There is an unattended effect of appointing county commissioners to fill vacant Legislative seats. The staggering of election cycles for County Commissioners can be disrupted as has happened in Curry County. They are seeing all three seats up for election at the same time as a result of ORS.204.005, which provides that candidates for county commission be included on the ballot at a primary or general election, if the term of a county commissioner expires the following January or if there is a vacancy for any cause in the office of county commissioner.

To solve this problem, David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) has sponsored House Bill 2244, which provides a statutory basis, through January 2, 2030, to extend the current term of the third county commissioner by two years, when all three county commissioners are not staggered and come up for election at the same time so that the terms of the three offices remain staggered.

At the close of the January 11th meeting that appointed David Brock Smith as an Oregon State Senator, Commissioner Tim Freeman explained: “This is the 4th legislative appointment in 8 years that I have been involved in, and we have also appointed a clerk, a surveyor, an assessor and a treasurer and an interim commissioner, that’s 9 elected officials appointed in a matter of 8 years. Nine elected officials that, but for one, one gentleman died and that was certainly not an intent of his own, but the others left early. They created the problem. We are here today to try to solve a problem that we did not create. I want to make sure that folks understand that.”

At the January 11th meeting, Commissioners of Douglas, Coos and Curry counties unanimous selection by eight Commissioners led to the next two vacancies. The commissioners chose David Brock Smith for Senate District 1 to replace Dallas Heard, who resigned. That left Brock Smith’s House seat vacant. A month later Curry County Commissioner Court Boice was chosen by the same commissioners to replace Brock Smith. Court Boice’s Commissioner seat was then left vacant and Jay Trost was appointed to replace Boice.

If HB 2244 passes, Commissioner Chris Boice (Court Boice’s 2nd cousin), who is currently in Position 3 would receive the proposed two year extension. Passage of HB 2244 would result in legislation substituting and thus circumventing the voters choice for the duration of those two years.

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Earlier, in 2018, another series of vacancies ensued in Douglas, Josephine, and Jackson Counties when Senator Jeff Kruse resigned on March 15, 2018. Representative Dallas Heard was appointed to replace Senator Jeff Kruse. Douglas County Commissioner Gary Leif was appointed to fill Representative Dallas Heard’s position. Christine Goodwin replace Leif as Douglas County Commissioner. When Gary Leif died in 2021, Commissioner Christine Goodwin was appointed to replace Gary Leif as Representative. Here again, the county commissioners “solved a problem” of 1 vacant senate seat by choosing 2 politicians that were already serving terms of office. Instead of 1 position being filled, the county commissioners chose to replaced 3 positions.

Appointments are frequent in the Douglas County elected positions as well. Of the 6 current elected officials in Douglas County, 4 were originally appointed and 2 were elected by the people. Sheriff John Hanlin and Treasurer Samuel Lee III are the two originally elected.

The Douglas County Clerk and Recorder position has had the last three clerks enter the position by appointment. (1) In 2019 Dan Loomis was appointed to replaced Patricia Hitt. (2) In 2013 Patricia Hitt replaced Barbara Nielsen. (3) In 2003 Barbara Nielsen was appointed to replace Doyle Shaver Jr. Each was later elected to the position as an incumbent. The Clerk’s office is the head of elections.

Special elections and appointments have taken a dramatic rise in replacing elections “by the people” in recent years. A resignation from any elected office breaks a commitment to voters, narrows the field of candidates, and causes disadvantages to unendorsed special election candidates. Whether or not the vacancy is created by the resignation of an elected official, or by commissioners filling a position with another politician serving a term of office, an election “by the people” is bypassed and the voters are disenfranchised.


--Terry Noonkester

Post Date: 2023-03-08 16:53:03

Last Update: 2023-03-07 18:09:31

Representative Cyrus Javadi (R-Tillamook) spearheads opposition to Department of Forestry's Habitat Conservation Plan initiating a letter signed by seven Representatives and Senators of rural and coastal communities. The letter, sent to Governor Kotek and the Department of Forestry (ODF), details opposition to the proposed Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Read the entire letter here.

"The HCP, as currently proposed, would devastate the North Coast," said Representative Javadi. "It would cost good-paying timber jobs and vital revenue that supports public safety services in Tillamook, Clatsop, and Columbia counties."

