Governor Tina Kotek announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will be allocating $688.9 million to Oregon to help improve access to affordable, high-speed, reliable internet in unserved and underserved communities across Oregon. The funding allocation will be used to develop and deploy the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program from President Biden’s already received millions in federal dollars to support broadband access, as well as passing a cell phone tax, also dedicated to support broadband access.

Governor Kotek has already signed HB 3201 which aligns Oregon statute with federal rules, guidance, and best practices related to federal broadband funds by eliminating restrictions on the Broadband Fund. The measure aligns Broadband Fund speed requirements with current technology needs and requirements of funding sources, maintains a preference for unserved and underserved areas in Oregon, and provides a process for public notice and an opportunity for comment on applications.

“High-speed Internet is essential to our daily lives, but too many communities across our state lack access to reliable, affordable, high speed broadband speeds. We’re changing that,” said Sophorn Cheang, Director, Business Oregon. “I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for this historic nearly $690 million investment for Oregon, that will enable our State to increase access to quality, affordable, high speed internet for our unserved and underserved communities.”

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The Broadband Office is currently in the planning and development phase of their BEAD and Digital Equity programming. Critics of the program have pointed out that much of the funding is going to support hard-wired connections, when the technology is still shifting to wireless. Additionally, some are skeptical that government funding of information infrastructure will lead to increased government control of information.

Business Oregon’s Broadband Office is currently seeking community input as the agency readies a five-year action plan and initial proposal to map out how to use this funding. Input via the surveys and meetings will be crucial to inform the plan and gather information about specific barriers, needs, and opportunities related to high-speed internet access. For more information on how to participate, click here.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-06-26 12:01:37

Last Update: 2023-06-26 14:10:10

The Oregon Democrat leadership made a last ditch effort to pass their “pet” bills on Sunday, leaving Oregonians grasping for air. With no time left for debate or public input, the House entertained 13 bills on the floor, and the Senate read 19 bills, walking bills back and forth to make sure they passed by the end of the day.

One such bill is HB 2004, putting ranked-choice voting before the voters. There is a lot of public misunderstanding about the consequences to ranked-choice voting and how it puts elections in control of big donors. Representative Boomer Wright (R-Coos Bay) stated, “I believe ranked-choice voting will lead to confusion and perplexity in our elections. If enacted, HB 2004 will lead to diminishing of trust among Oregon voters and sow further doubt about our election process.” Representative Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville) expressed concerns by county clerks across the state seeing the bill as unfinished work. “There is also uneasiness around a candidate not winning an election with a simple majority vote.”

HB 2757 barely passed with the needed two-thirds vote to impose a $0.40 tax to expand the 9-8-8 suicide prevention behavioral health crisis hotline. The new tax would collect $27.4 million per year, the highest in the nation. It takes only $5 million to run the program, and there is already a line-item within the agency budget to fund the 9-8-8 program. We may need to expend this program since Oregon has one of the highest suicide rates, but a bill with loose guidelines as to what it will be used for, and over taxing is not good governing. Representative Anna Scharf (R-Yamhill/Polk) also points out that “the bill as written could be brought back at any time before the sunset date and the rate raised with a simple majority vote.”

HB 3229 appeared the last week that had one public hearing, referred to Ways and Means for work session then to the House floor, and Senate floor before closing. The bill increases the pollution fees imposed by DEQ on businesses by 80%. On the surface, it may seem like a financial punishment for businesses who aren’t wanting to “go green”, but the reality is DEQ’s revenues have plummeted due to Oregon businesses’ abundant compliance with environmental initiatives, so DEQ wants to increase the fees to make up the lost revenue. This bill had only 30 votes on the floor, until a Democrat was “convinced” to change his vote to provide the needed 31 votes for passage.

The bi-partisan bill, HB 3632, passed that will increase the statute of limitations for first degree sex crimes to 20 years after commission of crime or, for minor victim, any time before victim attains 30 years of age, whichever occurs later.

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Three bills are headed to voters. Besides HB 2004 (above), two others will be on the ballot to amend the constitution. SJR 34 establishes an independent Public Service Compensation Commission to establish salaries for specified public officials. HJR 16 gives the power of impeachment of statewide elected Executive Branch officials to the House of Representatives and power to try impeachments to the Senate.

