In a letter addressed to Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, Oregon Elections Director Deborah Scroggin has submitted her letter of resignation. She is the second Elections director on a row to resign shortly after a general election. In 2020, almost exactly two years ago, Election Director Steve Trout resigned.

“Deborah has a lot to offer elections administration at a time when this work is so critical for our country,” said Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. “I thank Deborah for her service to Oregon and wish her the best of luck in the future.”

Scroggin‘s resignation will be effective January 20th, 2023. Molly Woon, Strategic Projects Director and Senior Advisor to Secretary Fagan, will take over as Interim Director until a permanent replacement is hired.

Ms. Woon has over 15 years’ experience in public service, working in the state legislature, in city and county government, and in the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office for Secretary Fagan and former Secretary Jeanne Atkins. In her current role, she serves as the primary liaison between the Secretary and the Oregon Association of County Clerks and accompanied Secretary Fagan on the vast majority of her 36 county elections office meetings in the past year. Among her recent projects, she led the work to disperse $2 million in election modernization funds, she is leading several innovation projects focused on election modernization, and she was responsible for day-to-day coordination between the Elections Division and the Secretary of State’s Executive Team during the November 2022 election.

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“Molly Woon is the perfect fit to provide stability in the Elections Division during this transition,” said Secretary Fagan.

In her letter to Secretary Fagan, Scroggin said,

I am writing to inform you that I am tendering my resignation as Director of the Oregon Elections Division effective January 20, 2023 I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve Oregonians in this position. After careful consideration, I have decided to seek other opportunities outside the Secretary of State’s office.

We are at an extraordinarily challenging time for elections officials. Mis and disinformation have made the work of administering elections extremely challenging. Increasing complexity and funding uncertainty has stretched the state and counties thin. These challenges make the work we do all the more important.

We have made progress by building strong systems at the state level that will protect democracy in Oregon, and I want to thank everyone on the team for their hard work these past two years.

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-12-09 16:30:31

Last Update: 2022-12-09 16:49:22

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has used her professional position to advocate for online censorship of alternate points of view about COVID-19. She has also used her position as attorney general to support emergency actions that essentially prohibit personal gatherings and in-person political discourse, making online forums the only possible place to discuss these matters. Now AG Rosenblum has joined Democrats in censoring crisis pregnancy centers in an effort to expand abortion access.

AG Rosenblum is vocally supporting the Democrat 2023 legislative agenda to authorize adults not be held accountable for the life of viable unborn humans. She testified before the House Interim Committee on Health Care.

“For generations, Americans relied on the constitutional right to abortion to make deeply personal decisions about their lives. But last June, our highest court declared that right out of existence. While Oregon still has some of the strongest protections in the country, we also border a state—Idaho—with a near total abortion ban. As your attorney general, my promise to Oregonians is simple: the Department of Justice will never stop defending your reproductive rights,” said AG Rosenblum. “I want to thank the Speaker’s Office for bringing these stakeholders together, including from my office, to ensure that Oregon continues to be a leader in protecting full access to reproductive healthcare for all who need it.”

House Speaker Dan Rayfield formed a work group in May in response to the impending Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision from the United States Supreme Court, which later overturned 50 years of precedent and the constitutional right to an abortion returning the decision to the states. In the time since that decision, he claims that many Americans face jail time for seeking an abortion, along with the doctors, nurses and other providers who provide that care. However, Oregon law prohibits such action, so is he wanting to save the nation?

It isn’t just an agenda to protect the right of choice, which is already in Oregon law, they want to silence opposition. From any reasonable standpoint how can Ms. Rosenblum’s actions NOT be deemed government-sponsored censorship. Collectively they stand as clear efforts to violate Oregonians’ First Amendment right to free speech.

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What is misleading public opinion is the Reproductive Health and Access to Care Work Group report. When you are promoting one side of an issue, it is also government responsibility to protect all sides. This report identifies Crisis Pregnancy Centers as an opponent and dangerous to their cause vilifying them providing services beyond pure medical services. They propose to silencing Crisis Pregnancy Centers by including services beyond medical as a violation of Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

The report further proposes to take sexual education out of the hands of parents and local school boards and makes Division 22 standards mandated. The report is completely out of touch with the backlash from parents around the state over the sexual identity curriculum being pushed by the state.

