In a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court has struck down a so-called Colorado anti-discrimination law. The case is strikingly similar to the Sweet Cakes by Melissa case in Oregon, which features nearly the same law and claims.

At issue was a Colorado law forbidding businesses from engaging in discrimination when they sell goods and services to the public. The petitioner, a website desigener named Lorie Smith, worried that, if she enters the wedding website business, the State will force her to convey messages inconsistent with her belief that marriage should be reserved to unions between one man and one woman. In an opinion authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the High Court held that The First Amendment prohibits the state of Colorado from forcing a website designer to create expressive designs speaking messages with which the designer disagrees.

The Oregon Legislature's LGBTQ Caucus put out a statement condemning the decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis saying, "The U.S. Supreme Court struck a major blow to all Americans’ civil rights, particularly those of the LGBTQ community, with their unjust decision in the 303 Creative v. Elenis case."

Members of the caucus are Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton, SW Portland), Representative Ben Bowman (D-Tigard, Metzger, South Beaverton), Representative Farrah Chaichi (D-Aloha), Representative Dacia Grayber (D-SW Portland, Beaverton), Representative Travis Nelson (D-N/NE Portland), and Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland).

They continued, “This decision is proof that even with historic victories, we still have a long way to go for everyone -- regardless of who they love or how they identify -- to be equal in this nation. We will never live up to our pledge of liberty and justice for all as long as hate and bigotry are protected by the powerful. We condemn this discriminatory decision in the strongest possible terms. This decision will not make us more free. It oppresses a community built on love and acceptance.

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Reversing a US 10th Circuit decision, Gorsuch concluded:

In this case, Colorado seeks to force an individual to speak in ways that align with its views but defy her conscience about a matter of major significance. In the past, other States in Barnette, Hurley, and Dale have similarly tested the First Amendment’s boundaries by seeking to compel speech they thought vital at the time. But, as this Court has long held, the opportunity to think for ourselves and to express those thoughts freely is among our most cherished liberties and part of what keeps our Republic strong. Of course, abiding the Constitution’s commitment to the freedom of speech means all of us will encounter ideas we consider “unattractive,” “misguided, or even hurtful.” But tolerance, not coercion, is our Nation’s answer. The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands. Because Colorado seeks to deny that promise, the judgment is reversed.

Recently, there has been a pushback against non-traditional sexual minorities' displays, especially those involving children, though the American Library Association continues to support Drag Queen Story Hour. In a dissent from the 330 Creative decision, Justice Sotomayor recognized the trend, saying, "Around the country, there has been a backlash to the movement for liberty and equality for gender and sexual minorities."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-01 07:03:30

Last Update: 2023-07-01 13:52:35

Oregon's 29th Secretary of State, LaVonne Griffin-Valade, was sworn into office by Chief Justice Meagan Aileen Flynn at Governor Tina Kotek's ceremonial office in the Oregon State Library. Secretary Griffin-Valade was joined by her husband, members of her family, Governor Tina Kotek and Acting Secretary of State Cheryl Myers.

Secretary Griffin-Valade will serve the remaining 18 months of the current term, vacated by former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan after her resignation on May 8.

For over 16 years, LaVonne worked as a government performance auditor. She was hired as a Senior Management Auditor at the Multnomah County Auditor’s Office in 1998 and later went on to serve as the elected Multnomah County Auditor. In 2009, LaVonne was elected the Portland City Auditor. As the City Auditor, she oversaw several divisions requiring a high level of independence and ethical judgment from managers and staff, including government performance auditing, elections, archives, ombuds office, and additional accountability functions. Throughout her many years working as a staff auditor and then as an elected auditor, she was a member of an international committee shaping the course of local government auditing throughout the U.S. and in several Canadian jurisdictions.

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The Oregon Secretary of State is one of three constitutional offices created at statehood. Oregon's Secretary of State is Oregon's chief elections officer, chief auditor, and oversees the State Archives and the Oregon Corporation Division. The Secretary of State also serves as one of three members of the State Land Board and as the chair of the Oregon Sustainability Board. As an independent constitutional officer, the Secretary of State answers directly and solely to the people of Oregon.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-06-30 12:46:00

Last Update: 2023-06-30 12:55:32

In the dust of the end of the 2023 Legislative Session, a resolution to send an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to allow for impeachment of Statewide Elected officials has passed both chambers. Currently, they may only be removed from office through recall, a very difficult process. Oregon is the only state without any impeachment process.

The Resolution -- sponsored by Representative Jami Cate (R-Lebanon) -- proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to give the House of Representatives the power of impeachment for statewide elected officials of Executive Branch for malfeasance or corrupt conduct in office, willful neglect of statutory or constitutional duty, or other felony or high crime, and the Senate the power to try any impeachment received from House. Requires two-thirds majority vote of House to deliver impeachment resolution to Senate and two-thirds majority vote of Senate for conviction.

It allows Chief Justice to preside in the Senate impeachment trial and limits judgment to removal from office and disqualification from holding any other public office in state. It allows Legislative Assembly to convene to exercise its impeachment powers.