As proposed, the HCP would decrease harvest timber in North Coast forests by up to 35%. In a February 15 meeting, the Board of Forestry rejected a proposal that would have taken the plan back to the drawing board to balance the community's economic needs better.

The proposed reduction in timber harvest would gut local government budgets, with a total impact of nearly $8.5 million – the hardest hit being local school districts ($4.5 million) and Clatsop County ($3 million). That is equivalent to 12 full-time employees in local government public safety programs. According to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, eleven (11) jobs are created for every million board feet of timber harvested. Thus, the HCP could instantly kill up to 275 family-wage jobs, putting local businesses that serve those forestry workers at risk.

"My first priority is to protect the North Coast from harmful policies from Salem and Portlandcentric policymakers," Javadi continued. "I have drafted priority legislation requiring ODF to do a full economic analysis and engage with various alternative plans before adopting one. This will ensure that the public knows how the ODF's actions impact their community."

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LC 4295, as drafted, would require the ODF to consider other HCP Alternative plans and issue a detailed analysis of how ODF regulations impact local jobs. It will be formally introduced in the coming days.

The letter states, “We urge the ODF to explain and address the shortcomings of the recently released State Forest IPs and suggest removing the HCP constraints from the IPs until an HCP is adopted by the Board of Forestry (BOF). As representatives of the impacted communities, our view is that an alternative plan that achieves the harvest levels ODF claimed their HCP would produce would more appropriately consider the economic impacts of the HCP while also addressing conservation issues that must be rectified.”

“In conclusion, we urge you to direct ODF to improve the HCP to increase timber harvest volumes before it is too late. We believe that by working together, we can develop a plan that better serves our communities while providing adequate protection for sensitive wildlife.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-03-07 13:22:46

Last Update: 2023-03-07 23:47:33

Oregonians are experiencing inflation at a rate over eight percent, gas at nearly $4 a gallon, and a dozen eggs costing more than gas, all while federal subsidies have ended.

Oregon Housing and Community Services will reopen the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Program on March 8, 2023. The program offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief intended to support homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardships due to the pandemic. It provides funding for past-due mortgages and other housing expenses, as well as ongoing payment assistance, to a limited number of homeowners with low to moderate incomes.

HAF was paused on November 30, 2022 to allow the Oregon Housing and Community Services to process current applications and project the amount of federal HAF funds remaining. They will reopen with a focus on homeowners in active foreclosure and those traditionally underserved by mortgage markets. The agency estimates an additional 528 eligible homeowners can be accepted to distribute $29.5 million available. This program will run through 2026, or until funds are expended.

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As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Oregon received $90 million to help eligible homeowners avoid mortgage foreclosures and displacement, and to cure delinquencies and defaults. The HAF program can help homeowners through a Past-Due Payment Relief program and an Ongoing Payment Relief program. Please note that funds are limited and cannot serve all in need.

Homeowners can learn more about eligibility requirements and, if eligible, apply online starting March 8, 2023, at Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund. There is also county housing counseling available, but caution is advised against unauthorized companies or people offering help.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-03-07 12:01:59

Last Update: 2023-03-07 19:43:32

Tillamook County recently made a contract with X4 Health. The deal amounts to $121,500 to make a “coordinated homeless response” for the county. This plan is in response to House Bill 4123, sponsored by Representative Jason Kropf (D-Bend) in 2022. The bill awarded Tillamook County (among several others) $1 million to develop a five-year strategic plan no later than November 2023 or one year after receiving the grant.

The Commissioners did not specify why they were unable to write this coordinated homeless response with the legally required county partners that they all regularly meet with in various advisory committees.

Specifically, Commissioner Skaar has repeatedly stated that this contract must create a “coordinated system of services” for the homeless and no/low barrier housing. No barrier housing is housing that does not have any stipulations to gain entrance, including drug addiction and untreated mental illness.

This intent to implement no barrier housing in Tillamook County was later confirmed by Tillamook CARE Chair Board of Directors, Dusti Linnell, in a recent article in the local newspaper. The Headlight Hearld announced the resignation of their director, Peter Starkey, who had directly reported prior to his resignation that there would be various types of no barrier housing in Tillamook County. This would include a central shelter or other types of housing, as well as “safe parks” in other areas of the county.