While all the proposals in the report are geared at protecting reproductive and gender-affirming care, the reproductive care only addresses terminating reproduction. It explicitly prohibits harassment and persecution related to the termination of pregnancy, which it claims is occurring. However, it offers no like protection for centers offering genuine reproductive care, which is also occurring.

The report states, “While our work in this state must be applauded, legislative leadership cannot become complacent. Existing gaps in access to care require immediate remedy and the threat of criminalizing health care choices only grows.” It implies that a God structured family and saving the innocent unborn is a threat. Legislation has already villainized parents if seeking psychological care for children thinking they want to change identity.

One can only wonder where in their minds the line gets drawn for what speech is allowed and what is prohibited. Is censorship the 2023 target? What might AG Rosenblum choose to censor next after COVID and vaccine “disinformation?” Now it’s close down criticism of abortion because it threatens women’s freedom to control their bodies. Will they go so far as to cancel pro-life organizations such as Americans United for Life because it is spreading abortion “disinformation?”

AG Rosenblum seems to be contradicting much of her father’s life’s work. Victor Rosenblum was a life-long opponent of abortion and a strong supporter of Americans United for Life. Would Victor have been censored by his daughter?

In 2006, Victor Rosenblum’s colleague Edward Grant quotes him in a National Review article, “Victor Rosenblum was a giant in many fields–political science, administrative and constitutional law, and legal education–but a prophet in one: defending the human rights of the unborn, the handicapped infant, and the infirm aged at risk of medical neglect–and worse.”

Victor Rosenblum strongly disapproved of censorship in the middle of a war, and surely would have disapproved of his daughter’s effort to censor alternative viewpoints defending the unborn.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-12-09 04:37:38

Last Update: 2022-12-10 16:10:32

By its own admission, the Oregon Education Association -- the state’s largest teachers’ union -- finds itself in the throes of a membership “crisis.” According to the union’s most recent documents, OEA reported an active membership of 41,784 out of 48,774 represented educators during the 2019-20 school year. By 2020-21, however, that number had shrunk to 41,127.

During the most recent 2021-22 school year, OEA membership continued to decline to just 40,634 dues-paying members, even though the total number of OEA-represented teachers topped 50,000 for the first time. Nearly one in five teachers have now broken ranks with OEA. In just three years, OEA’s membership rate has dropped from 85.6 percent to 81.2.

These numbers do not reflect the additional 600 Oregon teachers the Freedom Foundation has directly helped leave the OEA since April, when the union’s numbers were reported. All told, the union’s active membership has dropped below 80 percent.

“If OEA wants to blame someone for those defections, its leaders need only look in the mirror,” said Freedom Foundation Oregon Director Jason Dudash. “Our teacher outreach has been increasingly successful, but the arrogance of the unions themselves was a big help.”

Until 2018, Oregon was one of 23 states without right-to-work protections for government workers, meaning teachers and thousands of other public employees were required to financially support union activities.

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That changed when the U.S. Supreme Court, in Janus v. AFSCME, affirmed that mandatory union payments violate public employees’ First Amendment rights.

“Teachers want to teach,” said Dudash. “They’re embarrassed that their students are falling further and further behind every year in the educational basics they need because unions and the politicians they’ve corrupted want to turn our classrooms into indoctrination centers.

“Teachers are realizing their unions support policies that are actively harming the students and profession they love,” Dudash continued. “In Oregon and across the country, thousands of teachers are telling their union, ’We’re sick of this, and we’re done with you.’ That may seem like a crisis for the unions, but it’s great news for the rest of us.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-12-08 11:34:44

Last Update: 2022-12-07 11:53:56

The Oregon Health Authority's Quality Incentive Program has published a new CCO performance metric dashboard so people can quickly find their metric of interest, see individual Coordinated Care Organization trends over time and explore demographic breakouts at the CCO level. The Oregon Health Authority is directed by Pat Allen.

