On this day, April 28, 2006, the federal government adopted a federal advisory council's recommendations for deep cuts to the 2006 salmon season for California and Oregon.
1-5:30, $25 adm. Speakers include Phil Izon from Alaska Ranked-Choice voting Education Association, Mark Cook from Colorado IT witness on Tim Sipple case, and Dr. Frank on how to use data to approach clerks. Washington County will give a report on finding dead voters. And others to give information on how to approach counties for in-person voting.
Celebrated on the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when in the wake of the American Civil War, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.
Lawsuit objects to plan for very broad timber sales
The Siuslaw project area west of Eugene is subject of a lawsuit brought by environmentalists against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The bureau made a motion to dismiss, but a U.S. magistrate judge recommended denial of the bureau’s motion moving the case forward. If the U.S. District Judge Michael McShane signs off, this court decision will set a new precedent that will allow people who live near areas or are affected to bring actions before any trees are cut down.
The Courthouse News reported that Oregon environmentalists inched toward a win against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Friday. According to the suit brought by Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild in 2022, the bureau’s planned “landscape†project in its Siuslaw project area violates the National Environmental Policy Act because the agency failed to prepare an environmental impact statement and consider the project’s overall impacts to the bureau-administered forestland. In doing so, the groups claim the bureau excluded dozens of previously identified environmental issues from its project analysis “on the grounds that they did not relate to the Siuslaw project’s narrowly defined purpose of timber production.â€
By issuing an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, the bureau approved decades of logging projects on 13,225 acres across 10 separate watersheds and old-growth forest habitats. This inevitable logging, the environmentalist say, will harm several fish and wildlife species protected under the Endangered Species Act, including northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets and Coho and Chinook salmon.
According to Cascadia’s complaint, “another logging project slated near the Siuslaw project — the N126 project — will also overlap with the landscape plan and have significant cumulative effects on fish and wildlife, erosion and water quality, invasive species infestations and wildlife habitat.â€
Government attorney Alexis Romero argued the lawsuit came at an “unusually early stage and without any imminent kind of sales,†thereby lacking the injury necessary for standing. The bureau’s motion to dismiss also highlighted how the landscaping plan does not automatically authorize timber harvests or other ground-disturbing activities that could harm Cascadia’s interests.
The Courthouse News reported that Judge Kasubhai disagreed with the bureau, finding the agency identified and mapped out specific logging tracts within its landscaping plan, making logging inevitable.
The judge rejected the bureau’s argument against plaintiffs’ interests, stating that the groups have demonstrated that some members have regularly enjoyed recreation activities in distinct geographic areas planned for logging.
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The Courthouse News said, Cascadia Wildlands’ legal director and attorney Nick Cady said he expected Kasubhai’s recommendation and that the bureau’s resistance to their claims is unusual given that Cascadia’s members recreate and live nearby the project area.
According to Cady, the bureau’s new strategy to plan very broad timber sales without pinpointing its exact planned parcels for logging is what prompted the lawsuit, particularly in how the agency is putting the “cart before the horse†by proactively claiming that its logging project wouldn’t affect the environment because they promise to follow the law.
In its announcement of the lawsuit, Cascadia said the bureau is required under federal law to consider the negative impacts of its proposed logging on the region’s communities against the benefits of timber volume generation logging. The organization further noted that many residents strongly oppose the logging project, believing it will contribute to drinking water contamination, increased fire hazards, loss of recreation, soil erosion, more road construction and the destruction of wildlife habitat.
On the reverse side of that argument is that forest thinning slows wildfires, which would increases carbon emissions, reduce air quality, and threatens loss of homes. And now there are reports of wildfire survivors with mental health issues.
If environmentalists win their case and coupled with the proposed Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), which is now projected to decrease timber harvest by 50%, the impact on funding for local governments could be astronomical.
Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a multi-part series on the impact of your vote for School Board Candidates, an OAA Voter Education Project
Candidate Jeff Myers’ is speaking out about how school boards are led into questionable and perhaps unlawful practices. School district have been steadily declining for years, and not just academics. One of the most important roles of a school board is to approve the core curriculum taught throughout the district. This doesn't mean the board members will review every book, every lesson, or every classroom activity. However, they do have the responsibility and authority to ensure the school district adheres to the standards, rules, and laws of our state. School boards have repeatedly failed to perform this vital function.
Jeff Myers, Beaverton school board candidate, researched Oregon law (ORS 337.120) and Oregon Administrative Rule (581-022-2350) when the school board voted to adopt the recommendations put forward by the school district administrators for their Elementary Social Science curriculum (grades K-5). He verified his findings with district staff, including Heather Cordie (Deputy Superintendent – Teaching & Learning), Kayla Bell (Administrator for Elementary Curriculum), and Aujalee Moore at the Oregon Department of Education.
Many school boards have made changes to the rules regarding public comments since the beginning of the pandemic in an attempt to muzzle parents. Testimony is being limited to two minutes per person. During Myers' two minutes, he outlined the violations of Oregon law and Oregon Administrative Rule that the district and school board committed to when they adopted their new Social Science curriculum for grades K-5. The curriculum didn’t exist yet, but the district had a plan to use an outside consultant to build it. The board had no authority within the law to vote to adopt a curriculum that didn’t exist, let alone one that hadn’t been reviewed by parents and the public.
Beaverton’s experience isn’t an isolated case when it comes to taking shortcuts that cuts out parents and the public. In Beaverton’s case, the school district began their work on a new curriculum in 2020, but when they presented their very lengthy report to the school board on May 23, 2022, it was lacking most of the components of a curriculum for grades K-5. Presented was an optional 2021 Social Science standards and a created student-friendly learning targets with a draft book list by grade level.
The intent was to have an outside consultant, Dr. Katy Swalwell, author of Social Studies for a Better World: An Anti-Oppressive Approach for Elementary Educators, which expresses her desire to transform children to take on a particular viewpoint for a “better worldâ€. She is outspoken about her disgust for things like the constitution, Christianity, the Founding Fathers, White people, capitalism, the police, and her book is part of the recommended professional development readings for teachers.
Myers said, "that’s all they had done when they presented their final report and recommendations to the school board. And on the June 21, 2022 meeting the school board voted unanimously to approve and adopt the “curriculum†that didn’t really exist."
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Myers reports, “The school board received no units, lessons, activities, assessments, scope or sequence, student-facing material, or teacher guides… they had nothing but learning targets and draft book lists. Worse yet, parents and citizens were not given the opportunity to review the curriculum required by law. Beaverton School District may try to argue that they had parents and community members as part of their project team and that the team did get the chance to vote to finalize their work. Even if that is adequate parent involvement, what were they basing their votes on when the elementary curriculum didn’t yet exist?â€
“According to the Oregon law and rule, the school district should have created the curriculum first, then solicited parents and citizens for feedback, and then taken the final step to request board approval. The district completely failed to follow the laws & rules governing this process as did the school board.â€
“The unit content rolled out to kindergarten classrooms so far, is not at all developmentally appropriate for that age/grade. That’s not just coming from me,†Myers said, “but from teachers inside and outside of the district who have reviewed the material. For some reason, they have incorporated lessons for the health standards into this Social Science unit. I am specifically referring to lessons/activities regarding “consent†and “gender identity,†which are not in the Social Science standards, let alone for 5-year-olds! This is especially troubling since the district is required by law to notify parents ahead of teaching the health curriculum so they can review the curriculum and opt their children out if they so choose.â€
School districts are using the pandemic as an excuse to never implement the 2018 standards and instead wait just long enough for these optional 2021 standards to arrive. And even with all the warnings provided by ODE on using these standards and the complete lack of support provided for them, ODE still created curriculum options, which is encouraging school districts to use them.