Presumably, the X4 Health contract will be funded by the monies from HB 4123. It means the county is giving up one-tenth of this state funding to “end” homelessness for personnel services to write a plan with advisory committee members, Tillamook CARE, and other previously contracted community partners. This is after Tillamook County already worked on a pilot with a sister non-profit to X4 Health, Community Rockit, in late 2021-early 2022.

The Community Rockit plan developed in meetings not accounted for in the Tillamook Board of Commissioners’ meeting logs or agendas until August 2022 can be found online.

Of special interest to the tax payers of the state of Oregon should be the small group sessions of “community leaders” that participated with Community Rockit through Zoom meetings. Their presumptions of how private property owners (including churches, church camps, RV camps, and “under-utilized properties”) could be used to meet their goal that “no one in Tillamook County need live unsheltered” is demonstrated by their “Assets” list in a graphic on the Community Rockit Tillamook County website.

Commissioner Skaar has stated this list was a “brainstorm” of “possible partners.”

So who is X4 Health and what do they do?

According to its founder/CEO, Christine Betchel, “ X4 itself does a combination of social impact design (solving problems that matter at a societal level) and project management.” This ambiguous description of the work of X4 Health is nearly all that is available online, through their Facebook page, and as defined by those who have worked with X4 Health, Community Rockit, or Christine Betchel. In fact, internet searches turn up very little information about X4 Health, if one can find their website at all. Community Rockit ,also managed/founded by Betchel, is more accessible to the public and it is mostly supported by Morris Singer Foundation and AOC (Association of Oregon Counties).

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X4 Health also has global funders such as the Global Development Network and the Health Initiative, and is especially interested in electronic patient records, COVID-19 issues (vaccines and government protocols), and implementation of public health policies, especially regarding equity.

Why is a globally funded contractor working with Tillamook County to resolve their homeless issue? According to Commissioner Skaar and a letter written by the Tillamook County Commissioners on August 16, 2022 to Christine Betchel, X4 Health was invited to bid on this contract based on their work as Community Rockit.

Community Rockit has also referenced the work of Marlene Putman, Tillamook County Health and Human Services Director.

Furthermore, Community Rockit has worked in two other counties assigned funding in HB 4123: Benton and Umatilla.

Umatilla utilized Communtiy Rockit to aid in plans to address mental health issues. Benton County seems to have started with planning their homeless response through the work of HOPE Community Engagement in spring of 2021. These meetings were made available to the public and can still be watched at their website.

Unfortunately, HOPE’s work with Community Rockit does not appear to be as easily accessible.

Community Rockit’s work in Morrow, Eastern, and Gilliam counties is unrelated to HB4123. While time will tell whether Tillamook County, or other Oregon counties, working with Community Rockit or X4 Health will be conducting their strategy sessions in view of the public or whether this globally funded “non-profit” is acting in good faith with the citizens of Oregon.

However, rural communities should be aware that organizations like X4 Health are looking for opportunities to collect lucrative government contracts to facilitate talks with county leaders and compile their input into simple graphics that may represent vast world view differences to the county residents. Whether X4 Health will wield this influence to enforce globalist policies on rural Oregon communities also remains to be seen.


--April Bailey

Post Date: 2023-03-07 06:57:54

Last Update: 2023-03-08 01:19:21

Measure 110 (2020) has become one of the most debated ballot measures by voters. Voters felt that drug prohibition had failed and instead of punishing them for small amounts, they needed help. Voters relied on the propaganda that decriminalizing possession of controlled substance would discourage drug dealers and decrease the drug cartel activity and thus reduce illegal drugs on streets. It was advertised that drugs would be cheaper and easier to get for adults suffering from pain that need medical marijuana. That establishing a drug addiction treatment and recovery program would be paid for by state prison savings and marijuana tax revenue.

The Oregon Health Authority reported that more than 60,000 addicts have been helped from Measure 110. In the first three months the report shows that 18,000 were helped and 42,000 through grants. That included housing assistance, access to treatment and hiring assistance costing $3.1 million and created 200 new jobs. Auditors are saying, not so fast. It is too soon to tell if Measure 110 is working. There is very little structure on how the money allotted $264 million was spent, nor can data be connected to the results. House Revenue has discussed cutting funding up to $60 million.