The dashboard is OHA's first presentation of quality measures broken out by Race, Ethnicity, Language, and Disability (REALD) compliant data. REALD is a set of standards that offers more detailed demographic data.

Creation of the CCO performance metric dashboard follows OHA's publication, in August 2022, of the CCO Metrics 2021 Final Report, a summary of performance by Oregon's CCOs in 2021, which showed the results of Oregon's Quality Incentive Program. The program provides financial rewards to CCOs for improving the quality of care provided to Oregon Health Plan members; the report highlighted statewide performance for 14 incentivized measures.

The report showed that although the COVID-19 public health emergency continued and the Delta variant drove a surge in hospitalizations and deaths, performance on CCO incentive metrics began to rebound in 2021 after sharp declines in 2020. However, the report showed only statewide averages for all CCO members, which can disguise inequities.

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The REALD data included in the CCO performance metric dashboard includes data broken out by up to 42 race and ethnicity groups that were determined by the most affected communities. The metrics data is also broken out by up to 58 languages, including sign language and other less-commonly spoken languages. OHA will continue to refine how REALD data is used and reported in this dashboard and elsewhere.

Benefits of REALD data:

Identifying and addressing inequities by REALD categories is essential to OHA's strategic goal of eliminating health inequities by 2030. For example, Oregon is one of the first states in the United States to collect and publish health data on Pacific Islanders from countries affected by the Compact of Free Association treaty. The treaty is the result of U.S. military occupation, atomic nuclear testing and ballistic military exercises that contaminated much of the environment and impacted the health of generations. There is very little health data on COFA citizens in Oregon and the collection of REALD data will allow the agency to understand how they have been affected by health inequities and state policies, and ensure that CCOs work toward improving access and quality of services for this community.

The CCO metric performance dashboard shows trends and disparities, but not why they are happening.

"The dashboard is a starting point, laying the groundwork to engage communities in the future direction of the CCO Quality Incentive Program. Relying on quantitative data alone can have negative impacts," said Stacey Schubert, director of Health Analytics at OHA. "Context and community input and engagement are needed to understand the meaning of the quantitative data in the dashboard."


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2022-12-08 06:05:41

Last Update: 2022-12-07 11:34:44

Governor Kate Brown today ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

"We benefit every day from the bravery and sacrifice of our U.S. service members, and especially owe a debt of gratitude to the people who served and gave their lives in Pearl Harbor and World War II," said Governor Brown.

"I encourage all Oregonians to take a moment to reflect on that sacrifice and express gratitude for the freedoms our fellow Americans have ensured through their service."


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2022-12-07 09:03:45

Last Update: 2022-12-07 10:37:57

On January 6, 2021, four Brunson Brothers watched in dismay as 387 members of Congress along with Vice President Mike Pence voted against the proposition to investigate the claims that there were enemies of the constitution who successfully rigged the election. Deron Brunson had begun suing banks in an attempt to show the corruption in the financial world and his experience gave them confidence to sue the current 385 members of Congress along with VP Mike Pence, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

The Brothers filed two identical lawsuits, one being held up in the Utah Federal Court, but the other, filed by Raland J. Brunson has made it to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), Docket #22-380.

What makes this case newsworthy is that SCOTUS has received the case as a national security filing on an expedited basis and bypassed the 10th Circuit Court using Rule 11, even though the 10th Circuit Court denied the case after the fact. Because it was received as a national security, the court can bypass setting a docket time and could hear it at any time on a minute’s notice or dismiss the case for no national security.

SCOTUS has taken a national emergency case specific to whether the 388 named defendants violated their oath to protect the Constitution and the American people. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

If, to protect the country and its citizens, a 10-day investigation was legally and lawfully required, then their oath was violated. On that basis alone, regardless of the outcome of the election, the consequence is their removal from office and losing all eligibility to run again, plus their actions are nullified as if the election never happened.

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Elizabeth B. Prelogar, the Solicitor General of the United States, representing the 388 defendants for breaking their oath of office, responded on Thanksgiving Day that they waived their right to respond on the case. In effect, they told SCOTUS to go forward. SCOTUS has listed it on the docket ensuring a hearing.

