by Kurt Weber
Friday, May 9. 2008
 Michigan residents have turned in enough signatures to force a recall vote on that state’s Speaker of the House. In fact, according to the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, Speaker Andy Dillon ticked off so many people that 77 percent more signatures were turned in than were required to take the issue to the August ballot. Why the revolt? A tax increase. Frustrated Oregonians can learn something from my native state, whose revolutionary zeal in 1983 recalled two legislators from office – for a tax increase.
by Jason Williams
Thursday, May 8. 2008
 Taxpayer Association faults Mayor Rob Drake for misusing tax funds that benefit his campaign.
On the same day that ballots arrived involving the Beaverton Mayor election, voters received two taxpayer paid multi-color information pieces from the City of Beaverton featuring full page publicity articles for Mayor Rob Drake.
Continue reading "Mayor Drake misusing city tax dollars to benefit his re-election"
by Dylan Amo
Thursday, May 8. 2008
 The answer may very well be “YES!”
Allen Alley, who is running against Ben Westlund for State Treasurer, just raised over $100K at his kick-off event. If the traditional early test of a viable candidate is his ability to raise money, Allen seems to have passed the test. Additionally, when you look behind the fundraising numbers, you’ll also find a number of prominent Democrats (like Ryan Deckert) who've known Allen over the years and know of his integrity as a business leader. So, in a state where Republican candidates need to attract a diverse base of support of independents and conservative Democrats to win statewide, Allen seems to be gathering the necessary broad coalition.
Stay tuned to this race.
And people interested in electing Republicans statewide shouldn’t sit on their wallets. Your support is critical to getting a message out in what has the potential to be a very competitive statewide race.
by In the news
Thursday, May 8. 2008
 Press release from
Oregon State Senator Peter Courtney 5-7-08:
Oregon’s baseball heritage
Former Oregon high school stars Jacoby Ellsbury of Madras and Jed Lowrie of Salem are getting a lot of attention for their play with the Boston Red Sox this year, but Oregon’s baseball roots – even the connection to the Red Sox – go way back. Ellsbury, a left-handed hitting outfielder from Madras, will probably soon hook a short homer around Pesky’s pole down the right field line in storied Fenway Park. Did you know that Johnny Pesky, the former Red Sox infielder for whom the pole is named, is a Portland native? In fact, he once worked as a volunteer groundskeeper at old Vaughn Street Stadium in Portland under the legendary Rocky Benevento.
Continue reading "Oregon Baseball Heritage"
by In the news
Thursday, May 8. 2008
 Press release from Jim Thompson campaign:
Community leaders, groups throw support behind Thompson
DALLAS, OR – The past few weeks have been good to Jim Thompson’s campaign for the Oregon House of Representatives. The Dallas area Republican has picked up support from several individuals and groups that represent the heart and soul of the Willamette Valley district. “Our campaign is about real solutions to real problems,” stated Thompson. “We are picking up support from groups focused on solving some of the problems we face.”
Continue reading "20 endorsements bolster Jim Thompson House 23 run"
by Jerry Dawson
Wednesday, May 7. 2008
 The Oregonian reported this morning that the City of Portland’s failed effort to purchase a payroll computing system will now result in a total cost of just under $50,000,000!
Because no one in city government was competent enough to figure out how to accomplish this, they hired a consultant who did not know how to do the job either. Now they are late and way over-budget. What a surprise.
Continue reading "Portland City Government Mismanagement Strikes Again"
by Larry Huss
Wednesday, May 7. 2008
There is a difference between scientific facts and scientists talking. A case in point is the remnants of the 2002 Biscuit Fire that engulfed over 400,000 acres. This horrible waste hasn’t been in the news lately but, with the approaching summer, fire season is once again upon Oregon and despite the tragedies of the past decade, nothing has changed. What is needed is a more timely and intelligent response to these natural disasters. The point is brought home to me each time I make the drive between Wilsonvilled and Bend and pass through a very small portion of the similar 2003 B&B Complex fire area atop Santiam Pass near Black Butte and Sisters.
