Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced plans for an executive order that would bring some certainty to parents and kids who are suffering under school closures, including a planned return to in-person instruction. Governor Brown has been under pressure from students, parents and Republican lawmakers to open schools to increased in-person instruction, in the face of opposition from teachers' unions.

Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Lyons) issued the following statement:

“For weeks, Senate Republicans have been standing up for students and families who have been left behind by school closures. Thousands have spoken out, marched, and demonstrated for their education. We elevated their pain and stories that have been ignored for too long.

“The Governor’s planned executive order is a step in the right direction to give our students the education they deserve. It is our responsibility as legislators to ensure the Governor delivers on her promises. We know hybrid instruction still is not the best option for students. We look forward to holding the Governor accountable for returning all of our students to in-person classroom instruction.”

In response to this pressure, and despite the pushback from teachers' unions, Governor Kate Brown announced today she will be issuing an executive order to return Oregon public school students to the classroom. In a letter to the Oregon Health Authority and the… , she directed all Oregon public schools to offer universal access to in-person instruction on or before the weeks of March 29 for K-5 students and April 19 for students in grades 6-12.

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"Thanks to the smart choices Oregonians have made, our COVID-19 numbers have declined. All but six counties now meet or exceed Oregon’s advisory metrics for a return to in-person, hybrid learning for all K-12 grade levels,” said Governor Brown. "And, five of those counties meet the advisory metrics for a return to elementary school."

“The science is very, very clear: with proper safety measures in place, there is a low risk of COVID-19 transmission in school. Oregon parents can be confident about sending their children back to a classroom learning environment.”

After the weeks of March 29 and April 19, all public schools in Oregon will operate under either a fully on-site or a hybrid instructional model when counties meet or exceed Oregon’s advisory COVID-19 metrics. Individual students or parents who want to remain in comprehensive distance learning, or who have health needs, may do so. Comprehensive distance learning for all will be an option for school districts when community transmission rates of COVID-19 warrant a transition, as determined by state or local public health directives. No later than March 19, the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education will issue updated guidance to match the directives set out by the Governor.

Continued Governor Brown: “Closing schools in Oregon is a decision I will never forget. Parents, educators, school staff, but especially students have come so far while navigating the challenges of this pandemic. Welcoming students back to every school across Oregon will be a milestone worth celebrating."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-03-05 17:31:58

Last Update: 2021-03-05 17:53:41

In response to community concerns about the rise in violence in Portland, and the calls to increase public safety and respond to calls in a timely manner, the Portland Police Bureau will take steps over the next two days to provide additional officers to respond to incidents of violence and public disorder.

Eight officers from the Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) will work Friday and Saturday evening with the express purpose of following up on shootings that have occurred and responding as quickly as possible to calls. ECST officers will enhance the work already being done by patrol officers.

Police response to shooting calls, especially when there are gunshot victims, takes multiple officers to locate fleeing suspects, render aid until medical help arrives, secure the scene, preserve evidence, and contact witnesses.

"The Enhanced Community Safety Team officers will focus on high visibility and an enhanced police response to incidents of gun violence in progress," said Assistant Chief of Investigations Jami Resch. "Their priority will be apprehending those engaged in this violence which threatens the safety of our community."

The Portland Police Bureau now claims it has listened to community members' calls for a stop to vandalism and senseless destruction that has occurred periodically over the last several months.

Portland Police will deploy additional uniform presence from its three precincts to keep watch in areas commonly targeted by vandals and respond quickly to any calls of public disorder. The community has expressed its desire for peace and safety in neighborhoods and shopping districts city-wide, and these additional officers are intended to be responsive to those concerns.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-03-05 17:03:03

Last Update: 2021-03-05 17:17:47

Several House and Senate Republicans have sent a letter to Oregon Governor Kate Brown, requesting that she "take decisive action and reopen Oregon schools for full in-person instruction immediately."

The letter begins, "As House and Senate Republicans, we are deeply concerned about the detrimental impacts ongoing school closures are having on Oregon students. We respectfully request that you utilize the full authority of the Office of the Governor and intervene immediately to reopen schools to full in-person instruction."

As the governor has tried to steer between the demands of teachers' unions, upset parents and students, increasingly damaged by the disruption of school closures, pressure has been mounting for schools to re-open. In a move that many saw as a policy punt, the governor issued guidelines that allowed schools to partially self-determine their own opening schedule.

The letter references the nearly half-billion dollar federal grant, directed at opening schools, "The state was recently allocated $499 million from the federal government, much of which was intended to get children back into the classroom. We find no reason that this funding windfall is not sufficient to reopen schools, especially when an ever-increasing body of evidence supports that it is safe -- even without the vaccination of teachers."