There is case precedent in 1877 when the U.S. Supreme Court and five Representatives and Senators took a 10-day pause to investigate to determine the election was correct. Senator Cruz of Texas used this precedent to make his proposal to Congress that an Electoral Commission be immediately appointed “with full investigatory and fact-finding authority to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states.”

If SCOTUS rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it will not affect any down ballot elections or the 2022 elections. It does remove two-thirds of Congress to never run for office again and will affect the jobs of around 12,000 staff. Because it would render the vote never happened, President Trump would resume as President.

Oregon would lose Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer, and Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden voting against the 10-day investigation forfeiting their right to run for another term.

The Supreme Court is set to meet on January 6. The Brunsons are requesting help suggesting people print and mail a letter to the Supreme Court regarding Brunson v. Alma S. Adams et al.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-12-06 18:20:15

Last Update: 2022-12-07 14:24:48

US District Court Judge Karin Immergut has denied a motion to delay the implementation of Ballot Measure 114. Judge Immergut was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019.

Judge Immergut did agree with the state’s request to delay the permitting process for 30 days -- a process the state assured the court will be ready by Thursday.

According to Kevin Starrett of Oregon Firearms Federation, that will provide no protection for anyone who currently owns a standard capacity magazine or anyone who owns a common shotgun which will now be contraband. It also does nothing for anyone waiting to take possession of a firearm they paid for but have not received, if that gun comes with a standard magazine.

Furthermore, according to Starrett, come Thursday even security guards and off duty police will be breaking the law if they are in possession of a standard magazine.

According to the Opinion and Order produced by the court:

[B]ased on the record before this Court at this early stage in the litigation, this Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to meet their burden showing that they are entitled to the extraordinary relief they seek. Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that they will suffer immediate and irreparable harm if this Court does not block Measure 114 from taking effect on December 8, 2022. Plaintiffs have not produced sufficient evidence at this stage to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits of their challenge to Measure 114’s restrictions on large-capacity magazines. Plaintiffs have also failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on their facial challenge to Measure 114’s permitting provisions. With respect to any as-applied challenge, Defendants have stated that they are not ready to implement the permitting requirements and have asked this Court to “enter an order providing a limited window in which Oregonians will be able to purchase firearms even though they do not have a permit, while also allowing Oregonians to apply for and be issued permits.” Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ Motion for a TRO, ECF 5, is DENIED

“This is a lengthy and obviously disappointing decision,” said Starrett, “and we will have more information soon. But for now, unless something really unexpected happens, understand that your rights will be, once again, seriously eroded starting Thursday.”

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--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-12-06 13:26:30

Last Update: 2022-12-06 17:21:51

Over the last three years many were shocked by the heavy-handedness of unelected officials from government bureaucracies such as the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon OSHA. This last week it became apparent that our local government appears willing subvert our free market economy under a small council with two employees.

On November 30th, the Tillamook County Commissioners held a public hearing on Ordinance #88 Business License Fee for Unincorporated Tillamook County. This new fee for businesses outside of cities in the county was so vague in its language that it included definitions such as “‘Doing business’ means to engage in any activity in pursuit of profit, gain, livelihood or any other purpose” [emphasis added]. Worse still was the “Violations and Penalties” section of this ordinance included a “$600.00 for any one offense. . . Each day constituting a separate offence” and “Inspection and Right of Entry.” This means that individuals with home-based businesses believed to be in noncompliance could be forcibly entered by a warrant: Selling firewood or eggs without a license would become a risky business.

Why did the Board of Commissioners consider a hearing on this ordinance? That will have to be answered by the commissioners, but specifically Commissioner Bell. Commissioner Bell sits on the Economic Development Committee of Tillamook County that recommended this ordinance. Reviewing the minutes of the EDCTC back to 2020 reveals Commissioner Bell had primary role in the formation of this ordinance. Bell did not work alone. Bill Sargent, County Counsel, stated during the public hearing that past commissioners refused to hold a hearing for this ordinance. How long has this ordinance been under consideration? That is unclear at this time, due to the amount of documentation that must be obtained and sorted through. What is clear is that in September 2020 Terre Cooper, EDCTC Director, presented this ordinance to the EDCTC Board for drafting.

