In the wake of a bombshell Oregonian story that the Oregon Health Authority buried a report that described minimal changes in drinking habits by increasing beverage taxes, House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich echoed the outrage expressed by other members of the House.

“Let’s start with the obvious: there is no universe where OHA should have hidden this report from the public," said House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River). "Their job is to make an informed recommendation to the legislature about how to best pursue better health outcomes for Oregonians while also weighing the economic impacts. OHA has potentially compromised the entire task force by putting it’s thumb on the scale.

Helfrich continued, "Cute statements about how a 2% reduction in consumption is “potentially huge” do not excuse what might one of the most brazen attempts at a cash grab by a government agency and I want to know who made this decision to not release this information. Further, OHA’s willingness to cripple our beer, wine, spirits, and hospitality industries while defrauding the legislature is a disgrace. It may seem like we’re making a mountain out of molehill, but this is the same agency that is responsible for collecting data regarding drug use and treatment under Measure 110 initiatives. Data that we’re being told doesn’t exist, is too hard to collect, or can’t be used.

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

OHA’s behavior calls all of that into question," continued Helfrich. "Do we not have the data? Or is it that the data confirms what everyone is seeing: that M110 is a disaster, that current leadership has horrifically failed with programs that don’t work, and that throwing money to connected special interests has failed to deliver results – and never will. OHA has a lot of explaining to do.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-29 16:43:42