In a sad note, the letter says that "Students are facing challenges associated with mental health, peer suicides, and social isolation while not at school. Our kids need to be back in the classroom to have the necessary support. Last year, we saw nearly a 40% increase in calls to suicide hotlines among youth. A recent survey shows that over half of 11-17-year-olds reported having suicidal thoughts regularly.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-03-04 19:58:44

Last Update: 2021-03-04 20:20:52

The first “Whereas” in SB 683 states: “Whereas the first slaves from Africa were brought to North America in 1619, beginning a 400-year history of racism toward Black Americans.”

The Smithsonian writes that “the misguided focus on 1619 as the beginning of slavery in the U.S. damages our understanding of American history.”

Senators Lew Frederick (D-Portland) and Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) would like you to believe that SB 683 presents a truth in racial history and it influenced the foundation of law in the U.S. Constitution. Reading thirteen “Whereas” relating to instruction on racist history, there are a number of questions a student should ask. Is this a fair and balanced view of history? Why does the U.S. Constitution mimic the Bible, which rebukes slavery by force? Northwest Observer’s article on “Democrats and the Scar of Racism,” debunks a number of the “Whereas” that leads into SB 683.

Oregonians for Liberty in Education points out that the language in the bill seems to blindly copy the premises of the widely debunked New York Times 1619 Project. If enacted, this bill would mandate the statewide adoption of a 1619 Project-type curriculum for all K-12 Oregon public school students. The bill characterizes the overarching theme of Oregon and U.S. History as racist. It would require all history to be taught through an oppressed/oppressor racial lens. It requires a radical overhaul of the 5th Grade Oregon Trail Unit to characterize all pioneers as motivated chiefly by racism. It describes racism and slavery as foundational to the state and country’s law, economy, justice system, and government.

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The Majority Party agenda this session is all about equality of their own definition. It appears in bills from recycling to taxation to land use, and of course education. This bill states: “Prepare students to confront the immorality of this country’s racist history and to reflect on the causes and manifestations of that racist history.” But, it doesn’t stop with what we learn from history, the curriculum would explore the various mechanisms of transitional and restorative justice that would help Black Americans move forward in the aftermath of racist history.

A mandatory curriculum with no balanced agenda for objective discussion is indoctrination, not equity. It degrades white students to appease adults looking for revenge.

Public hearing on SB 683 on Wednesday, March 10 at 3:15pm.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2021-03-04 18:48:19

Last Update: 2021-03-04 19:02:55

Today, Senator Dennis Linthicum (R-Klamath Falls) issued a statement about Governor Kate Brown extending her emergency orders under the guise of COVID-19 safety measures, even as COVID-19 is undergoing a dramatic decline in Oregon.

Senator Linthicum said:

“The COVID-19 ‘emergency’ is over. However, Governor Kate Brown’s unconstitutional government overreach and unscientific emergency orders that undermine Oregonians at every turn will be continuing. The never-ending emergency declarations create a perpetual excuse for bureaucratic expansion that robs Oregonians of their livelihoods and forces every person to adapt to a lower quality of life.

“If Gov. Brown truly ‘followed the science’, Oregonians would not be subjected to these bogus emergency orders which grant the governor the power to decree the closures of industries, schools and daily life on a whim and under the guise of ‘safety’.

“The statistics show that seasonal influenza has all but disappeared in Oregon as every sniffle, cold and headache has been lumped into the COVID-19 money-pot. They say the flu has disappeared due to masking and social distancing, yet in the same breath we are told we need to be doing more including wearing two or three masks. It doesn’t make sense, but that is the point. Gov. Brown and her cronies continue to instill chaos and concern to maintain unchecked power. This is not an idle accusation. Right now, our national COVID-19 effort has cost more than our entire experience in World War II, while COVID-19 antibody testing data suggests the case fatality rate is far lower than reported. These data suggest there are far better ways to keep people from dying than full-scale draconian lockdowns.

“It is time for Oregonians to stand against Gov. Brown’s power-hungry emergency orders that needlessly infringe on our communities, shutter our businesses and lead to the destruction of livelihoods and our society.”

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-03-04 17:48:43

Last Update: 2021-03-04 18:08:01

Note: This is a Northwest Observer Editorial

While observing committee hearings in the virtual Oregon 2021 Legislative session, the staff here at the Northwest Observer came across the House Business and Labor hearing on March 1, 2021. The public is still not allowed to attend hearings in person, and video is the only way that a member of the public may witness.