In the Beaverton's case, Myers wants to stop the use of all the new Social Science units and materials in grades K-5 and return to last year’s content to allow a small project team to select and recommend to the school board a Social Science curriculum from the State Board of Education’s approved list for the 2018 standards.
School boards must be attentive to violating laws when adding diversity and identity lessons into unrelated subjects - they may be violating additional laws and rules and potentially opening the door to lawsuits.
Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project lists the candidates and those responding to the survey on their website.
Once the increase takes effect, the TDT rate for a single-family detached home, for example, will be $10,599 – an increase of $601 more than the 2022-23 rate of $9,998.
Washington County says that the TDT is based on the average estimated traffic generated by new development of that type and is paid by developers to fund transportation projects including road improvements, sidewalks, bike lanes and transit upgrades such as bus shelters.
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Washington County says that the TDT rates are adjusted annually based on a five-year rolling average of road construction, labor and right-of-way costs.
The rate increase was approved April 18 by the Board of Commissioners. County code calls for the Board to act on TDT adjustments annually before May 1.
Two highway stops last week yielded 31 pounds of powder and 100,000 fentanyl pills. Fentanyl is fueling a surging public health crisis in Oregon. Illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin, cheaper and easier to manufacture and more addictive. It also carries a greater risk of overdose, especially for young people with no experience using opioids.
Last year, Oregon overdose deaths increased 41%, compared to a 16% increase nationwide, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This coincides with a surge of illicit fentanyl in Oregon. Oregon peer recovery specialists report they are now responding to 40 to 50 nonfatal overdose reports per month. Opioid overdoses can be reversed with naloxone rescue kits, which the Save Lives Oregon Clearinghouse coalition provides free. Several bills were introduced to make available naloxone kits to schools and emergency personnel and limit their liability, but the Democrat leadership didn’t find it worthy of hearings.
On April 23, 2023, an Oregon State Police(OSP) Trooper out of the Salem Area Command stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. While on the stop, the Trooper observed signs of criminal activity and subsequently asked for consent to search the vehicle. The driver denied consent but admitted to importing marijuana from California. The OSP K-9 Titan (pictured above) was deployed and alerted them to a large duffel bag in the trunk. An additional search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of various controlled substances.
51 lbs. of suspected methamphetamine
31 lbs. of suspected powder fentanyl
9 lbs. of suspected cocaine
2 lbs. of suspected heroin
Both occupants of the vehicle were detained, interviewed, and charged with federal drug charges and lodged at the Multnomah County Jail.
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Two days prior, on April 21, 2023, a Trooper from the La Grande Area Command stopped a vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 84 near La Grande, Oregon. While on the stop, the Trooper observed signs of criminal activity. A search of the vehicle was conducted which led to the seizure of approximately 100,000 Fentanyl pills, 3 Kilograms of Heroin and 1 Kilogram of Fentanyl Powder.
Both cases are being investigated jointly by the Oregon State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). They are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Editor’s note: This is the third of a multi-part series on the impact of your vote for School Board Candidates, an OAA Voter Education Project
Who really makes decisions? The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) provides directives and developed ORIS (Oregon Integrated System) as a framework for the Continuous Improvement Process, which integrates equity in every area of the process. A process where school boards are pressured to adopt what ODE recommends. The ORIS centralizes many decisions that rightfully should be made from the ground up, but are actually made top down. Furthermore, decisions made at the school board level are farmed out to the district administration or unelected committees.
What most voters don’t realize is the roll of the school district with the school board. ORS 332.075 allows the school board to authorize the school district office to enter into contracts with board approval. The process deteriorates when the school board, and parents, become the last in line to hear about such contracts that have been negotiated and only aware of them when they are taken to the board for their stamp of approval. By that time deals have been made, the public’s only recourse is a mass display of protest. This type of feedback from parents made the news in Beaverton when the district tried pushing a contract and parents were locked out of the school board meeting. As a result, the National Association of School Boards proposed making parents that demonstrate domestic terrorists.
