The House of Representative unanimously passed SB 649. ‘Bailey’s Bill’ would close a loophole in state law that lets teachers off with lighter penalties than coaches for sexually abusing students.

“I am proud to have gotten this important legislation across the finish line, but the true champion is Bailey,” said Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena), the author of the legislation. “Her courageous voice and strong advocacy made it possible. Thank you to my colleagues in the House for passing this important bill.”

Representative Bobby Levy (R-Echo) carried the bill on the House floor.

“Bailey’s advocacy will give other girls access to justice that she did not have access to,” Representative Levy said. “It’s been an honor to work with her to pass this bill in the Legislature. It will make our communities a little bit safer for young Oregonians. That is something I am extremely proud of.”

SB 649 now heads to the Governor’s desk for her signature.

The legislation is named after Bailey Munck, a student at Weston-McEwen High School in Athena. In 2019, she was sexually abused by her English teacher after a state playoff volleyball game in Coquille. The teacher was the scorekeeper for the volleyball team.

After pleading guilty to sexual harassment and touching, her abuser spent only 2 days in jail and 5 years of probation. He did not have to register as a sex offender. If he would have been Bailey’s coach, he would have been convicted of a Class C felony and received up to 5 years in jail and a $125,000 fine. Because he was Bailey’s teacher, he barely got a slap on the wrist. SB 649 would put teachers on the same level as coaches for penalties of crimes of sexual abuse in the second degree.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-11 16:43:29

Last Update: 2021-06-11 16:49:23

The Oregon House of Representatives has voted to expel Representative Mike Nearman (R-Independence) for his December 21, 2020 exiting of the Capitol which allowed people into the building. Criminal charges have been filed against Nearman, who has maintained that the Capitol should be open during the legislative session. No legislator has ever been expelled from the body in the history of the State of Oregon.

The case has made national news as a video -- recently leaked from evidence in the trial against him -- has come to light showing him speaking to a group from Oregon Citizens Lobby about entering the Capitol during one of the 2020 special sessions.

Article IV, Section 15 of the Oregon Constitution describes expulsion from the Legislature. "Either house may punish its members for disorderly behavior, and may with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member; but not a second time for the same cause."

In his speech on the motion to expel him, Nearman read the portions of the Oregon Constitution which talk about the right of the people to instruct their legislators and the requirement that legislative deliberations be open to the public. He chided the assembly for keeping the Capitol closed:

"It’s June 10 and we’re three weeks from the end of the session and this building is still closed to the public. After the afternoon floor session this afternoon, we’re all going to go out to dinner, or stop at the grocery store, or tomorrow go shop for clothes or get our oil changed, because all of those places are open. But not this building."

Democrats brought the motion to expel Nearman in a surprise move just days before he was scheduled to appear before the House Committee on Conduct on a complaint that he created a hostile work environment. The expulsion vote required a 2/3 majority, so at least three Republicans were needed to vote to expel. The vote was unanimous, except for the vote of Nearman, who voted not to expel himself.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-10 20:01:34

Last Update: 2021-06-10 20:58:21

Homelessness is one of the hottest topics at all levels of government, but it seems that no matter how much is done or how much is spent, the problem never gets better. It always gets worse.

Now, the Oregon Legislature is considering HB 2004, introduced by House Speaker Tina Kotek. The bill allocates millions of dollars "to support emergency shelters through grants to local community organizations for the acquisition, retrofitting and operation of emergency shelters throughout this state."

The bill first was written to send the money to the Oregon Housing and Community Services Agency to provide funding for low-barrier housing. Low-barrier housing is housing that has fewer rules -- euphemistically known as barriers -- such as requirements that the resident be drug-free, sober, not have pets, etc. It has since been amended so that the nearly $10 million in grant money will be distributed by a non-profit organization, the Oregon Community Foundation.

It's worth asking why the money goes to a non-profit -- especially one where at least nine of the 15 board members are Democrats, and many of them high dollar donors to Kate Brown. Is it because if the money stays in a state agency, there is accountability and if it goes to the non-profit, the public loses the ability to watch the money.

One legislator had this to say, about the bill. "It's appalling, the lack of creativity that we have in finding solutions to the homeless problem. Sending $10 million dollar in a grant to a non-profit so that they can give out grants, doesn't seem like a solution."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-10 12:31:28

Last Update: 2021-06-10 18:20:43

Paul Romero, most recently a candidate for US Senate, has announced a run for the Republican nomination for Oregon Governor.

Growing up in Central Oregon, Romero's first venture into public service was as a Navy Enlisted man where he crossed Libya's Line-of-Death, traversed the Red Sea and Persian Gulf in support of Desert Shield, and Desert Storm.

Paul has created “The Contract With Oregon” to reflect the inspirations of Americans like Newt Gingrich and the impacts on the people of The United States of America.