After several amendments, HB 3013 failed to pass that would have required pharmacy benefit managers to be licensed by Department of Consumer and Business Services and imposed new requirements to help mitigate rising costs of prescription drugs.

Also failing in the Senate is HB 3414, which at the request of Governor Kotek, it required local governments to approve certain adjustments to land use regulations for housing development within urban growth boundary. But for Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Region, SB 70 passed to modify requirements for residential rezoning of lands.

Governor Kotek’s press release lays claim to a successful session working “successfully with legislature to deliver on mission-focused agenda.” Her highlight of successes has a price tag of $1,398,400,000, represented in a budget that is a 25.5% increase over current levels and an increase of 4,792 public employees. She offers no justification for her budget increases or how taxpayers will maintain this level when the forecasted recession hits. According to the latest Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast, Oregon’s risk of recession is still high, and believes it could start as soon as 2024. The increased budget was still passed knowing the risk.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-06-25 21:22:06

Last Update: 2023-06-26 17:56:28

Oregon's Metro President Lynn Peterson has now announced that she will run for Congress in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District in 2024. Peterson, a Democrat, will challenge first term Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in the closely watched swing district. She is the former Chair of Clackamas County.

Peterson says she is a lifelong Democrat, who is active in the party.

“I have spent my career working in local, regional, and state governments,” said Peterson. “Yet for all the hard work here in our Oregon communities, Congress is not doing its part– ideological politicians are more intent on culture wars than helping working people, more interested in rolling back fundamental rights than protecting our small cities and rural communities.”

Peterson continued, “I’m going to fight not only for needed investments in housing, public safety, transportation and education, but also our fundamental rights to vote and seek reproductive health care. I’m excited for this opportunity and look forward to the campaign ahead.”

Peterson says she was raised in a union household.

“Too often people go to Congress to work for a party or personal agenda, and forget about the people who need help and relief back home,” said Peterson.

As Metro President, Peterson boasts that she championed a $650 million investment in affordable housing in 2018.

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Peterson has proposed public funding for approximately $250 million annually in new funding for homelessness services.

Peterson has also recently been a transportation advisor in the Oregon Governor’s Office as well as worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

“Throughout her career, Lynn has worked to make smart investments that build strong communities and create good jobs,” said former Congressman Peter DeFazio (Democrat). “We need her expertise and advocacy in Congress to make sure local priorities are funded– and also to build the sustainable infrastructure we need to address climate change and serve rural communities.”

In addition to DeFazio, Peterson says she enters the race with over 50 prominent endorsements from officeholders and community leaders from throughout the 5th District and the state.

Her additional endorsements include Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck; Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch; Gladstone Mayor Michael Milch; Wilsonville Mayor Julie Fitzgerald; Former Clackamas County Chairs Jim Bernard, Charlotte Lehan; Former Bend Mayor Sally Russell; Former Forest Grove Mayor Peter Truax; Former Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad; Former Oregon City Mayor Alice Norris; Former Tigard Mayor Jason Snider; Former Yamhill County Commissioner Casey Kulla; Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington; Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pedersen; 5 of her Metro Council colleagues; Community Leaders Marcus Mundy and Eddy Morales, Libra Forde and other Democrats.

Peterson brags that she is a veteran political campaigner, and has won each of her 5 campaigns for local and regional office, and successfully passed four recent regional ballot measures. In her 2018 and 2022 campaigns for Metro President, Peterson won Clackamas County– the largest voting base in the 5th District– by large margins, overperforming other Democrats on the ballot. A 25-year Clackamas County resident, Peterson lives in Lake Oswego with her husband Mark, a small business owner, and their 4 malamutes.

Peterson joins Oregon State Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley) as the Oregon Democrats that have to date announced that they will be running for this seat.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-06-25 12:22:30

Last Update: 2023-06-25 14:54:32

Ahe Clackamas County Oregon Board of County Commissioners has now formally adopted the fiscal year 2023-2024 budgets for the county’s general operations, and the service districts overseen by the Board of County Commissioners. These actions followed a series of public meetings and hearings by the respective budget committee in late May.

