CITIZENS FILE SUIT AGAINST THREE LANE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR VIOLATING OREGON’S PUBLIC MEETING LAWS
Press Release:

(Eugene, OR) -Two concerned citizens, Eleanor Dumdi and Edward Anderson, filed suit today in Lane County Circuit Court seeking to hold Lane County Commissioners Rob Handy, Peter Sorenson, and Bill Fleenor accountable for violations of Oregon’s public meeting laws. The lawsuit alleges the three Lane County Commissioners decided to spend tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars hiring new administrative staff after holding a number of private closed-door meetings. The lawsuit further alleges that Lane County Board of Commissioners is regularly violating Oregon’s public meetings laws and will continue to do so if a court does not intervene to stop them.

Oregon’s public meeting laws were enacted in the 1970’s following the Watergate Scandal that resulted in the demise of the Nixon administration. The laws require all meetings of a governing body, such as the Lane County Board of Commissioners, to be open to the public.

The President talks a good game about nuclear power, so let’s get busy. Let’s build some nuclear power plants. What’s holding us up?

There were a lot of things in the President’s State of the Union message that I didn’t like, but one of them I did like was when he said “let’s build some nuclear power”.

Now every time he uses that term “clean and safe nuclear power” it sounds to me he’s trying to figure a way out of building those plants. Why don’t we get busy?

Found from the Enterprise Blog

Oregonians deserve more than stop-gap jobless benefits
By Oregon Senate Republicans,

Salem, OR – Senate Republicans voted to pass an extension of jobless benefits to unemployed Oregonians on Friday, but urged their colleagues to finally take action and end the unemployment pandemic afflicting Oregon. More than 209,000 Oregonians are unable to find work in this blighted economy. “To come along side and help some of the Oregonians who are without a job is the very least we can do,” said Senator Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro). “The long-term answer for struggling Oregon families isn’t another government check, it is a thriving economy that creates jobs and offers the opportunity for employment and advancement.” Despite loudly declaring last session “The Jobs Session[1],” Democrats have little to show for their efforts. Since January of last year, when the first borrow-and-spend stimulus plan passed the legislature, Oregon has hemorrhaged another 50,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Democrats borrowed hundreds of millions of dollars, raised $1.4 billion in new taxes and fees and increased government spending by more than 9%.

Superb Guest Column in The Oregonian
February 04
By Dave Lister

When I ran in the 2006 primary for a Portland City Council seat, I recruited one paid campaign worker. After we negotiated the terms and rate of his compensation, I dutifully had my accountant set up federal and state employer ID numbers so I could make the proper tax withholdings from his paychecks. I did this despite the advice of many that I pay him as a contractor. The reason was simple. To pay him as a contractor would have been illegal. Unfortunately, many campaigns and candidates make the choice, either through ignorance or indifference, to pay their staffers illegally. They also get away with it.

The IRS test for paying an employee as a contractor is not only stringent, but clear. If an employee is a contractor, you can tell him or her what to do, but not how to do it. You can't tell him when to come and go. He must provide his own work space and tools. He must provide similar services to other clients. In effect, he works for you when he chooses to and then bills you for it.

Boehner Taps Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) to Serve as House GOP Leadership Chairman
By Congressman John Behner,

Oregon Congressman Joins Republican Leadership Team, Assumes Post Previously Held by Former GOP Reps. Walker, Paxon, Portman

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today announced he has appointed Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) to join the House Republican leadership team as Chairman of the Republican Leadership, a leadership position previously held by former GOP Reps. Bob Walker (R-PA), Bill Paxon (R-NY), and Rob Portman (R-OH). Rep. Walden will immediately assume the post. Boehner made the announcement at his weekly press briefing.

“Greg Walden is a proven leader and a champion for smaller, more accountable government. We need him at the leadership table as we enter this critical year for our country, and I deeply appreciate his willingness to serve as our leadership chairman,” Boehner said. As Republican Leadership Chairman, Walden will participate in regular GOP leadership strategy meetings and direct key projects such as the House GOP Congressional Transparency Initiative, a reform project aimed at making the House more open and accountable to the American people. Walden will also continue to serve as a deputy whip and deputy chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

Democrats and Republicans vote to override veto on PERS bill
By Both Senate Democrat Office and Republican Office,

Salem, OR – The Oregon Senate voted this morning to override a veto of Senate Bill 897 from the 2009 session. Democratic and Republican Leaders agreed that the bill is crucial to protecting public employees from unfair retirement calculation errors. The bill passed the Senate 28 – 0 in the 2009 legislative session. “A retiree shouldn’t be responsible for state agency math errors,” said Senate Republican leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “Under a policy advanced by the current administration and defended by Governor Ted Kulongoski’s veto, if bureaucrats screw up, retirees lose. That is wrong, and this bill sets things right.”

The bill is intended to protect fairness and encourage accountability in Oregon’s Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). The bill allows more PERS retirees to purchase health insurance benefits, allows all eligible service to be credited towards retirement, and allows a retiree to occupy the Board position designated for a PERS member. “Both Democrats and Republicans feel strongly that public employees deserve accountability and reliability when planning for their retirement,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “It’s a basic issue of fairness. A person who is retiring should know what their retirement will look like ahead of time and shouldn’t be surprised after the fact.”

