by Cascade Policy Institute
Thursday, November 20. 2008
 By Eric Fruits, Ph.D.
This is not a good time to be a state legislator. In Oregon, state revenues are projected to be one billion dollars lower than earlier forecasts. At the same time, the economic downturn is putting pressure on all levels of government to hand out help to households and businesses.
The governor has pitched a package of gas and tobacco tax increases to fund road and rail projects as the state’s own “stimulus” package. Other proposals include a tax on private health insurance and hospitals to fund public health insurance and a tax on real estate transactions to fund affordable housing.
Continue reading "Tough Times Call for Smart Spending"
by In the news
Thursday, November 20. 2008
 By Kevin Mannix,
With the election behind us, and the 2009 legislature having to contemplate tight budgets, we need to remember that the people have spoken quite loudly in favor of tough anti-crime efforts. While Measure 57 is weaker than Measure 61, Measure 57 still represents a step forward. In terms of general concepts, here is the ballot title that voters affirmed with a 61% YES vote:
Increases sentences for drug trafficking, theft against elderly and specified repeat property and identity theft crimes; requires addiction treatment for certain offenders.
Not only did Measure 57 receive 61.4% of the vote, it received over 1 million votes: more than Barack Obama and more than Jeff Merkley. Now, the challenge is to make sure the Oregon Legislature does not backslide on Measure 57. The good news is that a Mannix constitutional amendment from 1994 (Measure 10) requires a two-thirds vote of the House and a two-thirds vote of the Senate for any legislation which reduces a prison sentence established by a vote of the people. Measure 57 is protected by that provision.
by In the news
Thursday, November 20. 2008
 By Oregon House GOP Office:
HOUSE REPUBLICANS CALL FOR SUSTAINABLE, PRIORITIZED SPENDING;ECONOMIC STIMULUS, RELIEF FOR WORKING FAMILIES
SALEM— In light of a $762 million revenue shortfall for the 2009-11 biennium, House Republicans today called for sustainable and prioritized spending in the next budget. The caucus also called for tax reforms to promote capital investment and to provide tax relief for lower-income Oregonians and working families.
“Spending in 2007 was unsustainable, and now the Legislature is facing difficult decisions in 2009,” said House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg). “It is time to bring government spending back under control, and to pass measures to keep dollars flowing through our economy and to keep capital within our state.”
Continue reading "House Republicans call for tax cuts"
by Larry Huss
Wednesday, November 19. 2008
Tuesday’s papers carried an Associated Press (AP) story indicating that a $25 Billion bailout of the Big Three automakers was unlikely this year. The blame (or credit as I prefer to view it) goes to President Bush who opposes it. After being asleep at the switch over the last several years as Democrats pushed Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the nation’s other lenders to provide loans (subprime, no credit check, and no equity loans) to people who could not afford to repay them, President Bush now appears to be standing on principle in denying what would surely be an annual bailout event for an industry that refuses to correct its core problems.
The reason that the Democrats are anxious to help the Big Three automakers is not because they need to retool, expand, or modernize. Not because they are on the cutting edge of developing “green” transportation. Not because they are facing voracious competition from foreign manufacturers who are heavily subsidized by their own countries. No, the reasons is to bail these automotive morons out from having to pay exorbitant amounts for health and pension plans to their union workers and retirees.
It is easy to point the finger at the “greedy unions” but, in this case, that falls far short of the mark as to who is really to blame. In this case, it is a steady stream of incompetent senior managers who were complicit in creating this mess.
Continue reading "Stop the Bailout of the Big Three"
by In the news
Wednesday, November 19. 2008
Moore Information Polling Press release, U.S. Voters: Jobs and the Environment, November 18, 2008
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by In the news
Tuesday, November 18. 2008
 From State Senator Jason Atkinson Office:
SALEM – Senator Jason A. Atkinson (R-Central Point) will introduce Kurdistan’s High Representative to the United States, Qubad Talabani, to key companies in Oregon industry on Thursday, November 20. The trip will include stops at the Oregon Food Science Center and the first Oregon to Kurdistan Agriculture Summit.
“Oregon and Kurdistan share several unique bonds,” said Atkinson. “Both regions have strong agricultural sectors that provide thousands of stable, family wage jobs, and both regions share a love for freedom. Together, Oregon and Kurdistan can help one another grow more prosperous and free.”
Continue reading "Sen. Atkinson to host Kurdistan representative on Oregon ag tour"
by In the news
Tuesday, November 18. 2008
By Richard Leonetti,
One big reason for lack of opposition to new local taxes is a feeling by some that their vote does not matter. In 1998, bond measures for the Convention Center and Light Rail were defeated, yet both were built in spite of the peoples vote. The Convention Center was a dismal, expensive failure proving the people knew what they voted for even though their wishes were ignored. The taxes continue on.
