SALEM, OR (KPTV) -
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says tough choices are needed to boost school funding.
The 2013 legislative session kicked off in Salem today with the swearing in of newly-elected and re-elected senators.
Kitzhaber delivered his State of the State address to a joint session of the new House and Senate members. Along with school funding, he also said he's willing to raise taxes by rolling back certain tax deductions.
Kitzhaber stressed that the cost of prisons and of public-employee pensions is spending money he'd like to spend on higher priorities. He's calling on lawmakers to cut pension benefits for government workers and to change sentencing laws to slow the growth of prisons.
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