Parents are increasingly making public records requests to get to the bottom of issues. The Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) say it is an immoral violation on their personal privacy, even though all government workers are subject to public records requests.
The school superintendent is hired by the district school board to carry out what the school board approves: school budgets, approved curriculum, and policies in schools. If a superintendent is not going to be supportive of the board and the district, then they are hindering what the school board, with parents’ input, deems important in their schools.
The issue of superintendent hiring and firing is now critically important. In Newberg, Albany, and other school districts, school boards dismissed superintendents who did not comport with community values, undermined school board policies and continually placed progressive ideology above academic instruction. This was an essential last-ditch mechanism for school boards to dismiss non-responsive superintendents and preserve academic and community values.
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However, upset with the firing of the Newberg superintendent for not following the board’s policy that only American and Oregon State flags can fly in classrooms, legislative progressives rushed to pass SB 1521 in 2022. The bill made it impossible to fire a superintendent for cause without 12 month notice – despite what the hiring contract may say. The law now limits the ability of the district school board from terminating the superintendent if they are acting in compliance with state and federal law and refuse to follow a board’s policy. It sets state and federal laws or guidelines, including executive orders, orders of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, declarations, directives or other state or federal authorization, policy, statement, guidance, rule or regulation over local school boards. In other words, local control and parents’ voices are not considered.
COSA and ODE pushed SB 1521 to override parents that are flooding board meetings demanding the termination of instruction on gender identity and sexual options, shared bathrooms/showers, and receive abortion drugs without parent consent. Currently, HB 2002 is working its way through the legislature that allows students of any age to start transitioning without parents’ knowledge.
Many suggest this is what tyranny looks like using students as experiments, thwarting the voice of parents, and neutering school boards to keep progressive superintendents and the Department of Education ideological agendas moving forward using public schools as the vehicle.
Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project lists the candidates and those responding to the survey on their website.
Acomplaint was filed today with the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division that detailed likely campaign finance violations by Save Yamhill County PAC, now known as Oregon Taproot PAC. The complaint was filed by a Yamhill County voter who not only noticed the name change, but also an abnormality with the most recent expenditure.
It appears that Save Yamhill County PAC filed an amendment to their committee on March 16, 2023, to change the PAC name to “Oregon Taprootâ€. March 16th was only four days prior to the filing deadline for candidate and measure voter pamphlet statements, which were due on March 20, 2023.
On April 19, 2023, Oregon Taproot PAC posted a $1,050 transaction for “Voter Pamphlet Statements†in Orestar as a reimbursement to PAC Director Lynnette Shaw, a controversial progressive activist in Yamhill County and member of Progressive Yamhill. Progressive Yamhill and Save Yamhill County were behind several failed recall attempts of school board members and a county commissioner. The expenditure occurred on March 20, 2023, the same day as the deadline for submission of voter pamphlet statements.
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There are no records of which statements Lynnette Shaw paid for. There have been no in-kind transactions posted to any candidate or measure PACs, and Oregon Taproot has not updated its committee to reflect that it is engaged on any measure in the county. This violates campaign finance laws.
A local activist who asked not to be named asks, "Who or what is Save Yamhill County trying so desperately to protect by filing a last-minute name change, paying for voter pamphlet statements, and not disclosing the in-kind contributions? Perhaps the candidates will come forward now that “Oregon Taproot†has also put them in violation of campaign finance law."
In recognition of Earth Day, Oregon House Republicans have attempted to withdraw five pieces of legislation that would have protected Oregon from future environmental hazards. Experts expect that more than 720,000 tons worth of wind turbine blades will end up in U.S. landfills over the next 20 years, and that 78 million tons of solar waste will end up in U.S. landfills over the next 25 years.
While none of the motions received the required 31 votes to withdraw the legislation, three of the five votes received bipartisan support.
HB 2215 – Removes barriers to the production of nuclear energy in Oregon. Motion to withdraw from Climate, Energy, and Environment failed - Ayes, 23; Nays, 33.