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Why all the concern about private individuals pursuing economic freedom through various means, many of which are already under multiple state and federal regulatory bodies? Why did Ordinance #88 give the EDCTC the ability to raise fees at any time and be solely responsible for approving licenses and violation fees? How much does the EDCTC need beyond its multiple grants and their $108,000 county budget? According to their website most of their accomplishments include sitting on other bureaucratic boards throughout the county and state and administering small business grants. So young men selling firewood and families selling a litter of puppies in a year need to fund EDCTC staff attendance of Zoom meetings?

Democracy may die in darkness, but economic security dies under the bureaucracy of unelected administrators. The response from the citizenry was sufficient to lay Ordinance #88 to rest temporarily, but it needs to be given a proper burial at sea. Forget a threatening China, communism just came to Tillamook County from the office of an administrator paid by us, rented from our community college.

The second public hearing scheduled for December 14 regarding proposed Ordinance #88 in the matter of a business license fee within unincorporated Tillamook County has been cancelled. Links to Ordinance #88 on the county website to this ordinance are broken.


--April Bailey

Post Date: 2022-12-06 12:46:54

Last Update: 2022-12-06 13:26:30

Several grassroots groups have joined forces to inform Oregon lawmakers of the importance of parental rights for their families. The grassroots coalition is called Unite Oregon Now. According to a press release put out by the group, their mission is to help Oregonians engage more fully with the legislative process regarding issues affecting parental rights.

Legislators are gathering in Salem at the capitol building for Legislative Committee Days this week, December 7-9, 2022. They are preparing for the 2023 long legislative session which begins next month -- January 17 through June 25. The committees will be meeting throughout the three days to discuss topics that may lead to legislation in upcoming sessions, hearing updates on previous bill implementations, hearing reports from state agencies and task forces, and keeping current on the subject areas affecting Oregonians.

The Unite Oregon Now coalition will be offering tours of the capitol building each day during Legislative Days -- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 6-8. Tours will begin a couple short blocks away at the Ike Box coffee shop, 299 Cottage Street NE in Salem, and will start at 11am and 1pm each day. Also from 10:30am-2:00pm at the Ike Box, there will be written materials including schedules showing which committee meetings are most likely to interest people looking to protect parental rights. Breanna Jarmer, Executive Director of Oregonians for Medical Freedom explains, “Sitting in on a relevant committee meeting is a great way to get your feet wet if you haven’t engaged at the capitol before. This is also a fabulous opportunity to meet leaders and members of the grassroots organizations who have been fighting for parental rights and more for years.”

The grassroots coalition consists of: Oregonians For Medical Freedom; Children's Health Defense, Oregon Chapter; Moms For Liberty; Oregon Moms Union; and People's Rights.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-12-06 11:07:00

Last Update: 2022-12-06 14:49:14

The Bend, Oregon City Council plans to declare a vacancy on the Council on Jan. 4, 2023, when Melanie Kebler becomes Mayor. Because Kebler was elected as Mayor in the middle of her four-year Council term, her move to the Mayor’s seat vacates the remaining two years of her seat on the Council (Position 1). The Council Position 1 term expires in December 2024.

  The Bend Charter requires that a vacancy on the Council be filled within 30 days of declaring the vacancy by a Council appointment. Council Rules describe the process for filling a vacancy.

In consideration of the timeline, Council started accepting applications on Dec. 2, 2022.  

Applicants can complete an online application and submit a letter of interest which may address such areas as reasons for wanting to serve on the Council, working as a part of a team and representing various areas of the community. A description of the application process and application will be available on the “Council vacancy” tab on the Bend City Council webpage.  

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Applicants can also come to City Hall, 710 NW Wall Street, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to fill out an application. Please contact Melissa Mitsch to set up an appointment at 541-388-5505 or by email.

