With a few days left in the Legislative session, Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego) and Representative Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville) introduced HR 6 in a last-ditch effort. House Resolution 6 declares racism to be a public health crisis in this state.

Following the misleading of 209 county, state, and local leaders who have declared racism as a public health crisis or emergency as a step to advance racial equity and justice in the allocation of resources and strategic action.

A New Kind of Hate? Equity is the opposite of equal opportunity. Equity demands an equal outcome and that only happens when you gerrymander to favor one group or another. At the turn of the century the Democrat leadership was pushing tolerance. We passed legislation against bullying, harassment, abuse. Where has the party of tolerance gone?

The unconstitutionality of equity favoring race or gender has been ruled by two federal judges: First U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, and federal Judge William Griesbach in Wisconsin.

Even the Oregon Constitution demand equal treatment, not equal outcome, especially Section 20.

Oregon Constitution Article I, Section 1. Natural rights inherent in people. We declare that all men, when they form a social compact are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.

Section 20. Equality of privileges and immunities of citizens. No law shall be passed granting to any citizen or class of citizens privileges, or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens.

How many laws does Oregon have in statute, or has passed this session that can be challenged by the constitution and federal court rulings? HB 3353 is waiting Governor’s signature that requires coordinated care organizations to increase spending on services and programs that advance health equity to socially disadvantaged.

Equity looks at the color of your skin when determining service, the deepest form of racism.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2021-06-24 13:50:50

Last Update: 2021-06-25 09:27:52