The decriminalizing part of Measure 110 is making addiction worse. Oregon has seen a 3 fold increase in opioid overdose death in the past two years after wiping out laws against hard drugs. Oregon and Washington offer “sanctuary” to criminal aliens making our state a haven for cartels to operate their massive marijuana plantations using illegals as ‘Narco slaves’ for labor.

The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission Report on Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement states that since the passage of Measure 110, felony arrests of doubled in the three counties reported on: Deschutes, Jackson and Josephine. Firearms taken went from 23 to 156 and the number of illegal marijuana plants went from 13,677 to 551,004

In 2016, Oregon spent about $375 million on drug prohibition compared to 2019 when Oregon spent about $470 million on substance abuse treatment. Now Governor Kotek is aimed at giving the addicted “woke” homeless subsidies in free housing, food stamps, welfare, meals, tents, tarps…all their basic needs, plus $1,000 cash every month for two years to support their drug addiction (SB 603). Maybe she is counting on fentanyl to wipe them out of their misery to reduce the homeless.

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Representative Lily Morgan (R-Grants Pass) with Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Crater Lake) think the homeless are humans deserving to be saved from themselves and have sponsored HB 3549. This bill will restore criminal penalties for possession of controlled substance offenses to levels prior to enactment of the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act of 2020 when person were previously cited for Class E violation for possession of controlled substance.

This bill would take a tiered approach to drug possession and return some accountability to our drug law after Measure 110 passed. It will focus on treatment and keep those from exploiting our system. The tiers work like this:

1. The first encounter would maintain the current M110 Class E Violations.
2. The second would be a felony possession, with eligibility for a conditional discharge. If they meet the conditions on their own, the charges would be dismissed.
3. The third would be a felony charge, with eligibility for drug court. If they complete drug court, the charges will be dismissed.

Overall, Measure 110 did more harm than good. It needs accountability from the state and enforcement to reduce criminal behavior.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-03-06 16:19:28

Last Update: 2023-03-05 16:26:18

Last Monday, SB 795 was given a hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. As you may recall from the action alert in my last week's newsletter, SB 795 would give counties an option to take back forest lands that were deeded over to the State.

Under the original agreement, those forest lands would be managed for the “greatest permanent value”, but the Department of Forestry has lowered harvest levels below sustainable harvest levels, costing many of our counties (including Linn and Marion) and special districts over $1 Billion in tax revenues.

Under SB795, counties could take back ownership (and management) of their forestlands if those counties feel the agreement is not being upheld and that they could obtain more value from the lands on their own.

Senator Girod (R, Stayton) introduced this bill because he also feels that rural counties know better than the bureaucrats at the Oregon Department of Forestry how to best manage our own forest lands—to protect our water, provide habitat, defend our communities from fire, and support our tax base.

With the passage of SB 795 into law, logging could increase once again in Linn County, bringing with it countless jobs and added revenue. I want to thank everyone who testified in front of the committee, as well of all of you that submitted written testimony on OLIS. I would encourage you to continue following along as this extremely important bill continues to move through the legislative process. We will need all the support we can get!

Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist and Will Tucker's testimony can be viewed here.

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My written testimony:

“When two parties enter into a contract, both parties have an obligation to uphold their side of the responsibilities outlined in that agreement. Yet in the case of our forestlands, it is the State of Oregon who is defaulting on its side of the agreement, leaving our rural communities deprived of the tax revenues they are owed—and the compounding effect of those loses for decades. SB 795 would be a small step towards correcting our State’s failure, and I urge your support.

When Counties deeded over hundreds of thousands of acres of forestlands to the state in the 1930’s and 1940’s, it was agreed that the state would manage those lands for the “greatest permanent value”. Yet the Oregon Department of Forestry (DOF) has reduced management practices, repeatedly lowering the revenues off these lands by harvesting below sustainable levels.

To make matters worse, the DOF has ignored the input of our counties in their decision making, committing to a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that will further reduce harvest levels on our forestlands—and with it, the tax revenues owed to our rural taxing districts. This was not the agreement the State made with our counties.