  Completed applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. The Council will review the applications then can select candidates for interviews. The Council anticipates conducting interviews the week of January 9 and expects to make an appointment at the regular Council meeting on Wednesday, January 18.

  The Council aims to have the appointment made prior to the start of its goal-setting process, which takes place in late January. Dates, times and locations for all meetings will be available on the City Calendar once scheduled.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2022-12-05 17:15:19

Last Update: 2022-12-05 17:44:26

According to the Secretary of State’s office, counties have until December 15 to turn in their certified election results. As of this writing, six counties, Crook, Curry, Gilliam, Grant, Lake, Malheur and Wallowa, have submitted certified election results.

The Secretary of State Vote by Mail Procedures Manual includes a schedule for county clerks.

• The first item after the election is to date stamp and forward any returned ballot envelopes misdelivered to the correct Oregon county within 8 days.
• Within 21 days, resolve all signature challenged ballots.
• Before certification, resolve all provisional ballots, and reconcile totals by comparing the number of ballots processed to the return identification ballot envelope counts or computer voter history log for the precinct or batch.
• Within 27 days, file an abstract of votes.
• Within 35 days, electronically transmit to the Secretary of State the results for each contest by precinct, and ballot count report.
• Within 45 days, notify voters of the reason their ballot was not counted including not signed and the ballot postmarked to late or postmarked on time but received too late.

The voter manual timeline gives the county 21 days to notify the elector, and the elector has the same 21 days after election day to make corrections or they will be inactive. How does making a non-responsive elector "inactive" coordinate with not cleaning voter rolls?

• ORS 254.431(b) If the elector does not provide evidence sufficient to disprove a challenge alleging that the signature of the elector on a return identification envelope does not match the signature in the voter registration record for the elector by the 21st calendar day after the date of the election, the registration of the elector shall be considered inactive.

The manual does not include requirements for opening and scanning returned envelopes where the public is allowed to monitor the process. ORS 254.478 allows county clerks to begin opening returned ballots and begin scanning seven days prior to election day. Secretary Fagan took it upon her own authority to bypass statute and extended the law to allow county clerks to begin opening 14 days prior to election day. As she did when she sent out 7,767 ballots to non-registered voters.

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan testified in favor of SB 249, which didn’t pass. She wants to allow ballots to be opened and counted when they are received rather than forcing County Clerks to wait until 7 days before the day of the election. She claims the flexibility will allow County Clerks to avoid a backlog of ballots on election day. Added time after the election day has increased nefarious activities in ballot harvesting. Added count time prior to election day will allow unscrupulous people to direct their activities. This proposal is certain to return in the 2023 legislative session.

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ORS 254.470 (6) requires a ballot to have a “postal indicator showing that the ballot was mailed not later than the date of the election.” The manual suggested the county use a fluorescent scanner, if available. The postmaster at the Airport Distribution Center said their ballots are sprayed with a date code that can be tracked every place it goes. Eugene also uses spray codes, but experienced smudging. Lacking a postal indicator on a returned ballot, the county election clerk is allowed to decide whether it is counted or not. There doesn’t seem to be uniform treatment across the state on the use of spray coding or if counties have fluorescent scanners, or how they treat late returns with no postmark or unreadable postmarks.

General opinion on social media is that Secretary Fagan has created a crisis of confidence. She admits that people received two or more ballots, and she says counties issuing duplicate ballots cross-check with other counties. However, several counties, including Lane County, admit they don’t check with other counties for duplicate votes. Marion and Lane Counties have admitted they can print ballots at will without change of custody.

Secretary Fagan also claims that the ballots involved in lawsuits are held separately, however, county clerks knew nothing about needing to separate ballots. In one county, litigation is being used as an excuse for not releasing counts that also gives opportunity to add ballots. Further, it is an option of the county clerk if a secrecy envelope is included.

Oregon is one of 31 states that allows some kind of ballot harvesting. Most states have restrictions for family members, but there are several like Oregon that have no restriction except they must be turned in within two days, and an election official may not collect ballots. In this 2022 election, Tina Kotek hired 400 ballot harvesters that targeted the Gen-Z generation. Some would say that Oregon is grooming a generation of 30 and under that are activists, but not thinkers.