HB 2198 – Creates accountability for renewable energy project failures. Motion to withdraw from Climate, Energy, and Environment failed - Ayes, 30; Nays, 26.
HB 2702 – Requires renewable energy facilities that receive state assistance to provide maximum output for customers. Motion to withdraw from Climate, Energy, and Environment failed - Ayes, 23; Nays, 33.
HB 2769 – Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to study the impact of electric vehicle battery disposal. Motion to withdraw from Climate, Energy, and Environment failed - Ayes, 27; Nays, 29.
HB 2770 – Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to study the impact of waste from solar or wind renewable energy facilities. Motion to withdraw from Climate, Energy, and Environment failed - Ayes, 26; Nays, 30.
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“We cannot simultaneously claim to be moving towards a renewable energy future while having no plan to mitigate the potentially hazardous waste caused by these energy sources. We should be doing the responsible thing and understanding the ramifications of the policy we set,†said Co-Vice Chair of the Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee, Representative Bobby Levy (R-Echo) on the House floor. “I am disappointed that we had the option before us today to study the impacts of this growing energy sector and chose to disregard it.â€
Last Tuesday was Tax Day. Oregonians pay the largest share of their income in taxes, with middle-tax Oregonians bearing the heaviest burden in the nation. A ‘Tax Day Tax Relief’ package is the latest attempt by Republicans to bring good legislation out of committee for a floor vote. Senator Dennis Linthicum states, “Our traditional, historically sound legislative ideas never got heard at the committee level so we have been focusing on bringing several key policy areas – healthcare, taxes, crime, policing, education and medical freedom – to the floor.â€
Democrats continue to block bills that would have given Oregonians much-needed relief. The Tax Day Tax Relief package included bills that would have repealed unfair double taxation and given middle-class Oregonians a broad-based tax cut.
While Oregonians were trying to pay their tax obligation on Tax Day, another government failure occurred. Vendor internet service outage impacted the state government websites. The outage made it impossible for taxpayers to access the Department of Revenue website and the internet portal, Revenue Online. To accommodate affected taxpayers, the Department of Revenue accepted tax payments through midnight, Friday, April 21, without assessing late penalties or interest on taxes owed.
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Senate Republicans already made a similar move to decrease the cost of living with their Affordability Package. The senate attempted to withdraw seven pieces of legislation that would help relieve Oregonians saddled with inflationary costs and tax burdens. The rejection comes amid Oregon experiencing one of the nation’s largest increases in homelessness and a major housing affordability crisis.
Meanwhile, the Senate Republicans attempted to withdraw sixteen pieces of legislation from committee for a vote on the Senate floor that would make communities safer. Democrat’s complete rejection came after they rejected a ‘Safe Schools’ package.
Still waiting for movement in the House Rules Committee is the Bipartisan Drought Relief and Water Security package (BiDRAWS), which leverages existing programs and provides capacity to expand resources to support farmers and ranchers with a voluntary, incentive-based approach.
Along side it is SB 1086, which would protect waters from homeless contamination.
Linthicum wants voters to know, “The attempt to move these bills out of committee and bring 'em down to the floor is designed to bring attention to what is really happening under one-party rule. Oregonians need to know we are fighting for them, using every parliamentary technique available.â€
Editor’s note: This is the second of a multi-part series on the impact of your vote for School Board Candidates, an OAA Voter Education Project
A national phenomenon hasn’t missed Oregon. Education is more expensive for fewer students. Throwing huge amounts of money at the public school system hasn't improved test scores or any measure of school quality, but it has corresponded with a stampede of kids out of the school system.
The 2022 year was a building year, but despite “free†federal money that was not part of the yearly school budget, Oregon lost 30,000 students. Education is changing and parents are abandoning progressive, union controlled monolithic public-school systems in favor of schooling where they have a choice, a voice and control over their children’s education. The poorest families—mostly minorities—who can’t afford private alternatives are the victims of a failing public system.