The State has failed to weigh the effect its management decisions have on our counties and has ignored its contractual obligations for these forestlands. Now, our counties want the option to effectively terminate that agreement and reclaim their rightful forestlands—something that is absolutely reasonable when a contact is in breach.”

You can review the entire testimony on OLIS.


--Rep. Jami Cate, HD 11

Post Date: 2023-03-06 09:26:55

Last Update: 2023-03-05 17:20:57

The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office has now received the initial prospective petition filing to establish constitutional carry in Oregon. The three chief petitioners in the effort are: Joel Pawloski, Chair of the Marion County Republicans; Kerry McQuisten, former gubernatorial candidate and former mayor of Baker City; and Jean Sampson, former city council member of Clatskanie in Columbia County.

The title as listed in the petition information is: “Establishing the right to carry concealed firearms without permit.” The proposed text is as follows: “PARAGRAPH 1. Section 27, Article I of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, is amended to read: Sec. 27. (1) The people shall have the right to bear arms for the [defence] defense of themselves, and the State, but the Military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power. (2) The right described in subsection (1) of this section includes the right to carry, without a permit, a concealed firearm.”

Says Pawloski, “Constitutional Carry is an important right for the safety and security of all Oregonians. The failures of leadership in Oregon are endemic. With ballot initiatives, the people of Oregon act as our own legislators under the Oregon Constitution, and it’s time we take the lead on this subject.”

McQuisten concurs. “We’ve watched so many over-the-top gun-grab attempts in Oregon erode our Second Amendment rights. We shouldn’t be asking permission from the government to protect ourselves.”

“Gathering this many signatures is a daunting task,” added Sampson. “But I think Oregonians are ready for this change in the same way that more than half of our U.S. states have been.”

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After the prospective petition paperwork is approved by the Secretary of State’s office, the chief petitioners will be issued a signature sheet template to begin collecting at least 1,000 sponsorship signatures, which are necessary to receive a ballot title from the Oregon Attorney General’s Office. After that step is achieved, the process of gathering the actual signatures necessary for the initiative to appear on the 2024 ballot will begin.

Additional statements will be released, along with official website information, when the gathering of the first 1,000 signatures begins.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-03-05 09:50:49

Last Update: 2023-03-05 16:23:44

Today, Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena) announced that he is not running for reelection for State Senator of District 29 in 2024.

Hansell released the following statement:

“I did not realize it at the time, but in the fall of 1981, Margaret and I made a decision that would set the course of my life for the next 42 years. Now we are making another decision that will set another course for us. I am not going to run for reelection for State Senator when this term of office ends in 2024.

I am announcing this decision now, in order to give others in Senate District 29, who might be interested, time to decide whether or not to seek this office. Senate District 29 is the second largest district in Oregon, and I am confident there may be a number of individuals interested in running. I want to give them time to prepare, and I do not plan to endorse anyone before the May Primary in 2024.

It has been an absolute privilege and honor to serve as an elected official, first as an Umatilla County Commissioner for 30 years, and two and half terms thus far as a State Senator, which will be 12 years when I retire. I am very grateful for my wife Margaret, my family, my friends, and the Good Lord for the opportunity to serve for over four decades.

A previous senator who had my Capitol office left behind a written note on the bottom of one of the desk drawers, “Be a Statesman, not a Politician, it’s all about service.” I agree and this I have tried to do.

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Being an elected official has given me a platform to serve others, both on the local and state level. Using government to help others provides the motivation and the joy for what I do. For example, I received as much satisfaction helping a widow lady save her chickens by having the government trapper spend some time near her home as I do serving on the Joint Semiconductor Committee tasked with bringing billions of federal dollars and thousands of jobs to Oregon. Serving as a Commissioner or Senator has given me an amazing platform to help others. After I retire, I plan to continue to help other, I just won’t have this particular platform.

There is a time for everything, the Biblical Book of Ecclesiastes states. Now is the time I believe, to give someone else the platform and opportunity to serve in the Oregon Senate, just as the great people of Senate District 29 have enabled me to do.”