Romero points out that Oregon has made national news regarding several issues including a continued lockdown disregarding CDC updated guidelines, a hard experimental vaccine push, and passing bills that could put an Oregonian with a Concealed Carry Permit into the category of felon.

Asked what makes him different, Romero stated, "I'm not a politician, I'm a pragmatist. A problem solver, problem fixer, and crisis manager. Oregon is in deep crisis. Portland's 800% crime rate increase is unacceptable. My personal goal is to become a true Statesman who represents the people's interest and wants to provide the safety and security each Oregonian deserves through law enforcement, removal of laws repugnant to the Constitutions, and an invigorated economy through lower taxes and eco-friendly industries."

Romero claims that after decades moving to the left, Oregonians are moving right. According to Gallup, Conservatives have a four-point advantage over Liberals in the Beaver state. This trend is especially obvious when we look at Tillamook and Columbia Counties. In 2008 Obama won Tillamook County with a 12.02% advantage over McCain, which was cut in half in 2012 when Romney challenged him. Trump received a 11.46% advantage over Clinton, a 23.48% flip in just eight years.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-10 10:06:58

Last Update: 2021-06-10 12:31:28

Sometimes don’t you just want to cut through all the lawmaking and get to the point?

The IRS was founded in 1913, a little over 100 years ago. Besides raising revenue for public goods, taxes serve to control people. The state has record revenues right now and the Democrat run, public union controlled legislature is still raising our taxes. That doesn’t make any sense you say, that kills the goose that lays the egg. Well it makes sense if you understand the game. The more you’re taxed the less freedom you have and the easier it is to control you.

You don’t have the economic freedom to send your kids to a decent private school because you’re already paying big time for public schools. You are paying for colleges that tell your kids their parent’s world is wrong. Those schools must be the merchants of doom or lose their government grant money which you helped provide.

Your taxes subsidize the purchase of government approved hybrid cars which means the SUV you prefer costs more than it should to meet regulations. Instead of road improvements you are paying for bike lanes you’re not using with each gallon of gas you buy. You drive on deliberately congested roads as the government wages war on the automobile you depend on to live your life. The government solution - toll the roads. You’re paying for big busses and light rail to travel millions of miles with just a few people riding to limited destinations.

You’re paying for inefficient health care you’re not using. Do you know people go to foreign countries to get good health care for about 20% of what we pay in this country? That’s what it really costs when you strip away the bloated bureaucracy, bogus lawsuits, needless testing, over paid administrative staff and a government managed profit structure.

You’re paying to feed, house, clothe, treat and protect people who are in the country illegally. You’re paying to house people who don’t want to work. Both groups are future voters for big government.

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

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

The sky hasn’t been cleaner, nor the waters clearer for decades and still we pay a huge bureaucracy to increase regulations and fines, build inefficient windmill and solar farms with money confiscated from gas and electric ratepayers by the Governor appointed Public Utilities Commissioner. To satisfy Democrat voters, century old dams are breached ruining agriculture and eliminating efficient electricity generation.

You, the taxpayer and law abiding citizen aren’t trusted to own a gun, to speak up against tyrannical government, to visit your elected representative, or decide what your children will be taught in teachers' union -- government – public schools that you pay for.

Your minister is bullied about what to say or the church will lose its tax status. Government protected Facebook decides what you can say or they’ll cancel you. You’re paying an inefficient regulatory bureaucracy huge fees to be inefficient, to delay or deny your plans to build or remodel. You’re paying inspectors huge fees to shut down your business if you resist their politically motivated rules.

The war on property ownership has government increase its holdings of formerly private property to the point of grossly mismanaged forests, streams, parks and rangeland. The government is not harvesting trees that could give you relief from all the taxes you’re paying. You’re paying for district attorneys that don’t prosecute criminals, future voters for government that wants to control you. If you own a commercial building you are paying property taxes to a government that put your tenants out of business. Apartment owners house increasing numbers each year and are rewarded with huge penalties if they manage their property as a business. Do you sometimes think that it’s heads tyrannical government wins, tails you lose?




--Tom Hammer

Post Date: 2021-06-10 09:48:35

Last Update: 2021-06-10 10:06:58

Representative Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie) has been removed as Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources for his sending of texts to another member, Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) seemingly asking for a date. Despite conclusions of an investigator to the contrary, local media attempted to cover for Representative Witt.

Representative Breese-Iverson was texting Representative Witt to ask for a vote, and he was responding with offers to "get a beer" and other requests.

Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) issued a letter to members of the House. “In my authority as Speaker, I am removing Representative Witt as chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. I hold all chairs to a high standard of conduct, and Representative Witt failed to meet that standard.”