Congress passed three COVID relief bills worth $5.3 trillion earmarked broadly for concerns to improve safety and security, upgrade HVAC systems and equipment, and make site improvements. Oregon school districts alone received $1.65 billion from the American Rescue Plan and 3 allotments from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. Allotments from 3 Governors Emergency Education Relief funds brought in another $60 million. There was $30 million for distance learning, $28 million for charter and private schools, $27 million for migrant students and $7 million for teaching English. There is more to be allocated through 2025. Taxpayers should be asking, “Where is all that money going?â€
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) 2023-25 Agency Request Budget states the Student Success Act has increased Oregon’s investment in K-12 education to a level close to what is called for in the Quality Education Model. Might that be due to the loss of 30,000 that no longer have a share in public school funds? The budget also increases system oversight and district support, increasing the potential to increase student success and close longstanding equity gaps.
ODE’s 2023-25 budget total funding request is $17.7 billion, which is nearly $1 billion more than current service levels, compared to the co-chairs requested increase of $1.2 billion over available revenue. That's an increase of more than $2,000 per student. Budgeted for local school districts and education service districts is $9.3 billion from the State School Fund, of which about 61 percent, $7.9 billion, comes from the General Fund.
It seems like the corporate kicker and the Corporate Access Tax funds haven't benefited taxpayers nor school funding. However, local school boards can take advantage of various enhanced funds including about nine percent of all General Fund resources supporting multiple state grant and investment programs. Investment programs include educator effectiveness efforts, CTE/STEM, Chronic Absenteeism, the High School Graduation and College and Career Readiness Act of 2016, and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education, Electronic grants, as well as Youth Development Division grant programs. In addition, General Fund supports grants-in-aid funding for K-12 programs totaling $554.9 million.
School boards are also dealing with reversals and defunding that have impacted K-12 education programs over the years. The 2013 establishment of the Oregon Education Investment Board led to a suite of strategic programs, including programs in early reading and connecting to work. But by 2017, most of those strategic investments were repealed. ODE also experienced limits in oversight of state standards. The systemic lack of governance and funding instability contributed to the abandonment of the state’s prior major K-12 improvement efforts leaving school boards to pick up the pieces.
ODE’s budget request states, “Oregon does not have a detailed road map of programs to improve K-12 education, which could help foster a longer-term focus on improving programs and managing investments already in place.†Out of all the legislative educational bills this session, not one will audit or help improve the efficiencies of school funding.
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ODE is also requesting an increase in per-student funding for the Regional Inclusive Services Program in the 2023-25 biennium for students experiencing disabilities. Based on a model that assumes increased funding per student, the budget applies a 3.02% growth to restore the program to the level of funding per student in the 2009-11 biennium, the funding required for the 2023-25 year is $87,317,035. Funding for disabled student has dropped continuously for 10 years as student count increased. The 2021-23 budget starts a trend upward back to the 2017-19 level of $2,866 per student. The increase only pays for caseload increases and standard inflation. If SB 575 passes, permitting every disabled student a full day of classroom teaching by qualified teachers, the school board will be faced with a shortage of funds, extra teaching staff, and classrooms.
A one-time $500,000 General Fund appropriation was approved last session for a study of the impact of State School Fund spending, and to determine if this spending pattern results in disparities between students who are black, indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) and those who are not BIPOC students. However, the Statewide Report Card 2021-22 does not support special treatment or spending for any race or ethnic group over another. Most all the groups’ achievement rates were affected equally by the pandemic, and only the economically disadvantaged showed an increase displaying their resilience. When only one group (Asians) perform above 50 percent, it is clear education is in a broad statewide crisis and separating funding for specific groups makes it more difficult for school board to dispense education equally.