--Ryan Bannister

Post Date: 2023-03-05 09:46:35

Last Update: 2023-03-05 16:23:02

The Oregon State Police has signed on to the National 30x30 Pledge aimed to bring more women into policing to improve public safety, community outcomes, and trust in law enforcement. The 30x30 Pledge is a series of low- and no-cost actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement.

The activities help policing agencies assess the current state of a department with regard to gender equity, identify factors that may be driving any disparities and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture.

The Pledge is the foundational effort of the 30x30 Initiative – a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States. The 30x30 Initiative is affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).

The ultimate goal of the 30x30 Initiative is to reach 30 percent of women in police recruitment classes by 2030 and to ensure policing agencies are truly representative of the jurisdiction the agency serves. While 30x30 is focused on advancing women in policing, these principles are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender.

Currently, women make up only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership in the U.S. This underrepresentation of women in policing has significant public safety implications. Research suggests that women officers:

• Use less force and less excessive force
• Are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits
• Are perceived by communities as being more honest and compassionate
• See better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases

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“This pledge means that the Oregon State Police is actively working toward improving the representation and experiences of women Troopers in our agency, “said Superintendent Casey Codding. “We are honored to be among many in the nation to make this critical commitment, and we look forward to working with and learning from agencies across the country who share our priority.”

More than 250 agencies – from major metro departments including the New York City Police Department to mid-sized, rural, university, and state policing agencies – have signed the 30x30 Pledge. The Pledge is based on social science research that greater representation of women on police forces leads to better policing outcomes for communities.

“We are grateful to the Oregon State Police for being one of the first in the nation to commit to being a part of this growing movement,” said Maureen McGough, co-founder of the 30x30 Initiative, Chief of Staff of the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law, and former policing expert at the U.S. Department of Justice. “We believe strongly that advancing women in policing is critical to improving public safety outcomes. We look forward to having more agencies follow Oregon State Police’s lead by signing the pledge and improving the representation and experiences of women in policing.”

For more information, visit www.30x30initiative.org.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-03-05 09:34:43

Last Update: 2023-03-05 16:26:55

The Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF) was recognized as one of the top performing funds in 2022 among pension plan peers whose portfolios are larger than $10 billion.

Ranked 2nd out of 50 qualifying plans for returns generated in calendar year 2022, Treasury managed to navigate volatile markets and minimize risks to end the year with a small loss of -1.1%. Over that same period, the average portfolio in the peer group lost nearly 10%. OPERF is managed by the Oregon State Treasury in accordance with policies and allocation targets set by the Oregon Investment Council. The fund closed 2022 with a value of $91.9 billion.

OPERF's strong performance amongst peers extends beyond 2022. Over the last 20 years, the fund's performance ranked first out of 42 peers, with an annualized return of 9.4%.

Treasury's Investment Division manages OPERF to meet long-term obligations for more than 200,000 beneficiaries and short-term operational needs, such as over $425 million in monthly retirement payments to Oregonians.

"Our fiduciary responsibility to manage the state's pension fund in a responsible manner that delivers results for Oregon's public employees — our teachers, firefighters and public health nurses — is one that Treasury, the Oregon Investment Council, and our partners take very seriously," said State Treasurer Tobias Read, who sits on the Oregon Investment Council. "We're committed to managing a portfolio that meets our beneficiaries' needs today and in 30 years."

Despite a tumultuous 2022, which saw record-high inflation and global economic uncertainty wipe out much of the returns pension funds across the country generated in 2021, OPERF's performance was the byproduct of Treasury's long-term strategic focus and oversight of Oregon's public employee pension fund.

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Treasury's Investment Division manages OPERF to generate sustainable returns and perform in various market conditions, evident by the fund generating 20% returns in a strong market year like 2021 and proving resilient in down market years like 2022. The latter results in billions of dollars remaining available for key services like education, housing, and addiction treatment instead of higher pension fund contribution rates for employers.

"I'm proud of our team's performance in a year like 2022 just as much as 2021. Our investment decisions are designed to help us benefit when the market is booming and to also be capable of weathering downturns and market volatility, to limit losses," said Treasury's Chief Investment Officer, Rex Kim.

