Dennis Richardson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Dennis Richardson is an American Republican
politician from Central Point, Oregon
who is serving in his third term in the Oregon House of Representatives
. Richardson represents House District 4, which includes portions of Jackson
and Josephine
counties.
Richardson was first elected in 2002 after defeating incumbent (and fellow Republican) Cheryl Walker in a contentious race. Richardson was involved in reforming the state employee retirement system
(PERS) during the 72nd Legislative Session. During the 73rd Legislative Session
he was elected Speaker Pro Tempore and was an opponent of Senate Bill 1000 which would have allowed civil union
s of same-sex couples
. He debated this issue with Democratic
Connecticut State Senator Andrew J. McDonald
on MSNBC's political talkshow "Hardball"
on April 26, 2005. He was reelected to the 74th Legislative Assembly on November 7, 2006 and was selected to be the Minority Whip during the 74th Legislative Session where he is the Vice-Chair of the House Health Care Committee as well as Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Health Care Access. He was originally named to the Consumer Protection Committee but was subsequently discharged from it in order to serve on the Guidelines Committee, which answers questions about ethics for House members specifically as it relates to gifts from lobbyists and other organizations.
Since beginning service in the Oregon House of Representatives in January 2003, Richardson has written hundreds of digital "newsletters"http://www.dennisrichardson.org/email.htm that are circulated by email to more than 100,000 Oregon readers, statewide. The Richardson Newsletters are known for their detailed information and multiple links to source documents relating to Oregon budgets, the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System and other topics of interest to Oregon citizens.
In 2010 Richardson led his sixth trade mission to the People's Republic of China. On September 8, 2010, as a result of his eight years of efforts promoting commercial, educational and cultural ties between Oregon and China, Richardson was named "Honorary Citizen of Fujian Province" in a ceremony conducted by Fujian's Vice Governor Mr. Hong Jiexu in Xiamen, Fujian, P.R.C. The state of Oregon has an official sister state relationship with the Fujian Province
.
On August 7, 2008 it was announced that Richardson had been named to the Board of Directors for the Asian Education Foundation, a Portland, Oregon based group that promotes Asian language education in Oregon.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from Central Point, Oregon
Central Point, Oregon
Central Point is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. The population was 17,165 as of July 1, 2009 The city shares its southern border with Medford and is a part of the Medford metropolitan area...
who is serving in his third term in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
. Richardson represents House District 4, which includes portions of Jackson
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
and Josephine
Josephine County, Oregon
Josephine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the county is probably named after a stream in the area called Josephine Creek, which in turn is probably named after Virginia Josephine Rollins Ort. In 2010, its population was 82,713...
counties.
Richardson was first elected in 2002 after defeating incumbent (and fellow Republican) Cheryl Walker in a contentious race. Richardson was involved in reforming the state employee retirement system
Oregon Public Employees Retirement System
The Public Employees Retirement System is the retirement and disability fund for public employees in the U.S. state of Oregon established in 1946. Employees of the state, school districts, and local governments are eligible for coverage. A health insurance plan for covered retirees was added to...
(PERS) during the 72nd Legislative Session. During the 73rd Legislative Session
Seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly
The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly 's period from 2005 to 2006. The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly (OLA)'s period from 2005 to 2006. The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative...
he was elected Speaker Pro Tempore and was an opponent of Senate Bill 1000 which would have allowed civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s of same-sex couples
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. He debated this issue with Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Connecticut State Senator Andrew J. McDonald
Andrew J. McDonald
Andrew J. McDonald is an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut. A Democrat, he served as a member of the Connecticut State Senate from 2003 to 2011, representing the state's 27th district in Stamford and Darien...
on MSNBC's political talkshow "Hardball"
Hardball with Chris Matthews
Hardball with Chris Matthews is a talk show on MSNBC, broadcast weekdays at 5 and 7 PM hosted by Chris Matthews. It originally aired on now-defunct America's Talking and later CNBC. The current title was derived from a book Matthews wrote in 1988, Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who...
on April 26, 2005. He was reelected to the 74th Legislative Assembly on November 7, 2006 and was selected to be the Minority Whip during the 74th Legislative Session where he is the Vice-Chair of the House Health Care Committee as well as Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Health Care Access. He was originally named to the Consumer Protection Committee but was subsequently discharged from it in order to serve on the Guidelines Committee, which answers questions about ethics for House members specifically as it relates to gifts from lobbyists and other organizations.
Since beginning service in the Oregon House of Representatives in January 2003, Richardson has written hundreds of digital "newsletters"http://www.dennisrichardson.org/email.htm that are circulated by email to more than 100,000 Oregon readers, statewide. The Richardson Newsletters are known for their detailed information and multiple links to source documents relating to Oregon budgets, the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System and other topics of interest to Oregon citizens.
In 2010 Richardson led his sixth trade mission to the People's Republic of China. On September 8, 2010, as a result of his eight years of efforts promoting commercial, educational and cultural ties between Oregon and China, Richardson was named "Honorary Citizen of Fujian Province" in a ceremony conducted by Fujian's Vice Governor Mr. Hong Jiexu in Xiamen, Fujian, P.R.C. The state of Oregon has an official sister state relationship with the Fujian Province
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
.
On August 7, 2008 it was announced that Richardson had been named to the Board of Directors for the Asian Education Foundation, a Portland, Oregon based group that promotes Asian language education in Oregon.