The start of the video on OLIS was clunky and apparently the “blue light” that indicates to the committee, staff and others the hearing is now “live” to the public, came on before the chair of the committee, Rep. Paul Holvey (D-Eugene) knew he was live.

We don’t know what was said before the blue light came on but, noticed that the members were apparently discussing something that led to the opening exchange between Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Tangent) and the chair.

State legislators are required to take several hours of mandatory training on sexual harassment, workplace behavior and more.

In this video, an older, white male Democrat leader seems to be what we would call “aggressive” toward a younger female member. Watch the body language of Boshart Davis after the chair’s comment. Women will immediately notice the noticeably discomfort she is experiencing.

It appears that Democrat men in the Legislature (Diego Hernandez, David Gomberg and Paul Holvey) have a problem that the mandatory training is not addressing. They are aggressive toward younger women.

The reporting staff here at the Northwest Observer believe that House Speaker Tina Kotek should open an investigation from the Legislative Equity Office and its Director Jackie Sandmeyer into this video. And believe that Rep. Holvey should be brought before the Rule 27 Conduct Committee.

If this had been a Republican male making such remarks and aggressive behavior toward a younger female member of the House Democrat caucus, this would be “front page news” in all of the Portland media. We understand that Rep. Holvey most likely did not mean anything by his remarks, but in this day and age of #MeToo and #TimesUp, we must hold people accountable for actions such as these. We hope that at the very least a public apology will come from the chair of the Business and Labor committee, preferably on the floor of the Oregon House.

For context, here is the entire hearing from that committee: (The video clip above is at the :24 mark of this longer video)


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-03-04 11:27:08

Last Update: 2021-03-04 18:48:19

Newberg Pool Congested Zone of the Willamette River has long been a contentious issue between property owners and boaters. The 20 river miles has some of the most unique boating regulations in the state due to it popularity in the summer and shoreline development.

From 2010 to 2019 the Marine Board held unlimited number of hearing and discussions with stakeholders on both sides to come to an agreed plan and adopt administrative rules. The rules restrict wakesports to approximately 3 miles with various distances from docks for wake surfing and waterskiing.

In 2019, legislation passed requiring wakesports to complete an education course and maintain a Towed Watersports Education Endorsement and a Towed Watersports Motorboat Certificate decal. Additionally, rules set a maximum loading weight of motorboats at 10,000 pounds for applicants seeking the certification decal.

Boats over that weight cannot be used for wakesports in the Newberg Pool. The Board has issued 631 Towed Watersports Education Endorsement and 406 are issued a Towed Watersports Motorboat Certificate. The average loading weight of these boats is 5,079 lbs.

Just when boaters thought they had an agreement to enjoy their sport, Representative Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie) introduces HB 2725 and Represnetative Mark Meek (D-Clackamas) introduces HB 2555 that reduces the maximum loading weight of motorboat to 4,000 pounds to obtain a Towed Watersports Motorboat Certificate. The bills authorizes the State Marine Board to conduct a study related to increasing prescribed maximum loading weight.

Representatives Witt and Meek didn’t do their research before proposing these bills.

Manufactures are not required to specify the weight of boats they build. Boats specifically designed for wakesports typically provide the weight, but other watercraft that is often used for wakesports don't have a factory loading weight. It will make it a guessing game to register.

Shouldn’t the study come first to justify reducing the weight?

Out of the 406 certificates issued about 188 are 4,000 pounds or less. Wakesports is limited to a three mile stretch with strict distant limitations from residential docks. There is no justification for banning 218 legally permitted craft from wakesports.

If the State Marine Board conducts a study on increasing the maximum loading weight, the 218 boat owners would have an opportunity to be a part of the discussion and not be blindsided by these bills.

As it stands now, both bills have amendments that virtually ban all water craft from the 26-55 mile markers on the river.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2021-03-04 10:53:28

Last Update: 2021-03-04 15:55:27

The Marion County Commissioners have sent a letter to the members of the Oregon House Committee on Housing, expressing their opposition to HB 2100. The base bill itself just calls for a study on housing, but the real purpose of the bill is to be a placeholder for the -1 Amendments which replace the contents of the base bill, in a "gut and stuff" maneuver with 13 pages of directives for Oregon's Housing and Community Services agency.

The bill has no official legislative sponsor, but the text indicates that it was introduced at the request of Governor Kate Brown for Housing and Community Services Department.

The letter, signed by all three Commissioners and focusing on funding, says that "Marion County opposes HB 2100, which would disinvest in our local solutions for existing emergency housing needs and homeless services. The Commissioners are Kevin Cameron (R-Salem), Colm Willis (R-Stayton) and Danielle Bethell (R-Keizer).