The Clackamas County 2023-2024 budget highlights public safety spending. Clackamas County crime rates have long been known to stand in contrast to neighboring Multnomah County and Portland's urban crime and public safety problems.

Property taxes raised by the county for general operations for the forthcoming Fiscal Year will total approximately $155.9 million.

The county’s discretionary General Fund, which the Board of County Commissioners can generally allocate wherever it chooses, is overwhelmingly made up of these property tax dollars.

When adding the $15 million set aside for the replacement courthouse, more than $116 million of the Clackamas County General Fund is being directed to public safety efforts (courthouse replacement project, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Department, Disaster Management).

This is the largest amount of General Fund dollars allocated to public safety efforts ever for Clackamas County. This seems to indicate that the Board of County Commissioners value public safety and it is a priority for the Clackamas County community.

The fiscal year 2023-2024 budget also includes approximately $44.4 million in additional funding from Metro’s Supportive Housing Services measure. Clackamas County says that this funds services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Clackamas County says that investments in this area are guided by the Clackamas County Local Implementation Plan.

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The newly adopted budgets total $1,795,420,563, which includes service district and agency budgets, dedicated state and federal funds, grants, property taxes, and other revenue sources. The adopted general budget for Clackamas County (not including service districts/agencies) is $1,266,733,717 including reserves.

The adopted budgets for Clackamas county-governed service districts and agencies are:

• Clackamas County Development Agency, $44,136,799
• Clackamas County Enhanced Law Enforcement District, $8,888,752
• Clackamas County Extension and 4-H Service District, $14,112,341
• Clackamas Water Environment Services, $288,905,817
• Housing Authority of Clackamas County, $87,032,700
• Library Service District of Clackamas County, $23,140,234
• North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, $57,528,303
• Street Lighting Service District No. 5, $4,941,900

The Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners is made up of five county residents who are elected to four-year terms. Working together, the board is charged with taking action in the best interest of the county and its constituents. These commissioners set county policies, establish departmental budgets, and have the right to send countywide measures to the ballot. Tootie Smith is currently the Chair of the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-06-24 12:15:03

Last Update: 2023-06-24 12:58:31

A court case brought in 2020 by Stand for Health Freedom, demanding that a grand jury look at the actions of the CDC, is currently in the hands of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Department of Justice has mis-characterized the case as a prosecution case and made typical legal maneuvers aimed at getting the plaintiffs thrown out of court on legal technicalities before a judge will even look at the merits of their claims.

Grand juries are comprised of U.S. citizens and possess the legal authority to indict anyone believed to be guilty where evidence and testimony substantiates the allegations of criminal activity. Once indicted, alleged criminals are required to stand trial or seek a plea bargain. Because grand juries are required to function independently of judicial and U.S. attorney influence, they possess broad powers to subpoena all records, testimony, and witnesses necessary for their investigations into alleged criminal activity.

On November 11, 2022, the court granted the government’s motion to dismiss the grand jury petition. Petitioners filed an appeal for reconsideration on February 16, 2023. On May 19, 2023, after two extensions of time, the government finally responded to the appeal, claiming there is no standing to bring a case. The federal government is saying the senators and Dr. Ealy do not have a legal leg to stand on to sue for a grand jury investigation. The plaintiffs must file a brief explaining to the court why the federal government is wrong and convince them of a strong, valid reason to be in court. That filing is due July 10, 2023. As soon as this Fall, the 9th Circuit could make a ruling on whether the plaintiffs, Senators Kim Thatcher and Dennis Linthicum from Oregon, along with Dr. Henry Ealy and others, have legal legs to stand on to move the case forward.

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Senator Linthicum said, “We are arguing for every Oregonian. There is an interest in preserving our nation, our culture, our public health institutions. Conserving values requires us to get involved, pay attention and ask difficult questions. And if the Justice Department, the Federal Government, our Governor, the President, whomever in the administration is going timeout, you don’t have the right to ask these questions, then that’s a violation of our First Amendment, freedom of speech, freedom to fill a grievance, freedom to object to their obnoxious and tyrannical behavior, then we need people to come out of the woodwork and support us on this effort.”

