Without reason Governor Palin's office has announced that she will step down on July 26. She says she is returning to private life.

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The Taxpayer Association was honored to make the lead story on KGW-8 regarding Oregon being listed among the 100 wasteful projects in the federal stimulus package. Noted was a million dollars for bike lockers. Embarrassingly, a biker interviewed at a Tri-Met station said the current bike stations work just fine and a million dollars is quite excessive. Another million went for a better horn for the newly minted (way over-budgeted and under-used) Westside train. Several million also was targeted for Eugene bike paths. How many prisoners could we keep behind bars for that $3 million bike path?

Jason Williams of the Taxpayer Association was quoted as saying, "The politicians are selling this as a stimulus plan, but you can't stimulate the economy by replacing train horns and building bike boxes, you stimulate the economy by giving us taxpayers are tax dollars back."

By State Representative Dennis Richardson,

The 2009 Oregon Legislative Session has ended, but the consequences have yet to begin. The House Republicans have summarized key legislation from their perspective (click here), and the House Democrats have done the same ( click here). Newspaper editorialists have opined (click here). And, the pundits have created cartoons (click here) and (click here).

Looking back on Oregon’s 75th Legislative Session, it is clear that some things never change. Mark Twain, 130 years ago, wryly observed: “The mania for giving the Government power to meddle with the private affairs of cities or citizens is likely to cause endless trouble . . . and there is great danger that our people will lose our independence of thought and action . . . and sink into the helplessness of [one] who expects his government to feed him when hungry, clothe him when naked, to prescribe when his child may be born and when he may die, and, in fine, to regulate every act of humanity from the cradle to the tomb, including the manner in which he may seek future admission to paradise.”

University System “Non-Response” on Firearms Issue
By State Representative Kim Thatcher,

(Salem) The Oregon University System (OUS) responded to a letter from 34 legislators urging them to revise their policies on whether holders of a Concealed Handgun License (CHL) could carry firearms on campus. Below is a statement by State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul) regarding this new development.

“While I thank the University System for their consideration of this matter, the response we received is a ‘non-response’. The outcome of the case in Medford could take years to resolve if it goes all the way to the US Supreme Court level. Meanwhile, lawful citizens of our state are being denied a legal right to have firearms on our college campuses if they have a CHL. I find it ironic that the OUS wants to leave the final decision up to the Oregon Legislature since it is that body which already passed a state law stating very clearly that CHL holders are allowed to carry on University campuses. The fact remains that people with CHLs are expected to, and do conduct themselves to a higher standard than most people. Their ability to conduct themselves properly does not end the moment they cross the property line of a college. I would hate to see further legal action, but that may be the only remedy for some of the parties at this point. I do appreciate the University System’s willingness to review this matter, I am hopeful the policies will change to comply with current Oregon law as soon as possible.”

The Oregonian reported today that President Obama called Ron Wyden's health care plan radical. Here is a highlight:

"Under Wyden's plan, workers would be responsible for choosing their health insurance. In return, employers would give workers a raise equivalent to the cost of the health care that was previously offered. That pay would be taxable, but Wyden stresses that new federal tax deductions would shield all but the highest earners from additional taxes. Wyden argues that linking health care costs to individuals will promote competition and drive down costs. But Obama said that is too sharp a departure from what workers have known -- and become comfortable with -- for generations.That fundamental shift, along with the major changes in the tax code that Wyden proposes, are too "radical," Obama said, when aligned with all the other changes that must take place to provide health insurance to 47 million Americans who don't have it.The president said his discussions with Wyden are similar to those with people who advocate a single-payer system. In theory, those plans work, he said. "The problem is, we have evolved partly by accident into an employer-based system." A "radical restructuring" would meet "significant political resistance," Obama said, and "families who are currently relatively satisfied with their insurance but are worried about rising costs ... would get real nervous about a wholesale change."

Read further here. Comment below.

Jason Wurster,
Man leading Sam Adams recall drive.
Executive Club,
Wed. July 1st, 6:30pm
Shilo Inn Portland Airport

34-year-old Jasun Wurster, a self described “liberal progressive,” is heading the all volunteer drive. His political leanings are not relevant in this case, according to Jasun. He maintains that that the recall of Sam Adams is not a partisan issue, either Left or Right. Wurster’s motivation for the recall is not based so much on the apparent illicit relationship between the mayor and a teenage intern, but more because of the willful lies Adams told to get elected and his abuse of power and his schemes to keep voters in the dark. Wurster knows that he is taking on a big job and he will answer questions at the meeting and explain how he and the other volunteers he's recruiting, will collect the required 32,000 signatures needed within a time frame of 90 days to get the Sam Adams Recall on the ballot. Also Russ Walker of Freedomworks will be on hand to speak about the emerging referendum drive.

The AP wrote, "ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the state's long-running Senate race. The high court rejected a legal challenge from Republican Norm Coleman, whose options for regaining the Senate seat are dwindling."

What's next?

Little was done to support small business and create lasting, private sector jobs
Oregon Senate Republicans,

Salem, OR – The 75th Legislative Session will be remembered for the harsh message it sent to Oregon families and employers in one of Oregon’s worst moments of economic crisis. After six months of increasing the regulatory burden and levying more than $1.5 billion in taxes on small and family businesses to fuel a continued growth in spending, the Legislature’s record on job creation is a dismal failure.

State Representative Kim Thatcher,

(Salem) Oregonians will soon have a new website to track state spending and revenue under a measure which received final approval in the state legislature this morning. House Bill 2500 is the work of a bi-partisan group of lawmakers including State Representatives Arnie Roblan, Jefferson Smith, Kim Thatcher, and Gene Whisnant. The measure passed unanimously in the Senate on Saturday and was adopted unanimously by the House today. HB 2500 now moves to the Governor’s Desk.

"This bill is our legislative effort to bring transparency to your state government,” said State Representative Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay). “It is very gratifying to create an online website that brings more information to Oregonians at a time when such information is critical. I'm happy to be part of moving Oregon closer to the principles of open government."

By State Representative Dennis Richardson,

Oregon’s 75th legislative session is coming to an end and I am happy to report to the citizens of Oregon, the system is working. The Speaker of the House, Dave Hunt, and the House Majority Leader, Mary Nolan, have honored the right of the minority party members to be heard in debate without using the majority party’s parliamentary power to silence the voice of opposition. In kind, the House Minority Leader, Bruce Hanna, has avoided the frequent and harsh political attacks and delaying tactics that were common in my previous three sessions.

Since this legislative session is drawing to a close, I will focus this newsletter on the process for creating Legislation and give my legislator’s perspective. My analysis of the quality and consequences of bills passed during this session will be delayed until after the final bill is passed and the final gavel falls.

By Russ Walker, FreedomWorks.org

Oregon’s Democrat leaders are attempting to overturn 100 years of a Referendum process in Oregon and are violating the Oregon Constitution. HB2414 changes the language on any Referendum sent to the people, so that a Yes vote will really mean No and vice versa. There can be no way to explain the reasoning for this than to state the obvious, the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature have willfully and intentionally mislead the voters to create an outcome they desire. By legal definition, that deception is fraud.