The letter continues:

"HB 2100 is Oregon Housing and Community Services' effort to modernize Oregon's homeless response system. This modernization includes moving funding for homeless services towards an outcomes-based system, allows for intentional initiatives to address homelessness, and changes the way funding is allocated for homeless services.

"Oregon's current delivery system utilizes a needs-based formula to allocate resources directly to Community Action Agencies around the state. The Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) receives $2,391,915 to provide critical services and coordination of services to persons experiencing poverty, housing instability, and homelessness in Marion County. MWVCAA's ability to build a network and coordinate services across organizations has been an integral strategy to our region's approach to addressing homelessness and housing instability. The proposed modernization would continue the needs-based approach and maintain regional allocations but restrict MWVCAA 's guaranteed allotment to 80%; the remaining 20% of funds would be made available on a competitive basis to all providers statewide with no guarantee of funds being directed to needs in our county."

HB 2100 has had one public hearing, but the amendment has not yet been adopted. It has not currently been scheduled for further action.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-03-03 17:33:30

Last Update: 2021-03-03 17:48:43

Oregon House Republicans today urged Legislative Democrats to abandon a massive proposed tax increase on beer and wine in favor of policies that would support the recovery of the restaurant and adult beverage industry amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Republican lawmakers contrasted a recently introduced proposal that would exponentially increase taxes on beer and wine producers in Oregon with Washington State’s recent decision to adopt a one-time waiver for liquor licenses in the state.

“No industry has been hit harder by the pandemic than the restaurant and hospitality industry, and by extension the producers of adult beverages,” said Rep. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford).

“In Washington, a bipartisan group of lawmakers had the common sense to provide some measure of relief to this industry. Unfortunately, here in Oregon, House Democrats have embraced the opposite approach to an extreme degree by proposing to increase taxes on beer by 2800% and wine by 1700%. At a time when so many of these businesses are struggling to keep their doors open or have closed permanently and hurt hardworking employees and their families, moving forward with a proposal like this makes no sense.”

According to reports, Washington’s bill could save restaurants as much as $2,500.

HB 3296 introduced by Representatives Tawnya Sanchez (D-Portland) and Rachel Prusak (D-West Linn), would increase the tax per barrel on beer from $2.60 to $72.60.

The bill would increase the price per barrel of wine from $0.65 to $10.65.

“It’s really striking to see the difference between how our two states are treating this vital industry right now,” said Rep. Bill Post (R-Keizer).

“Instead of pursuing outrageous tax hikes, I urge my Democratic colleagues to look for opportunities to support restaurants and producers and to help these businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic and government shutdown orders.”

HB 3296 was formally introduced in the Oregon House on February 23, 2021. The bill has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-03-03 16:10:16

Last Update: 2021-03-03 16:47:54

SB 842 was introduced by Oregon State Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City), following through on his previous commitment to keep Economic Impact Payments in Oregonians’ pockets.

“There is no reason to be ‘nickel and diming’ Oregonians by taking part of their stimulus check.” Senator Anderson said. “The State of Oregon is doing better than expected with tax revenues.”

Because of a loophole in the state tax code, an estimated 870,000 Oregonians will be sending a part of their federal stimulus checks to the state government. Middle-class families are hit hardest.

Senator Anderson’s office had previously indicated that people may have to amend their tax filing or get a tax credit on 2021’s taxes. However, SB 842 includes language that would require the Department of Revenue to send checks for the amount of taxes taken out of Oregonian’s stimulus checks. This is similar to how the Oregon Kicker Tax refund is conducted.

“We realized that making working people jump through hoops to get their money wasn’t the right approach,” Senator Anderson continued. “To ensure that the most Oregonians get their money back, we opted to go for a system that proactively sends checks to those affected.”

SB 842 was first read today on the Senate floor and will head to the Senate President’s desk to await committee referral.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-03-03 16:09:36

HB 3305 was introduced this week and caught many in the legislature off guard. Introduced by Representative Karin Power (D-Milwaukie), the bill looks to remove access to Diesel in Oregon by 2028, virtually turning all vehicles today that run on diesel into scrap metal.

Just two years ago, Representative Powers worked across the aisle with Representative Shelly Boshart-Davis (R-Albany) to find a solution for reducing the amount of Heavy use vehicles in the state that rely on Diesel. Now, Representative Powers seems to want to take the most extreme measure and eliminate all diesel powered vehicles in the state by eliminating their access to fuel.