You can help support this case in signing the petition to show the court how many Americans are demanding justice. Once filed, the petition will become part of the court record that will be transmitted to the U.S. Supreme Court if an appeal is made and heard.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-06-24 09:46:33

Last Update: 2023-06-23 20:03:31

One of the bills that comes up every long session, along with the budget bills, is one commonly known as the "Christmas tree" bill because it allocates funds for important projects in each senators' district. This year, SB 5506 went from a one and half page bill to 124 pages, 8 sections to 320 sections, from $606,781,901 to approximately $32 billion that is controlled by the legislature. After subtracting agency budgets, the Christmas tree fund is about $1 billion.

Senators that walked out and didn’t support the compromise are seeing their districts fall short of needed funding. Senator Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) had needed funding for the Hood River Bridge and City of Estacada projects cut. He says, “I was shocked to see the $6 million allocated for the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks disappeared and was replaced for a $5 million footpath in Bend.”

The week of the negotiations, the Malheur Enterprise ran an article, State relief turns up short, leaving rail project still needing millions to finish. The article blames state legislators for not providing as much help as expected to rescue the Treasure Valley Reload Center project. It states, “The project has been over budget for months and already has had two previous bailouts from the state and one from Malheur County itself… What’s clear is that no onions will ship out of Nyssa this season as pieces of the warehouse building sit on the ground and two rail spurs needed to move train cars are yet to be completed.”

“The new money quandary emerged as Shawna Peterson, executive director of the development company, reported that state legislators would award another $5 million for the Nyssa project. Malheur County had sought $8.5 million in a request backed by state Sen. Lynn Findley and state Rep. Mark Owens.” This still leaves the project $5.6 million short to finish the project.

One onion grower is saying the whole project was mismanaged, from using a rail spur without checking with Union Pacific Railroad then cancelling, building on wetland without a study to see how deep it is because the property was owned by a board member and purchased over market value, cancelled scales and road work, contractors not being paid, and mismanagement of funds with no paper trail or purchase orders for $32 million and now they need $10.6 million more.

How much did this one project have to do with the compromise to end the walkout? We know from the Malheur Enterprise that Representative Greg Smith is under investigation for his company’s involvement and lack of records. Representative Mark Owens and Senator Lynn Findley requested funding to cover up all the mistakes. All three of these legislators were present to provide quorum.

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Senator Lynn P. Findley participated in negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp that satisfied them along with Senator Dick Anderson to make quorum. Senator Findley’s district has at least $35.1 million lights on their Christmas tree, rural Oregon surely needs it.

• Deschutes and Harney Courthouse renovation - $18 million
• Harney infrastructure - $1.5 million
• Harney industrial improvement - $2.25 million
• Baker infrastructure - $2.25 million
• Malheur, Treasure Valley Reload Center - $5 million
• Deschutes River Conservancy - $2 million
• Jefferson, COCC Early Childhood Education & Health Center - $4.1 million

A complete list of SB 5506 allocations can be searched for whether your favorite project made the list.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-06-23 12:51:02

Last Update: 2023-06-25 22:54:04

The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office has now provided Constitutional Carry for Oregon (CCFO) with the official signature sheet templates for Initiative Petition 2024-021.

IP-21 amends the Oregon Constitution with the addition of one simple sentence: “… includes the right to carry, without a permit, a concealed firearm.”

The official ballot title reads: “Amends Constitution: Creates right to carry a concealed firearm without a permit; voids existing concealed carry restrictions.”

IP-21 in no way places firearms into the hands of felons or those otherwise unable to legally possess a firearm. Such individuals do not typically apply for concealed carry permits to begin with.

At present, 27 U.S. states are already constitutional carry states.

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CCFO states that numerous studies have shown that within five years of becoming a constitutional carry state, violent crimes in those states drop and the number of victims in mass shootings decreases.

The process of gathering the 160,551 signatures for the initiative to appear on the November 2024 general election ballot will begin on June 23rd, 2023.

CCFO has until July 5, 2024, to submit the required signatures.

CCFO is a grassroots volunteer effort. The three chief petitioners are: Joel Pawloski, a retired Army Lt. Colonel in Marion County; Kerry McQuisten, the former mayor of Baker City in Baker County; and Jean Sampson, former city council member of Clatskanie in Columbia County.