Unions also impact the school budget mandating salary levels, and by supporting legislation that mandates infrastructure improvements, such as earthquake proof buildings, water purification, air quality systems, and smaller class sizes requiring more classrooms. These expenses along with building maintenance may come partially from grant money that comes from the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Program (OSCIM). This money for districts actually increases each year if not used. It is dangled like bait to incentivize local school districts to raise taxes on property owners. Voters should also be wary of being on the hook for 20-30 years for upkeep and maintenance of abandoned, empty school buildings. Progressive school administrators continually suggest such taxes are an “investment†in the communities. Informed citizens know investments return money to investors, and it is something school boards must be savvy about.
If parents succeed in passing school choice, money will follow students not government facilities. Budgets may have further limitations on school districts that will affect the success of all students. Every time the state mandates expensive and time-consuming tasks on schools that are already trying to function with limited resources, it affects the success of all students. School boards play a vital role in managing obligations for success of the school district.
Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project lists the candidates and those responding to the survey on their website.
Republican and Independent leaders urge Democrat leaders to create a jJoint Oversight and Accountability Committee
House and Senate Republican and Independent leaders sent a letter to Senate President Rob Wagner and House Speaker Dan Rayfield asking for an equal bipartisan and bicameral Joint Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The letter includes the names of those who would serve as Republican and Independent members of the 12-person equal committee.
The letter reads as follows:
“Dear Presiding Officers,
As you may know, House and Senate Republican and Independent leaders sent letters in March and April urging the Governor to launch independent, nonpartisan investigations into the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s (1) potential favorable treatment of land acquisitions, (2) alleged rare liquor distribution, (3) process of granting retail licenses. In response, the Governor has said that the DOJ’s investigations will suffice. We disagree.
Today, Oregon House and Senate Republican and Independent leaders are calling on you, as presiding officers, to create an equal bipartisan and bicameral Joint Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Its first order of business should be to seek answers in the alleged actions of the OLCC.
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The OLCC’s actions have been greatly covered in the news over the past several months, with several allegations leading the public to believe this agency is corrupt. We must resolve these issues with full transparency.
We put forth the following names to serve as Republican and Independent members of the 12-person committee:
Senator Tim Knopp, Senate District 27
Senator Dick Anderson, Senate District 5
Independent Senator Brian Boquist, Senate District 12
Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson, House District 59
Representative Greg Smith, House District 57
Representative E. Werner Reschke, House District 55
We understand that in certain instances, investigations are being conducted by the Department of Justice. This is not sufficient. We must provide the standard of oversight and accountability that our Constitution and the people of Oregon expect. We ask that you take immediate action by creating this committee today.â€
Oregon Senate President, Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) helped sponsor
SJR 33 giving the voters of Oregon the decision to expand equal rights to include the right to contraception, abortion, and marriage equality in Oregon's Constitution during the 2024 General Election. If passed, this amendment would give Oregonians’ freedom and rights to consider their own self-interest above all else in decisions about their own bodies and families, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity – including the right to access health care, contraception and abortion.
This constitutional amendment comes in response to last year’s Supreme Court Dobbs decision that went against half a century of legal precedent and repealed a person’s constitutional right to an abortion under Roe v. Wade. The Democrat sponsored legislation responds to fears that this decision will also place other fundamental freedoms at risk, leaving it up to states to protect their people’s rights.
Notably, if passed at the ballot, this legislation will also enshrine a person’s right to marry who they love and repeal Oregon’s ban on same gender marriage from the state constitution. This is contrary to beliefs of Christians, Islam, Mormons, Catholics, Orthodox Jews and other denominations.
SJR 33 will give Oregon voters the power to respond to growing threats from or support a minority group of 4,901 claiming to be LGBTQIA+, 5.6 percent of the population. Religions have let them take over our schools, our government, and if SJR passes, our lives.
The Constitution amendment to Article 1, section 46:
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the State of Oregon or by any political subdivision in this state on account of sex, including but not limited to denial or abridgement of equal rights by any law, policy or action that discriminates, in
intent or effect, based on:
(a) Pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes or related health decisions;
(b) Gender identity or related health decisions;
(c) Sexual orientation; or
(d) Gender.