There is no limit to how imaginative politics can be. For some, Oregon seems to draw on the worst ideas and has been very good at selling them to voters. We can look to other states for their inspiration. Oregon has tried to expand voters to include 16-year-olds and prisoners. Now, a new idea, the Public Interest Legal Foundation is suing Howard County, Maryland to block its law allowing a member of the school board to be elected by sixth through 11th-grade students, typically 11- or 12-year-olds. If Oregon voters don’t pay attention to election processes, the state will end up in a more oppressive government.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-12-03 06:04:07

Last Update: 2022-12-04 18:39:27

In 2012 the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) was formed as a membership organization by the Soros Open Society to clean voter rolls. Oregon is one of 33 states that reports to ERIC.

In order to run cross checks on voters, ERIC collects details on inactive and active voters every 60 days, including the states Motor Vehicle licensed and ID databases. ERIC’s database provides a wide base source to influence an election and generate voter registrations by providing states with a list of people that are not registered to vote. In 2020 they located 17 million new voters. The ERIC membership bylaws require the state to solicit at least 95% of these people to register. It has been called a “left wing voter registration drive all paid for by the States.” Their rules further explain that “Under no circumstances shall the members transmit any record indicating an individual is a non-citizen of the U.S.”

You ask, how many voters were removed in the last four years? Oregon has fourteen counties that removed five or fewer voter registrations.

Deborah Scroggin, Oregon Director of Elections, serves on the ERIC Board for Oregon. She was appointed after nearly a decade with the Portland City Auditor’s Office where she oversaw city elections. Her office had close ties with Multnomah County Elections Division orchestrating an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Portland and the Multnomah County Elections Division. The Director Tim Scott, is also the president of the Oregon Association of County Clerks (OACC). The association is not transparent with meetings or records, and it appears the president does not agree with their lawyer. OACC lawyer stated to Secretary Fagan that the clerks are “very concerned” about the centralized voter registration system and the software used that is no longer supported. Bids for a new system didn’t take place as scheduled.

Dr. Frank, speaking at Gathering of the Eagles in Oregon, said most County Clerks are not qualified for the job they are elected or appointed to do. Clerks are elected or appointed with clerical/administrative skills and that may do for their day-to-day function, but they don’t have the skills to recognize insecure election data, faulty technology or out-of-line algorithms.

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Kat Stansell, Grassroots Outreach Director for the American Policy Center, said “I now believe that the ERIC system was part of the coup; hardly anyone, myself included, had heard of ERIC then (prior to the 2020 election). Now, teams of investigators have unearthed reams of evidence, of irrefutable proof of irregularities, of dark money, of hired ballot runners and poll workers, of thousands of cartons of ballots brought in from ineligible sources, et. al. A lot of the highest profile cheating occurred in ERIC member states. All of this has created blow back from those states.”

There is ample evidence that ERIC, who purports to clean Oregon’s voter registrations, does not. The passing of HB 2681 in 2021, which changed retention of voter registration to indefinitely, appears to be a calculated part of ERIC adding new members to their database. Legislation that ignores purging voter rolls is a form of purging voters of their voice, and evidence of collusive activity. The state of Louisiana has cut its ties with ERIC for similar reasons.

U.S. Census Bureau shows that in 2021 26.4 million people moved in the U.S.. ERIC reported in-state movers in the ERIC system showed 4,911,198, in-state duplicate ballots for 281,996, and another 111,923 for deceased voters. Oregon reported that more people moved out than in with a population decline of approximately 10% according to PSU Population Research Center. Portland lost 11,000 residents for the year ending July 2021, and Multnomah County had their greatest decline of -2,321 in 2022.

Secretary Fagan recently announced voter registrations reaching an all-time high of 3 million. The decline in population doesn’t coordinate with the increase of voter registrations as those moving out-of-state remain as registered voters unless they take individual action to have their name removed. Until the voter rolls are cleaned, there isn't a chance for honest elections.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-12-02 16:56:47

Last Update: 2022-12-02 18:07:42