Those interested can find more information on the CCFO website.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-06-22 17:46:14

Last Update: 2023-06-22 17:59:51

State Representative Janelle Bynum has announced that she is running for Congress in the newly-drawn 5th Congressional District. If successful in the primary, she will likely face incumbent Freshman Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Representative Bynum has defeated Chavez-DeRemer twice by very small margins in state house races in 2016 and 2018.

Representative Bynum touts her record as an incumbent State Representative. In an email to supporters, she says, "I am proud to have earned a reputation as a tireless champion for real progress. In the state legislature, I’ve fought to safeguard reproductive freedom and our civil rights, create affordable housing, lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, and create pathways to success for the next generation so everyone has a fair shot."

At the same time, Representative Bynum places blame for local problems on national leaders, saying, "Here in Happy Valley, where my husband and I chose to make a home and raise our children, too many families are struggling. The skyrocketing costs of education, healthcare, and housing are making it impossible for anyone to get ahead, and our elected officials in D.C. are too distracted with partisan bickering to deal with the problem.

Since being redrawn in 2021, Oregon's 5th Congressional District has had it's share of drama. Insiders say that the district was drawn at the direction of former public employee union lobbyist and now Oregon 6th District Congressional Representative Andrea Salinas for the purpose of weakening incumbent Democrat Kurt Schrader. Experts say that Schrader failed to be radical enough for the far-left unions. Schrader lost in the primary to Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who in turn lost to Chavez-DeRemer.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-06-22 11:02:15

Last Update: 2023-06-22 11:44:27

The TriMet Board of Directors has announced Robert Kellogg as its newest member. Kellogg was nominated by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. The Oregon Senate approved Kellogg’s appointment on June 16, 2023, to take effect immediately.

Kellogg will serve as the director for TriMet District 3, which covers parts of Southwest Portland, Beaverton, and southern Washington County.

Kellogg has run a general law practice for 17 years. TriMet says that with the experience on Tualatin City Council, as well as two transportation steering committees, Kellogg brings years of experience in transportation planning to the TriMet Board of Directors.

“The number one priority is safety,” Kellogg said. “TriMet riders should feel safe when getting on board. Delivering on this will help in ridership recovery. TriMet can get people to where they want to go, but we need to work on increasing efficiency, collaborating with our regional partners to speed up buses and get people to where they’re going quicker.”

During his time on Tualatin’s City Council, Kellogg focused on local transportation issues and spearheaded a voter-approved $20 million bond measure, which looked at reducing bottlenecks and improving traffic and pedestrian safety.

Kellogg began his public service career with an appointment to the Washington County Future Transportation Study, which examined opportunities for the county’s transportation systems fifty years into the future.

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Recently, he served on the controversial Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project Steering Committee, which looked at adding MAX service to the Tualatin Park & Ride at Bridgeport Village.

Kellogg grew up in southeast Missouri, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Truman State University. He then moved to the East Coast. Kellogg worked in New York City during the bankruptcies of Global Crossing, WorldCom and Enron.

Kellogg and his family of four live in Tualatin.

Kellogg joins Board Secretary and Treasurer Ozzie Gonzalez and directors Keith Edwards, Tyler Frisbee, Thomas Kim, Dr. LaVerne Lewis and Kathy Wai on the Board. TriMet’s Board consists of seven Directors who are appointed by the governor. They set policy for the agency as well as appoint the general manager, implement legislation pertaining to transit operations and review and approve certain contracts.

Board members are volunteers and can serve up to two, four-year terms; however, they serve at the pleasure of the governor and can continue to serve until a successor is appointed.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-06-21 18:46:43

Last Update: 2023-06-21 19:06:03

Oregon Senate President and key sponsor, Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego), proudly announced passage by the House of SB 582, which requires greater safety and training standards for electric vehicle (EV) charging installations. Over the course of the next five years, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is projecting to invest $100 million from both federal and state sources to increase EV charging infrastructure with two-thirds of the funding coming from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

"This bill positions Oregon to take advantage of federal investments in EV charging infrastructure," said Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego), co-chief sponsor of the bill. "By setting high standards for safety and training we will ensure state dollars are used effectively to create high quality infrastructure for Oregonians."