The peer ranking report released by Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service factors in performance data for tax-exempt pension plans across the country. OPERF has consistently landed near the top of the peer rankings, most recently achieving the top ranking for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.

The Oregon State Treasury improves the financial well-being of all Oregonians. We provide low-cost banking, debt management, and investment programs for governments and empower Oregonians to invest in themselves and their loved ones through the Oregon College Savings Plan, Oregon ABLE Savings Plan, and OregonSaves. Treasury also facilitates the state's Unclaimed Property Program.

When OPERF is able to out perform its obligation, it reduces the deficit on taxpayers. So why did Representative Khanh Pham (D-Portland) with ten others sponsor HB 2601, which would force the Treasury to neglect its fiduciary responsibility for the whim-of-the-moment trend of legislators?

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) testified, “This bill makes a damaging assumption that the retirement funds of public employees belong to the State of Oregon. That assumption is both dangerous and wrong. This money belongs to public employees...Oregon Courts have affirmed over the past thirty years that the money in the public employee retirement fund belongs to public employees, not to the state or state lawmakers. We cannot and should not do anything to usurp their decision making authority about how their money is invested and that would lead to a decline in their earnings or their retirement future.”


--Ryan Bannister

Post Date: 2023-03-05 09:33:26

Last Update: 2023-03-05 16:24:17

Oregon Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 853-A, ending the policy to reimburse travel expenses for out-of-state, highly paid state workers at taxpayer expense. Introduced by Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), it is the only piece of legislation this session sponsored by all 30 Senators and has an impressive bipartisan list of sponsors in the House.

"It is important for us to be equitable in our policies as it relates to financial matters, and that we be sensitive to Oregon taxpayers," said Knopp on the Senate Floor. "Today we get to pass the most bipartisan bill of this session. It would be great if there were other bills that follow suit having such consensus and collaboration. I appreciate [my colleagues] for signing on."

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Meliah Masiba, Legislative Director, Department of Administrative Services, reported that out of Oregon 41,543 employees, 6,780 work remotely. Of those 6,348 are in-state and 432 are out-of-state remote workers.

SB 853-A, now awaiting its first reading in the House, is part of the Senate Republican Caucus's Equitable Oregon agenda. It can be found under 'Promoting Freedom & Prosperity for All Oregonians'.


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2023-03-05 09:08:25

Last Update: 2023-03-05 16:25:21

The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is headquartered in Idaho and consists of Soldiers from the four western states of Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. The Hermiston Unit is one of five armored brigade combat teams in the U.S. National Guard and one of 16 in the United States Army.

More than 75 Oregon Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers, assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, along with maintenance support members from the 145th Brigade Support Battalion, are scheduled to conduct a formal demobilization ceremony on March 5, 2023, at the Hermiston Community Center, Oregon, at 10:00 a.m.

The Oregon Soldiers were combined with two Army National Guard Companies from the Montana Army National Guard's 163rd Infantry Regiment, as part of TASK FORCE GRIZ, supporting the United States Central Command. In addition, service members from Idaho, Nevada, and Florida made up the total force supporting OPERATION SPARTAN SHIELD, strengthening defense relationships, and building partner nation abilities in the region.

These Citizen-Soldiers were initially mobilized on Nov. 4, 2021. Prior to their overseas deployment, the unit, under the command of Army National Guard Capt. Sean Popravak, first conducted additional specialized training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and departed for Qatar in early January 2022.

“Our mission was to be a mobile, armored reaction force to deter malign foreign influence and reassure allies within the Middle East of the United States' continued commitment to the region,” said Popravak.

“While deployed, we participated in Eager Lion, a multinational military exercise involving 29 other partner nations in Jordan,” Popravak said, describing some of the highlights of the nearly yearlong mobilization. “It was an exciting and rewarding experience exchanging military expertise and improving interoperability among our forces through various training scenarios and live fire events.”

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

Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Reed and Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, are scheduled to welcome home and serve as the presiding officials on behalf of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, during their official welcome home ceremony.

The Hermiston Community Center is located at 415 S. Hwy. 395, in Hermiston, Oregon 97838. The ceremony is open to the media and community members who desire to welcome the unit service members home.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-03-03 20:28:35

Last Update: 2023-03-03 20:53:53