House Republicans offer health care deduction plan
By Oregon House Republican Office,

SALEM—Rep. Ron Maurer (R-Grants Pass) and Rep. Scott Bruun (R-West Linn) today urged the House Health Care Committee to make health care more affordable by allowing individuals and families to deduct insurance premium payments from their federal taxable income. “We are offering a solution to make health insurance more available to thousands of Oregonians and their families,” said Rep. Maurer, the measure’s chief co-sponsor. “HB 3611 will expand access to care and empower more Oregonians to make their own health care decisions. Further, the bill offers relief to Oregonians who must pay the new tax on their health insurance premiums.”

HB 3611 will provide relief to the 200,000 Oregonians who purchase individual coverage plans but have seen their rates increase by 17 percent over the past year. House Republicans also say the bill will make individual coverage more affordable to uninsured Oregonians.

Senator Metsger Introduces Legislation To Create Transparency In Oregon Campaign Finance
By State Senator Rick Metsger, Press release

Salem, OR-- Senator Rick Metsger (D-Welches) today introduced amendments to SB 1058 which will reform the way campaign contributions are distributed in Oregon politics. The amendments effectively eliminate pass-through contributions from one political candidate committee to another.“This legislation doesn’t try to solve every problem with campaign contributions, but is narrowly crafted to address one essential component that impacts our democracy,” said Metsger. “Oregon citizens deserve to know that when they support a candidate with a contribution that their money will not be passed to another candidate whom the donor may not even support.”

Pass-through contributions are the act of one political candidate committee donating money from their campaign funds to another candidate’s campaign. “This is essentially money laundering that serves to obscure the true identity of a candidate’s supporters,” Metsger said. Campaign finance reform has long been an issue in Oregon. Current campaign law has no restrictions on the amount of contributions received, and limited laws related to how money may be spent. Reform has many facets, but has always met strong political opposition which has halted meaningful change.

Time for a Capitalist for our Capitol?

The February meeting features this front-runner for the Republican nomination for Oregon Governor. Unlike the continuous string of economically illiterate Governors who have afflicted Oregon since the end of Vic Atiyeh’s term, this gubernatorial candidate has actual real-world experience starting and growing businesses. Allen Alley maintains that his 30 years of experience at creating jobs and running enterprises which compete in a competitive global economy makes him the best pick to formulate state budgets.Be at this meeting to hear if Alley deserves the support of those of us long for a leader who will act to reverse the explosive growth of the government class. Hear Allen speak on his innovative idea to “Tax the Government” and how he envisions a more prosperous Oregon.

Oregon Executive Club Speaker Series
6:00 pm, Wed, Feb. 3rd, Portland Airport Shilo

Chris Dudley Tells Mayor Daley "I'm Ready To Defend Our Jobs, Our Workers, And Our Businesses"

LAKE OSWEGO – Today, Chris Dudley sent the following letter to the Honorable Richard Daley, Mayor of Chicago, in response to his remarks stating that he will “be out in Oregon enticing corporations to relocate to Chicago” (Frank Spielman, “Daley Wants to raid Pacific Northwest talent, Chicago Sun Times, 01/28/09): following the passing of Measures 66 and 67:

Dear Mayor Daley,

I have followed with interest your recent statement about coming to Oregon to steal our jobs and businesses. If you pursue this idea, rest assured you will find me ready to defend our jobs, our workers and our businesses. Having spent 16 years in the NBA, l know how to block shots and play defense and I am looking forward to a little one-on-one with you to protect and defend Oregon’s future. If the current crowd in Salem won’t stand up for Oregon – I will.

Why Chicago Loves Portland -- Mayor Daley has his eye on jobs from high-tax Oregon.
Wall Street Journal Editorial,

For virtuous tax competition, we usually think of Hong Kong. But who would have thought of Chicago as a lower-tax refuge?

The bright idea comes from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who is looking to lure employers from Oregon after that state's voters approved a huge tax increase last week. The tax hike in Oregon "will help our economic development immediately. You'd better believe it," Hizzoner told the Chicago Sun Times late last week. "We'll be out in Oregon enticing corporations to relocate to Chicago."

Oregon raised its top income tax rate to 11% from 9% and its corporate rate to 7.9% from 6.6%, while doubling many small business tax charges and fees. "What happened in Oregon is not good news for Oregon," explains Mr. Daley. "They believe that anybody who makes $125,000 or more [annually] or businesses or anyone who makes $250,000—they're gonna start taxing them. They call them 'rich people.'"

Some of the Issues for the February Special Session
By State Representative Kim Thatcher,

Annual Sessions: a proposed ballot measure which would allow the legislature to meet every year instead of every two years. Senate Joint Resolution 41

Unemployment: a plan is in the works to extend unemployment benefits for Oregonians who have run out. Another would allow up to $2400 of benefits to be tax exempt. Senate Bill 1034

Ethics: an attempt to stop the revolving door of legislators accepting jobs in state government. Instead they would have to wait until after the next regular legislative session is over. House Bill 3638

Water: look for attempts to require permits and limit the amount of water allowed from new exempt wells in areas where groundwater is limited and to add additional bodies of water designated as navigable.

NY Daily News has article here.