Oregon is anticipated to require 153,927 public electric vehicle charging ports by 2035, a more than 4,500% increase from the number of ports in 2020. That’s 1.6 for every square mile in Oregon, and a lot more if you reduce it for water and wilderness. There are currently 480 DC fast charging stations in Oregon. These high-power chargers can fill an EV to near capacity in about 20 minutes. Can you imagine your gas fill-up line taking 20 minutes each?

While devoid of carbon monoxide or other stinky pollutants, high-tech electric cars are instead emitting a gasless pollutant: Electromagnetic Field radiation, or EMF radiation. EMF radiation is a low form of energy released by any piece of technology with a plug or a battery that uses an electric current to function. Science has proven that extended exposure to these emissions cause adverse health effects, thus a highly padded cover when dental x-rays are taken.

Even low levels of frequent exposure can cause biological effects in humans and the environment. Long doses include cell damage, DNA fragmentation, fertility problems, miscarriage, cancer, and neurological effects that can lead to health disorders and behavioral issues. Some symptoms of radiation poisoning are loss of smell, loss of taste, hair loss, nausea, brain fog, etc.

Electric cars are not built to shield passengers from EMF. A big battery is being used close to passengers, with electronic circuitry running around the edge of the cabin. This increases the amounts of radiation exposure. When charging, the EMF radiation emitted from the charger is greater than ICNIRP standards of radiation levels. Even fuel vehicles have over 50 electronic control units that emit EMF radiation, including Bluetooth connections, push-button starts, car alarms, and dashboard controls.

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This whole idea of pushing electric vehicles is to decrease carbon emissions to zero by 2030, which is simply unattainable and they know it. Approximately 40% of global CO2 emissions are emitted from electricity generation by the combustion of fossil fuels to generate heat needed to power steam turbines. The demand that we stop using fossil fuels replacing it with renewable electricity options, is their agenda’s pathway to condemn humanity to poverty and control.

Oregon is reported to be a top seller of EV in the U.S. and China is reported to be leading globally in sales of their electric vehicle - NETA cars. However, a field was discovered with over 10 thousand EV cars, all 2021 models having less than 3,100 miles on them, and fully registered to count in their sales numbers. China accumulates these cars in a Ponzi investment scheme.

SB 582 passed the House and is being sent to the Senate floor for a vote without a hearing in the Senate.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-06-21 12:08:07

Last Update: 2023-06-23 09:30:07

A Northwest Oregon diesel repair shop and it's owner have pleaded guilty in federal court to knowingly and intentionally tampering with monitoring devices on more than 200 vehicles after removing their emissions controls in violation of the Clean Air Act.

Pure Addiction Diesel Performance, LLC, located in Hillsboro, Oregon, pleaded guilty to tampering with pollution monitoring devices and was ordered to pay a fine of $148,733 to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The company was also sentenced to three years’ probation.

Pure Addiction’s owner and operator, Travis Turner, 38, a resident of Forest Grove, Oregon, pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the tampering of monitoring devices and was sentenced to six months in federal prison.

“By disabling the emissions control systems of hundreds of diesel vehicles, Pure Addiction and its owner, Travis Turner, favored their own financial interests above the health and safety of our community, said Ethan Knight, Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We will continue working closely with our partners at the EPA to ensure all businesses and business owners play by the rules.”

“The defendants installed emissions defeat equipment on hundreds of diesel trucks, resulting in substantial increases in pollution from each individual vehicle,” said Scot Adair, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Oregon. “EPA CID will continue to focus on stopping the usage of illegal defeat devices that contribute to serious health problems and put our communities at risk.”

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According to court documents, beginning in at least 2018 and continuing through 2020, Pure Addiction tampered with and disabled the emissions control systems of approximately 245 diesel vehicles for paying customers in violation of the Clean Air Act.

Pure Addiction charged its customers approximately $2,000 each for the emissions modification and collected more $400,000 in total for the unlawful services over an approximately two-year period.

As owner of Pure Addiction, Turner took action to assist the company in evading detection by federal environmental authorities by issuing, maintaining, and subsequently providing to investigators sales invoices that included inaccurate or incomplete information about the company’s illegal vehicle modifications. 46 of the service invoices Turner provided to investigators reflected “parts only” transactions when, in fact, those transactions included additional service work that violated the Clean Air Act.

