, the Oregon Legislature's longest-serving member, made an impassioned plea Wednesday to pump hundreds of millions of dollars more into mental health programs.
"It's game-changing time," Courtney told reporters. He said he's tired of all the talk about mental health, especially in the raging debate over gun control, and wants to see some action by state lawmakers.
"You want to do something? Let's do it," he said, his voice quavering at times.
Mental health issues cut a devastating and increasingly costly swath across society. The mass shooting in a Connecticut school by a disturbed young man seared the nation's psyche. But the problem goes deep into public life, from the hordes of homeless sleeping in doorways to the estimated 30 percent of Oregon prison inmates who suffer significant psychological disorders.
"I'm not just talking about stopping terrible tragedies," Courtney said. "I'm talking about someone who wants to be a good mother."
He said it would take $331 million over the next two years to fully pay for community health programs and serve the thousands of Oregonians who need care and don't receive it. He broke down the cost: $285 million for crisis services, case management, outpatient programs and housing for mentally ill adults; plus $46 million for programs that serve children and young adults.
Courtney, a Salem Democrat, said the only way to pay for the programs would be through a dedicated source of revenue.
"We're not doing this through the general fund," he said. History shows mental health programs often get left behind in favor of schools, prisons and health care, he said. "It's the lost orphan."
He said he doesn't know yet where the money would come from, but mentioned the possibility of raising beer and wine taxes to cover some of the cost. The beer and wine industry has quashed a number of past attempts to raise taxes on their products.
Courtney has been in the Legislature since 1981 and is serving his sixth term as Senate president, one of the most powerful political positions in state government. It's rare for him to use his bully pulpit to promote initiatives -- he generally prefers to work behind the scenes, cutting deals where he can and cracking the whip when necessary to ensure that the Legislature adjourns on time.
But he said the massacre of children at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and the ensuing polarization over guns and mental health provoked him into stepping up.
"I finally said, 'I've had it.' I don't want to hear another statement about mental health" unless lawmakers are willing to put some money behind their rhetoric.
Initial response has been positive. But supporters quickly become guarded about the source of revenue to pay for better mental health services.
, D-Portland, supports Courtney's concept and is willing to help, said her spokesman Jared Mason-Gere. But, he said, "she's isn't at a place where she's ready to get behind particular revenue sources."
, who insisted on including mental health treatment as part of his overhaul of state Medicaid services, said he strongly supports Courtney's idea. "He is showing needed leadership in an area that has been neglected for too long," the governor said in a statement. "I stand ready to help in any way possible."
Any measure that raises new money for the state requires a three-fifths vote in the House and Senate. Democrats are two votes shy of that in both chambers.
Senate Republicans, who generally oppose more gun control, approached Courtney over the last month, hoping to stoke a conversation about mental health. Courtney's staff was already engaged in developing a policy plan with enough detail to present publicly.
Now that Courtney has started the conversation, there's excitement from Republican members of the Senate, said Michael Gay, a spokesman for the caucus.
But when it comes to funding, Republicans would rather look at cutting programs they think are a lower priority to make room for Courtney's initiative, Gay said.
Courtney's proposal would expand many successful state mental health programs across all of Oregon, including ones that focus on early intervention for children and crisis services for adults.
Linda Hammond, who leads the
, said even if the Legislature only partially funds Courtney's proposal, it would help Oregon's mentally ill.
"I'll never turn anything down," she said. "I will guarantee that any component will certainly make improvements in some people's lives."
Courtney's proposal quickly made ripples throughout the mental health community. Bob Joondeph, executive director of
, said spending more money on community mental health programs would save money in the long-term on prisons, law enforcement, schools and other areas of state and local government.
"This seem to be a real moment in time when you might achieve some progress," he said.
Courtney said his proposal could unite lawmakers who have taken separate, partisan corners over guns.
"They're fighting over gun rights," he said. "The one thing they are not fighting over is, we should do something about mental health."
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