Those who voted “yes” for the Oregon Columbia River Crossing (CRC) boondoggle on February 18, 2013 after listening to groups from all over the political spectrum state reason after reason why the public does not want the CRC in its current form. These folks still voted yes, and it goes forth, and we all get to pay. Start your letter writing/emailing/phone calling now:
We are at the end of the first week of the Legislative Session, and it has been interesting. While each Session develops its own “personality” over time, for the most part they usually start out slow and build pace over time. The feeling and intensity in the building this week …
The State of Oregon budgets on a two-year “biennial” basis. The current State Budget for 2011-13 ends on June 30th. The primary purpose for the current Legislative Session is to draft, vote on and pass the 2013-15 State Budget, which will begin July 1st. In fact, although thousands of bills …
This email just crossed our transom about 15 minutes ago. It really captures the spirit of Independence, the Founding Fathers and American Exceptionalism, doesn’t it? Anyone want to guess what party she belongs to? Dear Friends and Neighbors, Simply put, the most powerful thing in turning out the vote – …
Recently, a theme has developed in the Portland metro area regarding supposedly predatory tow truck drivers. It just so happens that the owner of a couple of these tow services, Gary Coe, is running as a Republican for Oregon Senate District 14. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that the …
[Cross posted from Common Sense Oregon] Dave Hunt knows something about Dysfunction Dave Hunt says he wants to fix a Clackamas County Commission that he calls “dysfunctional.” He wants to promote “greater citizen involvement” and “partner” with private sector businesses. It all sounds grand – just what voters probably want …
Today, we are launching a new feature. Each day, the folks at www.ISpyOnSalem.com produce a one minute podcast. Good info, and it’s only one minute out of your life. Check it out! I Spy Minute April 2 2012 About the Show Do you ever get the feeling that things are …
[5440 note: We ran across this blog post by a research fellow at the Wyoming Liberty Group. It's ironic that even other states are looking at Oregon as a poor model for public funding. Reposted by permission from The Liberty Bullhorn.] The High-Risk Game of Raising Taxes in Oregon The push …
Crisis in Oregon Budget Rebalance? The rumors in the State Capitol and news media this week were that the Governor had torpedoed the Legislature’s Budget Rebalance Plan and the fragile agreement between the Democrat and Republican Co-Chairs of the Ways & Means Committee was in jeopardy. Nothing could be further …
“Transformation” is the word of the year in the Oregon Legislature. Not only is the Legislature looking for ways to transform Oregon’s healthcare delivery system and jump head first into Obamacare, the legislature is sprinting toward the finish line to transform Oregon’s education system from pre-school to post-grad. The Oregonian …
5440 note: This is Dennis Richardson’s newsletter. He has been very accurate in predicting state revenue declines, and was instrumental in creating a reserve fund (since spent due to reduced revenue) in the 2010 biennial budget. January 25, 2012 I am State Representative Dennis Richardson and I need your help …
h/t Eric Fruits for bringing our attention to this post. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has recently conducted a study of the costs of the 2008 expansion of Oregon’s Medicaid program that added 10,000 new, previously disqualified low-income adults to the program. The offering was so popular (90,000 …
For years, the questions have been whether Metro Regional Government should even exist. Tensions and jealousies have been created by the seeming uneven application of Metro edicts from city to city within its jurisdiction. Background: Oregon has what are regarded as the most jacked-up land use laws in the nation. …
We need more conservatives like Dan Chriestensen on our school boards, willing to stand up against Big Government and defend taxpayers, teaches, parents and students against the special interests! On Dec. 10, 2009, the Gresham Barlow Board of Directors adopted a resolution supporting measures 66 and 67. I was the lone dissenting …
Article VIII, Section 8 of the Oregon State Constitution stipulates: “Adequate and Equitable Funding. (1) The Legislative Assembly shall appropriate in each biennium a sum of money sufficient to ensure that the state’s system of public education meets quality goals established by law” Dan Chriestenson, Board Member of the Gresham-Barlow School …
KATU finally picked up the story about how the official Voter’s Pamphlet for Measures 66 & 67 was tainted when pro-tax activists purchased space to deceptively print their arguments in the “opposition” pages. KATU reports: It’s not a misprint. The “Vote Yes for Oregon” campaign that’s in support of tax increases …
One of the most pernicious and misleading claims of the pro-tax advocates in the Measures 66 & 67 debate is that Oregon businesses are only paying $10 a year in taxes. What they fail to explan is that the $10 tax limit only applies if a business has LOST money for the year. Whenever …
If you’re an Oregon Voter, you should have gotten your official Voters’ Pamphlet in the mail by now, describing Measures 66 & 67, which Oregonians will be voting on Jan 26th. However, if you look closely, you may notice that the FIRST and LAST “opposition” arguments printed in the Voters’ …