On June 1, 2023, Pure Addiction was charged with one count of Clean Air Act tampering. In the same information, Turner was charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact to Clean Air Act tampering.

This case was investigated by EPA CID. It was prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, and Karla Gebel Perrin, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-06-20 21:08:28

Last Update: 2023-06-20 21:53:48

Senator Cedric Hayden (R-Fall Creek) has introduced SB 1104, the Oregon Media Tax Credit bill, a proposal to provide Oregonians a dollar-for-dollar tax credit akin to the Oregon Political Tax Credit, when they pay to subscribe to any news outlet that covers Oregon news happenings.

The Oregon Political Tax Credit is a $50 per person, $100 per tax filing couple tax credit that most Oregonians see back on their tax return when they contribute to a political action committee for political candidates, or a policy issue committee that supports property tax or ballot issue measures. Hayden believes a parallel Media Tax Credit is necessary to encourage Oregonians to subscribe to media outlets and help defray the cost of news published behind paywalls.

“The media plays an important role in maintaining the republican form of representative government we enjoy in that it’s the role of the free press to hold government to account for its actions,” stated Hayden. “Now more than ever, we need journalism to thrive, and we need a fair, democratic way to give people encouragement to support local journalism in the same way politicians have carved out a way to receive tax-free political contributions. Having one type of tax credit that supports political speech while not fairly using tax dollars to support the free speech of the press which holds us accountable is no longer acceptable.”

Critics of his proposal note that the established media in Oregon tilts leftward and supports Democrats and the practical effect of this measure will be to prop up liberal reporting that hurts Republicans and helps Democrats.

Though late in the session, Hayden hopes the Media Tax Credit bill will be the start of an important conversation about how to support Oregonians’ ability to access news coverage that impacts Oregon.

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The measure allows for $50 per person or $100 per tax filing couple, with no household income limits, to receive the tax credit when they file their tax return if they paid for media subscription services which meet the following criteria:

• The news outlet has to have been in existence as a registered business or nonprofit for 12 months or longer online, in print, or in some other media form;
• Regularly employs journalist staff that cover any news topic within Oregon;
• Is a qualified 501(c)3 news organization whose mission is to support professional journalism and public records reform efforts; and
• Disallows any advertisement of the Media Tax Credit by a person or organization not qualified to be the indirect beneficiary of the tax credit.

“This tax credit is about supporting the work of journalists who daily are working with thin staff to report important news that should matter to all Oregonians, yet because of the media models of paywalls and hard costs to report and distribute the news, like thousands of dollars spent in public records fights with the government, we see journalism reporting buckling under financial pressures,” Hayden stated.

“It’s critical that we ensure two things: that people can have an independent say in where they spend their media dollars (hence a broad tax credit with choice for the subscriber just like the choice they have in spending their Political Tax Credit) and that media outlets doing this important work are financially supported and can compete for those tax credit dollars by continuing to invest in journalistic talent and fighting the fight to get the truth about what’s happening in state and local government to the people.”

Hayden pointed to the recent spate of news stories by a small group of political reporters working to cover important topics but expressed frustration that there aren’t enough reporters to cover the thousands of bills in the legislative session that impact Oregonians. “The main story of this legislative session was about the recent walk out, but there were not enough reporters to really dive into the heart of the bills at issue, like HB 2395, the opioid omnibus bill that before being amended, would have set medical privacy down to age zero with no civil liability for harming a child. Those details matter.”

He further noted stories like the DMV data breach and the La Mota scandal as a reason to have a mechanism to support journalism. “We should call this the Sophie Peel Act,” he joked, referencing the dogged reporting by Willamette Week that shined a massive spotlight in the allegations of corruption by the former Oregon Secretary of State. “In all seriousness though, that’s the level of reporting we need all day every day in Oregon. The Media Tax Credit bill is a way to give people incentive to keep the Fourth Estate alive and well in Oregon.”

SB 1104 will have its first reading this week before the end of the legislature’s Sine Die. Senator Hayden anticipates bringing this measure back in a subsequent session.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-06-20 12:12:45

Last Update: 2023-06-20 12:55:19