Continue reading "WOODSMAN SPARE THAT DEAD TREE"
by Cascade Policy Institute
Tuesday, May 6. 2008
 By Vincent Artman and CJ Ciaramella
Editors, Oregon Commentator
"An independent journal of opinion" at the University of Oregon
According to the Huffington Post’s nifty little campaign donation tracker, people who identified themselves as employees of the University of Oregon have so far donated $24,962 to political campaigns in the ’08 election cycle. It doesn’t look like the first quarter reports have been added yet, so the real number is most likely much higher by now. How does it break down?
Of that $24,962, only two contributions went to Republicans, totaling $956. Actually, we should say Republican, because both of those went to Ron Paul. The majority of the Democrat donations went to Obama, with only one to Hillary Clinton.
Continue reading "Quantifying Liberal Bias at the University of Oregon"
by In the news
Tuesday, May 6. 2008
 Things seem not to be quite on balance when you weigh in on the latest news about school abuse cases. On the one hand you have the string of teacher-on-child situations, and the teachers may simply get moved to another school district. Then you have child-on-child Patton M.S. butt swat situation and the school is facing a $250,000 lawsuit.
Begs a few questions. First, when should parents really get worked up? When some kid swats another kid on the butt or when teachers are found negligent of sexual abuse? Second, if a butt swatting is worth a quarter of a million, how much did the school districts pay in the undisclosed settlements among the 700 cases involving teachers? Last, why didn't the legislature consider these numbers an "emergency" in special session?
by In the news
Tuesday, May 6. 2008
 The Bush Tax Cuts Raised Revenues and Stimulated Growth
By Richard Leonetti,
There were two tax cuts. The smaller began in mid 2001 and was phased in over time. The larger came in mid 2003. The effects were quite dramatic. By July of 2004 GDP growth had jumped from 1.8% to 5.4%, business investment jumped over 10 times and employment growth was also up a factor of 10. The good news was that supply side economics really worked. Tax revenues increased steadily from 2003 right up to the present as the table below shows:
Continue reading "Bush Tax Cuts Worked"
by In the news
Monday, May 5. 2008
 People have contacted me stating that Ron Saxton, although deeply honored, is not interested in the write-in ballot campaignfor Attorney General.
A name would still be needed (one should check with the candidate first however).
by Cascade Policy Institute
Monday, May 5. 2008
 Join the Executive Club and Cascade Policy Institute this Wednesday to hear Dr. Matt Manweller present "A Heretic's Voice From the Ivory Tower: Understanding the Liberal Bias in American Academia."
Matt Manweller is a professor of political science at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.
Wednesday, May 7, 6-8 p.m. at the Portland Airport Shilo Inn
Free Admission, $20.00 for dinner
Continue reading "Why Are University Faculties Overwhelmingly Liberal??"
by In the news
Sunday, May 4. 2008
 A day of protests about illegals, about oil and about long-haul truckers.
Yesterday was May Day, the old Commie holiday for workers, and sure enough the longshoreman’s union walked out illegally. Turns out they wanted to walk off the job and then labor arbitrators said they weren’t allowed to do it. They did it anyway and they did damage to their country.
Continue reading "Lars Larson on Protests"
by In the news
Saturday, May 3. 2008
 Here are some of the criticisms and questions being raised by Merkley's latest contribution report.
- Merkley Raised $44,000 during the Special Legislative Session.
- Received 5,000 from the Humane PAC. Is that what the highly controversial and unnecessary dog fighting bill this year during special session was all about?
Continue reading "Questions arise on Rep. Merkley contribution reports"
by In the news
Saturday, May 3. 2008
 State Representative Patti Smith says: “There is no better person to take my place and serve Oregon than Phyllis Thiemann. She knows district 52 and has been working tirelessly in the community for years. I wholeheartedly support her and ask you to do the same.”
My name is Phyllis Thiemann and I am running for House District 52 made up of the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood. Although the beauty and grandeur of the district is equal to anyplace in Oregon, the region provides agricultural, economic and transportation challenges both unique to the area and reflective of the entire state.
Continue reading "Press Release: Phyllis Thiemann running for House 52"
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