Freshman, Zach Hudson (D-Portland) has been named chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-09 17:14:11

Last Update: 2021-06-11 17:27:07

Senate Republicans moved to debate a measure that would have repealed taxes on basic necessities. Under current law, prescription drugs, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and baby formula are taxed under the corporate activities tax. SB 521, a Republican proposal, would exempt these items from taxation.

Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) made a motion to withdraw SB 521 from committee to give the Senate a chance to debate and vote on the measure.

“As the vice-chair of the Senate Health Care Committee, we have spent a lot of time this session talking about how to decrease the cost of prescription drugs,” Senator Knopp said. “This whole time, this basic policy to help bring down the cost of prescriptions in Oregon has been stuck in committee.”

Senate Democrats voted down the motion, continuing taxation on these basic necessities.

The most recent revenue forecast has shown that the state is swimming in cash, with billions of tax dollars above projections. This shows tax relief for working Oregonians will not harm the financial health of the state.

“It’s unconscionable that Oregon is unnecessarily raising the cost of basic necessities for working families,” said Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Lyons). “Diapers, baby formula, prescription drugs, and feminine hygiene products are things Oregonians need for their families and their health. The state has brought in record amounts of money, there is no reason to be nickel and diming Oregonians by taxing these items.”

SB 521 will remain in the Finance and Revenue Committee where the Democrat chair will have an opportunity to hear and pass the bill.

Senate Republicans also voted to consider a measure that would end the Governor’s never-ending emergency declaration. Senator Brian Boquist (I-Dallas) made the motion to withdraw SR 2 from committee and debate the proposal on the Senate floor.

“The COVID emergency is over,” said Senator Kim Thatcher, a chief sponsor of the legislation. “The Legislature needs to start acting like a co-equal branch of government and use its constitutional power to end the Governor’s unchecked emergency powers. I will continue to stand up against the Governor and her abuses of power, but until we have a majority party that is willing to do the same, nothing will change.”

SR 2 was voted down by the Democrat majority. It will remain in the Rules Committee where the Democrat chair has the opportunity to hold a hearing and bring it to a vote.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-09 12:19:58

Senate Republicans proposed an addition to HB 2954 to allow more students options in their education.

The minority report, carried by Senator Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River), mirrors the bill passed out of committee, but would also raise the decade-old arbitrary cap on virtual public charter school enrollment from three percent to four percent of the school district’s student population.

“The reality is, many students don’t thrive under traditional learning models,” said Senator Thomsen, the vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee. “Virtual public charter schools are a great option for many kids for many different reasons, whether it be bullying, the flexibility to learn at their own pace, or to accommodate mental and physical health conditions. The current cap is a cap on student potential. It doesn’t serve what should be the main goal of our education system: to serve Oregon students’ needs and set them up for future success.”

Despite overwhelming support from families and students to raise the cap, Democrats voted in lockstep to defeat the motion to include this provision.

“This is the time for real education reform,” said Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Lyons). “This session, the Democrats have lowered education standards and avoided meaningful reform by throwing more money at a failing system. School choice is fundamentally about giving students, regardless of wealth, the best education possible for them. Republicans will continue to be the party of educational opportunity and school choice.”

Increasing the cap on virtual charter schools would have been a small victory for those trapped in a system that doesn’t meet their needs. For communities of color and low-income households, too few education options exist. Without options, families will be stuck in a failing system that hinders upward mobility. Giving these families the freedom to choose an education that works for their students correlates with increased academic achievement.

Despite promising to promote “Access and Equity in Public Education,” Senate Democrats have blocked all school choice measures from advancing this session, including a measure that would have completely lifted the cap on virtual public charter school attendance. Senate Democrats held a public hearing for SB 240, but only after it was ‘dead’ due to legislative deadlines.

Public support for school choice has skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic. Traditional, government-run public school models were no longer a viable option for many, including our most vulnerable populations. When Governor Brown shut down schools in the spring of 2020, students and parents flocked to virtual public charter schools. The current three percent cap on enrollment led to record transfer rejection numbers. Since July of 2020, the Oregon Department of Education has received at least 839 rejection appeals, the vast majority of which have been upheld without reasonable explanation as to why.

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

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

Yet, at least 41 school districts in Oregon have exceeded the three percent cap on virtual public charter school attendance, further demonstrating the demand for education alternatives. New data from Real Clear Opinion Research finds overall support for school choice is increasing as parents need more options than ever before:

• 69 percent of Democrats and 75 percent of Republicans back school choice, the highest level of support ever recorded from major American Federation for Children polling. The support is also consistent among various ethnic groups: 73 percent White; 68 percent Hispanic; 66 percent Black; and 66 percent Asian.
• 66 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of Republicans support parents having access to a portion of per-pupil funding to use for home, virtual, or private education if public schools don’t reopen full-time for in-person classes.