Another possible reason is the very high proportion of state and local workers and school teachers who live in Portland. Not only do they supply the big money (often the only money) supporting these taxes but they have a direct beneficial interest in passing them. These higher taxes directly make possible their better salaries and substantial benefit packages.
Continue reading "Why does Portland love taxes?"
by Todd Wynn
Monday, November 17. 2008
 Plug-in electric vehicles have hit the market here in Oregon. A plug-in electric vehicle runs on batteries that can be recharged by connecting to an electric power source and uses no fossil fuel if its batteries are charged from nuclear, hydroelectric or other renewable resources. Compared to internal combustion engines, advocates profess that plug-in vehicles will reduce air pollution, dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gases. Although plug-ins may be good for the environment, the subsidies and tax credits attempting to jumpstart the adoption of the electric car are misguided and unnecessary.
Continue reading "Hey Buddy, Can You Spare a Charge?"
by In the news
Sunday, November 16. 2008
 Let’s talk for just a moment about Jasmine the tree-sitter in Salem.
You may have heard on the radio news about Jasmine the tree-sitter. She’s a young college student sitting up in a tree in Salem. She’s unhappy and the group that she’s associated with is unhappy, too, because they believe Oregon logging should not increase.
There is a thing called WOPR, the Western Oregon Plan Revision, that they say would increase logging in Oregon on public lands by about 436%. Now, you say, “I think that would be a great idea, to increase logging in this state within sustained yield. That you can log at those levels indefinitely. Always growing more trees than you actually cut down.”
But, you see, Oregon has decided to follow the path of the environmental extremists who say “no logging is good logging.” Because of that, they are bound and determined to bankrupt this state, its counties, its schools, its roads and eventually its citizens.
Jasmine the tree-sitter is just a naïve part of that plan.
"For more Lars click here”
by In the news
Sunday, November 16. 2008
by Jerry Dawson
Saturday, November 15. 2008
 Oregon’s brave and proud governor, Ted Kulongoski, will seek to delay the new, “tough” graduation requirements for Oregon’s high school students. This is the correct course of action. It must be done and done soon. Here is why:
Continue reading "Governor Right to Delay High School Grad Requirements"
by In the news
Saturday, November 15. 2008
 Text and trasncript of Sarah Palin's SPeech before the Republican Governor's Association:GOV. SARAH PALIN, R-ALASKA
PALIN: Thank you so much. Thank you, Governor Perry. Thank you, Governors. Honored to be here. Get to speak with and to my fellow governors. It hasn't been that long, I think, since we all gathered, but, I don't know about you, but I managed to fill up the time. Let's see, I...
(LAUGHTER)
I had a baby. I did some traveling. I very briefly expanded my wardrobe.
(LAUGHTER)
I made a few speeches, met a few VIPs, including those who really impact society, like Tina Fey.
(LAUGHTER)
Continue reading "Transcript of Sarah Palin speech before GOP Governor Assoc."
by In the news
Friday, November 14. 2008
From Oregonians In Action,
As some of you already know, U.S. District Judge Owen Panner ruled yesterday that Jackson County's approval of Measure 37 waivers created a contract between the property owner making the Measure 37 claim and the County, and that the passage of Measure 49 breached (violated) that contract.
Judge Panner also held that Jackson County's decision to approve a Measure
37 waiver was a quasi-judicial decision, and the passage of Measure 49 could not interfere with that decision. To do so, according to Judge Panner, would violate the separation of powers between the judicial and legislative branches.
Continue reading "Federal Judge Restores Measure 37 Claims"
by In the news
Friday, November 14. 2008
 By Margaret Goodwin
A lot of people this year told me proudly they were going to vote their “principles” rather than voting for the “lesser of two evils.” Then they proudly and solipsistically cast their ballots for Dave Brownlow, knowing that Brownlow didn’t have a chance of winning, knowing that Merkley is on the far left, and knowing that it was going to be a very close race. I agree that Gordon Smith isn’t as conservative as he should be, as he used to be, or as I’d like him to be. But handing the election to Merkley to spite Smith is like chopping off your tongue because you have a bad taste in your mouth.
Continue reading "Constitution Party has become the Spoiler Party"
by In the news
Friday, November 14. 2008
By John Wight,
Media endorsements are a fixture of the political season. But have you ever wondered who are the people who make them? The endorsements are not insights delivered from on high but rather the opinions of ordinary people who are trying to use their extraordinary access to the public to influence the election.
But what do they know that the citizens don’t know? What goes into their decision-making? Why would anyone care what he or she thinks? To answer those questions, we need information, or transparency, so this political season I asked Willamette Week and The Oregonian to make their endorsement systems transparent. When asked to come in for an endorsement interview, I sent the following email:
Continue reading "Media endorsements in the age of the new left"
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