The Legislative Assembly shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this section.
Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D – Beaverton & SW Portland) said, “As the only LGBTQ member in the Senate, this bill is personal. I know how it feels to live somewhere that doesn’t accept you for who you are. From bans on abortion to bans on medical care for transgender people, hate is on the rise across the country, and this is Oregon’s opportunity to respond with hope. We can make Oregon a healthier, safer, and more just place for everyone, and I could not be more proud to take part in this effort.â€
Is this political talk? Because in 2022 Oregon was tied for second place as the most friendly place to live with its “robust anti-discrimination laws.â€
Lawmakers think that SJR 33 can be used to market the state to turn around the declining population. Half of young people say states’ abortion laws will impact where they choose to put down roots, and LGBTQ college students are gravitating towards states that protect their rights.
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In addition to SJR 33, Democrats are also taking action this session to protect bodily autonomy through the Reproductive Health & Access to Care bill. HB 2002 ensures no politician or parent can interfere in the medical decisions made between a child/patient and provider. To address urgent needs in response to Dobbs decision, this legislation will:
Protect providers’ ability to deliver care to all patients who seek gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon -- without political interference.
Expand healthcare access throughout the state for those wishing an identity change.
Makes criminals out of parents depriving, omitting or any other action against their child’s right to reproductive health services.
Makes gender-affirming treatment a right for any age.
In 2017, Democrats passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), which codified the right to an abortion in state law and made the full range of reproductive health care more affordable and accessible for all Oregonians. As a result, Oregon now has the second highest population of LBGTQAI+ in the country along with their added healthcare needs for depression, STDs, cancer and obesity, which runs higher in their community.
Last year, the legislature established the Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Fund, a $15 million dollar investment in abortion access which expanded provider capacity across the state and supported those seeking abortion care in Oregon following the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v Wade.
SJR 33 has been referred to the Senate President’s office for a committee assignment.
“For decades, the majority party has failed to make Oregon more affordable for working familiesâ€
According to a release put out by the Senate Republican Caucus, thanks to a decade of failed policy and never-ending tax increases passed by Oregon Democrats, Tax Day has become more and more daunting for Oregonians. With this in mind, Senate Republicans attempted to withdraw seven pieces of legislation from committee that would help relieve Oregonians saddled with inflationary costs and tax burdens. Even as we pay among the largest share of taxes of any state in the nation, Senate Democrats refused to consider the entire ‘Affordability’ Package.
“As elected leaders, it’s critical that we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars and that we show our constituents the value of the strategic investments we make,†said Deputy Leader Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), who moved to withdraw from committee SB 990, a measure returning the Kicker in the form of a check instead of a credit.
“For decades, the majority party has failed to make Oregon more affordable for working families. In fact, they’ve done the opposite,†said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), who moved to withdraw from committee SJM 1, a measure urging Congress to adopt a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
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
“Today, because of partisan politics, this body failed to make a meaningful difference in the pocketbooks of Oregonians when we had the chance,†said Deputy Leader Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City), who moved to withdraw from committee SB 446, a measure establishing a refundable income tax credit of $1,000 per qualifying child.
“Democrats have turned the Senate into a legislative graveyard where good bills go to die,†added Knopp. “It is said that the only two things we are guaranteed in life are death and taxes. It turns out, this is also true of the Democrat-controlled Senate.â€
A search of the vehicle was conducted which led to the seizure of approximately 100,000 Fentanyl pills, 3 Kilograms of Heroin and 1 Kilogram of Fentanyl Powder.
“As elected leaders, it’s critical that we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars and that we show our constituents the value of the strategic investments we make,†said Deputy Leader Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), who moved to withdraw from committee SB 990, a measure returning the Kicker in the form of a check instead of a credit.
“Democrats have turned the Senate into a legislative graveyard where good bills go to die,†added Knopp. “It is said that the only two things we are guaranteed in life are death and taxes. It turns out, this is also true of the Democrat-controlled Senate.â€