In a press release from the House Republican officer. Representative Boshart-Davis voiced her concerns.

“I’m not sure where to begin with this bill,” said Representative Boshart Davis (R-Albany). “Our entire economy depends on the free flow of freight by both truck and rail, nearly all of which is powered by diesel engines. There is simply no commercially available, cost-effective alternative to transporting these goods. Of course, the impacts of this bill go well beyond just trucking and freight and would destroy any and every industry that relies on heavy equipment, render tens-of-thousands of personal vehicles inoperable, and put countless Oregonians out of work. Not only was this bill blindsiding, I am also disturbed to see such a blatant attack on working Oregonians.” Under HB 3305, retail dealers, nonretail dealers or wholesale dealers of diesel fuel would be prohibited from selling the fuel in accordance with the following schedule:

• January 1, 2024, nonretail dealers located in Clackamas, Washington or Multnomah County.
• January 1, 2025, retail dealer located in Clackamas, Washington.
• January 1, 2027, nonretail dealer is located anywhere in this state.

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• January 1, 2028, retail dealer is located anywhere in this state.

Representative Boshart-Davis was joined in her concerns by Representative Vicki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville). “There is absolutely no way we can implement this legislation in accordance to these timelines without extreme disruption to Oregonians’ daily lives and the obliteration of our economy as we know it. The supermajority has put agenda over people and our economy. If enacted, Oregonians could no longer rely on everyday goods like food, groceries and medicine being readily available”.

The bill has not been referred to a committee, but will most likely end up in House Environment and Energy.


--Terese Humboldt

Post Date: 2021-03-03 14:46:22

Last Update: 2021-03-07 08:15:01

Editor's note: This article first appeared as a blog post on the Oregonians for Liberty in Education website.

Oregon Sen. Wagner and Sen. Frederick are sponsoring SB 683, which “requires school districts to provide instruction on racist history of this country and state.” The language in the bill seems to blindly copy the premises of the widely debunked New York Times 1619 Project. If enacted, this bill would mandate the statewide adoption of a 1619 Project-type curriculum for all K-12 Oregon public school students.

This bill characterizes the overarching theme of Oregon and U.S. History as racist. It would require all history to be taught through an oppressed/oppressor racial lens. It would require a radical overhaul of the 5th Grade Oregon Trail Unit to characterize all pioneers as motivated chiefly by racism. This bill describes racism and slavery as foundational to the state and country’s law, economy, justice system, and government.

Proponents of the bill argue that “by knowing and understanding our past can we learn from our mistakes and build a better future.” But learning from our past is impossible without context, perspective, and factual accuracy, all of which are missing from this bill and the curriculum that it copies from. James McPherson, past president of the American Historical Association, had this to say about the 1619 Project: “I was disturbed by what seemed like a very unbalanced, one-sided account, which lacked context and perspective.”

What Does This Solve? This bill seeks to fill a hole in our curriculum that frankly does not exist. We do not need additional legislation to ensure that slavery and racist history are taught in Oregon public schools. Current state standards adopted in 2018 include multiple learning targets on slavery, oppression, marginalized people, and civil rights.

The Oregon Department of Education’s most recent Social Science Newsletter highlights the plethora of resources available to teachers on these topics, including radical materials from the Southern Poverty Law Center. In Oregon’s K-5 classrooms, social studies curriculum is primarily Native American history and Black history/civil rights. Slavery, oppression and activism are covered extensively in 8th grade and in high school U.S. History/American Studies classes.

According to the 1776 Commission report, educating citizens requires that students be taught “the principles that unite, inspire, and ennoble all Americans” which can “coexist with the elements of disappointment, criticism, dissent, opposition, and even shame.” “By studying America's true heritage, students learn to embrace and preserve the triumphs of their forefathers while identifying and avoiding their mistakes.”

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SB 683 runs counter to these goals, and in fact many of the goals found in Oregon’s state standards for civics instruction. This bill is divisive and rooted in critical theory. Its intent isn’t the teaching of history, but rather the teaching of grievance-mindedness and activism.

So what is the real goal of this legislation? 1619 Project author Nicole Hannah-Jones has said, “my ultimate goal is that there’ll be a reparations bill passed.” The co-sponsor of SB 683, Sen. Fredrick, has also sponsored an Oregon reparations bill this legislative session, SB 619.

Do we need more curriculum mandates from Salem legislators? Social studies curriculum decisions should be made by historians and teachers. And school districts should have local authority to select appropriate materials for their communities.


--Mary Miller

Post Date: 2021-03-03 09:33:26

Last Update: 2021-03-03 09:42:56