The minority report for HB 2954 was voted down by Democrats. The Senate passed the original bill that carries the same language but fails to provide necessary education options.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-09 10:38:04

Last Update: 2021-06-09 12:19:58

Senator Dennis Linthicum (R-Klamath Falls) gave a speech on the Senate floor blasting the government’s response to COVID-19. According to the Senator, from Dr. Fauci, OHA Director Patrick Allen, and on to Governor Kate Brown, Oregonians were misled about the viruses' origins, masks, and virus transmission.

“Fauci’s emails are a perfect example of what happens when politics is put before science and when power is pursued before good policy. Governments at all levels were weaponized into bureaucratic machines of destruction that trampled on Oregonian's freedoms. When the government mandates are followed without the careful review of evidence and science, tyranny is the only result.

“Built on flimsy evidence, masks have now become a cult-like religious symbol. Despite the data coming in from around the world, some are so committed to masks that they will never take them off. The lies, the fear-mongering, and the propaganda were, and are, unwarranted by science. Public recognition is now breaking through the government’s façade and it is being exposed for what it has always been. Government agencies have mistakenly devastated the health, outlook, common sense, and financial stability of many of our most vulnerable populations.

“It is well past time to give Oregonians their liberties back. It's beyond time to allow Oregonians to make calculated risk assessments about their own lives and their own risks.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-09 10:33:50

Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) has introduced House Resolution 4 to formally censure Representative Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie).

The resolution was introduced following the failure of the House Committee on Conduct to agree on appropriate consequences for Representative Witt’s violation of sexual harassment rules.

“This response is necessary for us to take as a legislative body to declare that this kind of behavior has no place in our Capitol,” said Representative Boshart Davis. “This should have been recommended by the House Committee on Conduct, but unfortunately they failed to reach agreement. Furthermore, the announcement from the Speaker’s office that merely takes a gavel from someone who committed sexual harassment is an inadequate response to address a hostile work environment in the building. I want victims to know that it is safe to come forward, and this is the only way.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-08 20:02:49

Last Update: 2021-06-08 20:17:47

State Representative Mark Owens (R-Crane) introduced HB 3407 to ban the implementation of vaccine passports in Oregon and protect the privacy and rights of Oregonians.

“Requiring proof of vaccinations via a vaccine passport program is wrong and it opens the door to myriad problems,” said Rep. Owens. “It's a violation of our privacy and our freedoms, it’s discriminatory, and it shows the Governor doesn’t believe Oregonians can be trusted.”

The legislation would prevent any public body -- state, local or special government body -- from issuing a requirement for proof of vaccination through a vaccine passport from COVID-19 or variants of COVID-19.

“Let me be clear -- this is not an argument over COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s about Oregonians’ rights. I believe the choice to get a vaccine is a personal, private medical decision that should be made between an individual and their medical provider, and that Oregonians should be free to make that choice for themselves,” said Owens.

In addition, in order to prevent discriminatory actions and repercussions, it would prohibit a person or public body from being able to legally require an individual to state or document vaccine status against COVID-19 to access credit, insurance, education, facilities, medical services, housing or accommodations, travel, entry into this state, employment or purchase goods or services.

It would also prohibit these entities from being legally able to require an individual to wear a face covering if the individual does not wish to disclose vaccine status.

The bill applies only to the COVID-19 vaccinations and would not change any current laws with regards to immunizations for other restrictable diseases for schools and children’s facilities.

HB 3407 is requested in partnership with Eastern Oregon Counties Association and would go into effect immediately upon passage. At the time of press, the legislation has 12 Chief Co-Sponsors including House and Senate members and bipartisan support in the House.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-08 09:52:56

The Oregon House of Representatives is poised to expel one of it's members. House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland), failing to get Representative Mike Nearman to resign his seat, has introduced HR 3 which would expel Representative Nearman from the Legislature.

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Oregon:

That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the Eighty-first Legislative Assembly, find that Representative Mike Nearman has engaged in disorderly behavior within the meaning of Article IV, section 15, of the Oregon Constitution, and be it further

Resolved, That, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives, Representative Nearman be expelled from the House of Representatives and that Representative Nearman’s seat be considered vacant.

Speaker Kotek introduced the resolution to expel Nearman in a surprise move just two days before he was scheduled to appear before the House Committee on Conduct. That meeting has since been cancelled. Insiders are speculating that for some reason, Speaker Kotek and her fellow Democrats were afraid to let that process go forward, and chose instead just to bring an expulsion measure to the floor. The expulsion vote requires a 2/3 majority, so at least three Republicans were needed to vote to expel.

A special committee has been created to have a hearing on HR 3, The House Special Committee On December 21, 2020. The resolution will be heard Thursday afternoon at 3:00pm. For those wishing to submit testimony, a link has been provided on the Legislative website. The committee will also be taking live, virtual testimony from the public.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-08 07:36:39

Last Update: 2021-06-08 20:02:49