, May 5, 2005
“Walker sees herself as being in the thick of a battle with the ‘old boy network’. . . ‘What makes me feel good is that I never expected to be where I am today; to have come from the bottom and to be here helping to lead my state.’”
“Senator Walker remains right in the thick of it” – The Associated Press, April 25, 2005
"In a rousing victory for the prevailing inertia, Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, bowed out of the Oregon governor's race Wednesday, conceding that political courage -- like campaign contributions -- has its limits." Read More
"One by one, the once-intriguing field of possible Democratic candidates for governor has dwindled, giving Gov. Ted Kulongoski a clearer shot at re-election and the party's voters a narrower choice." Read More
"State Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, bowed out of the Oregon governor's race Wednesday and instead will seek re-election to another Senate term." Read More
"State Sen. Vicki Walker ended her bid for the governorship Wednesday, saying she would instead seek re-election to her north Eugene Senate seat." Read More
Working Hard for Better Health Care
“Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, testified against the bill, saying ‘it would be more than an inconvenience for the 600,000 Oregonians without health insurance . . .’”
“Senate panel unanimously approves bill to restrict cold medicine access”- The Associated Press, July 25, 2005
Stimulating Oregon's Economy
“‘It’s become this very complex issue,’ said Walker. ‘ It’s actually a pretty simple issue. It just says utilities can’t collect taxes that they don’t owe and don’t pay. It seems pretty simple to me.’”
“Utilities mount late challenge against tax plan” – Portland Business Journal, July 11, 2005
Calling for Open Government
“‘My file’s just getting bigger and bigger with these cases, Walker said.’”
“3 Senate bills target child abuse” – The Oregonian, June 16, 2005
Protecting the Environment
“‘Where’s the governor’s leadership on this? Environmental groups won’t say that, but I’m not shy about that,’ said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene.”
“Environmental groups call for governor’s support on bills” – Associated Press, May 16, 2005
Advocating for Public Safety
“The bill, sponsored by Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, passed both chambers by a wide margain.”
“Lawmakers ensure help for domestic violence victims a phone call away” – The Associated Press, August 1, 2005
Leading Our State
“After six years in the Legislature, Walker has turned into her own bill machine – and an increasingly successful one. In a session marked by stalemate between a Republican House and a Democratic Senate, Walker’s fingerprints can be found on a large number of bills that have sailed through both houses. She has passed bills to prohibit secret legal settlements by the government, put more curbs on members of the Oregon Investment Council and prevent insurers from canceling policies by e-mail.”
“Walker’s crusades make news and laws” – The Oregonian, Jeff Mapes, June 24, 2005
Campaign News Clips
The Voters are Running Out of Options
Steve Duin, The Oregonian / Thursday, February 02, 2006
Walker Won't Run for Governor
The Oregonian / Thursday, February 02, 2006
Walker Decides Not to Run for Governor
The Statesman Journal / Thursday, February 2, 2006
Walker Decides Against Challenging Kulongoski
The Register-Guard / Thursday, February 2, 2006
Campaign News
WE WON!!
Another Call for an End to Independent Expenditure AttacksRead Press Release
"Someone Who Cares is at the Door"
Read Steve Duin's Column in The Oregonian
Read Duin's Blog Entry
Walker to Torrey:
“Clinton Endorsing My Campaign. Remove Your Misleading Ads”
Read Press Release Here
Register-Guard Article
Oregonian Article
Senator Walker's Response Regarding Janyce Iturra Matter
Read the Facts Here
Eugene Weekly Cover Story on Dist. 7 Race "Pro-Bush, anti-abortion Republican takes on state senator"
Read the Story Here
Sen. Vicki Walker Calls for an End to Independent Expenditure Attacks. State Senator Vicki Walker sent a letter today to Lane County Democratic Party Chair Val Hoyle asking for her assistance to intervene and call for an immediate halt to independent expenditure campaigns made on behalf of her re-election campaign..
Read Press Release and Letter
Vote YES on Measure 20-115
- Maintain Bethel academic programs
- Launch a math enrichment plan
- Replace outdated textbooks
- Update classroom computers
Moose International, Inc.
2006 Annual Conference - Keynote Speech
Read Speech & See Photos
Willamette River Enhancement Initiative
See Photos
Read Vicki's Campaign Kick-Off Speech