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The text of the amendment, which voters should see on the November 2024 ballot, will be:

SECTION 34. (1) The House of Representatives shall have the power of impeachment of statewide elected officials of the Executive Branch for malfeasance or corrupt conduct in office, willful neglect of statutory or constitutional duty or other felony or high crime. The House of Representatives may deliver a resolution of impeachment to the Senate only upon the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all Representatives.
(2) The Senate shall have the power to try any impeachment received from the House of Representatives. When sitting for the purpose of trying an impeachment, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside and Senators shall swear or affirm to do justice according to law and evidence. A person may not be convicted under this section without the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all Senators.
(3) Judgment shall extend only to removal from office and disqualification from holding any other public office in this state. Any person convicted or acquitted under this section remains subject to any criminal prosecution or civil liability according to law.
(4) Section 10a of this Article may be invoked for the purpose of exercising the power of impeachment under this section.

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-06-29 13:35:49

Last Update: 2023-06-29 22:38:29

In a pair of related decisions, the US Supreme Court has held that the admissions programs at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina -- similar to those used as all public colleges and many private colleges in Oregon -- violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

The claims made by Students for Fair Admission in this case were based on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which said, “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This was cited by Justice Neil Gorsuch in his concurring opinion where he also notes that "the trial records reveal that both schools routinely discriminate on the basis of race when choosing new students -- exactly what the law forbids."

In a single opinion, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College and University of North Carolina, the Chief Justice Roberts, writing for the majority said, "Admission to each school can depend on a student’s grades, recommendation letters, or extracurricular involvement. It can also depend on their race. The question presented is whether the admissions systems used by Harvard College and UNC are lawful under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."

In his majority opinion, Chief Justice Roberts concludes, "the student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.

Segregated Admissions has been under consideration by the US Supreme Court since 1954 when it first considered that issue in Regents of University of California v. Bakke, which involved a set-aside admissions program used by the University of California, Davis, medical school. Each year, the school held 16 of its 100 seats open for members of certain minority groups, who were reviewed on a special admissions track separate from those in the main admissions pool.

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In a statement sent out by University of Oregon Interim President Jamie Moffitt and Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Janet Woodruff-Borden, the decision was lamented.

"We are disappointed in the decision made today by the United States Supreme Court related to race-conscious decisions in admission. The University of Oregon shares the concerns of our university peers across the nation that this ruling will impact the ability of underrepresented students to access the benefits of higher education.

"However, the decision will not change our unwavering commitment to admitting students based on a comprehensive review of their capacity for excellence, a strategy that has vigorously supported our values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The UO will continue to seek to attract and retain underrepresented and underserved students while providing them with equitable and inclusive access to higher education. This is critical to our mission of inclusive excellence.

"Our current university and academic program admissions processes focus on evaluating the promise of each applicant based on a comprehensive review of their quality of character, achievements within the context of their educational experience, and their unique ability to contribute to the university. That aspect of our admissions process has produced a diverse class of scholars each year, and we do not intend to change our successful strategy of evaluating each applicant based on their individual potential.

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"We are carefully reviewing the decision and will make any necessary changes to our processes to comply with the ruling while ensuring we continue to achieve our mission-driven goals of providing access, opportunity, equity, and inclusion for students."

Former State Representative Mike Nearman (R-Independence) was a member of the House Committee on Higher Education and celebrated the decision. "Where limited opportunities exist, any acceptance of a student for any reason means that some nameless, faceless student has been rejected out the back door. It is unjust to base admissions on something as shallow as skin color."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-06-29 12:13:54

Last Update: 2023-06-29 13:35:49

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has now announced that she is appointing LaVonne Griffin-Valade to serve as Oregon's next Secretary of State. Griffin-Valade worked as a government performance auditor for over 16 years, including eight years as an elected auditor.

“I told Oregonians in May that the primary objective of our next Secretary of State was to restore confidence in the office. LaVonne Griffin-Valade has the professional background and ethical judgment to rise above politics and lead the important work of the agency forward,” Governor Kotek said. “This role demands accountability and transparency, especially at this moment, and I am eager to see her leadership restore faith in the Secretary of State’s office.”

Griffin-Valade was hired as a Senior Management Auditor at the Multnomah County Auditor’s Office in 1998 and later went on to serve as the elected Multnomah County Auditor. In 2009, LaVonne was elected the Portland City Auditor. By the time she retired in 2014, The Oregonian Editorial Board credited her audits with exposing “mysteries about spending or management that would have otherwise gone unchecked and unknown – even by those in charge of the spending and management.”

“I have the experience to bring back credibility, accountability, transparency, and trust to the Secretary of State’s office,” Griffin-Valade said. “It’s never been more important to have a leader who will focus on rebuilding the public’s trust in the Secretary of State’s office, and that is exactly what I will aim to do every day.”

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As the City of Portland Auditor, Griffin-Valade oversaw several divisions that required a high level of independence and ethical judgment from managers and staff, including government performance auditing, elections, archives, ombuds office, and additional accountability functions. Throughout her years working as a staff auditor and then as an elected auditor, she was a member of an international committee shaping the course of local government auditing throughout the U.S. and in several Canadian jurisdictions.

After leaving office, Griffin-Valade went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in writing from Portland State University and has since pursued a successful writing career.

Griffin-Valade will serve the remaining 18 months of the current term. She will be sworn in on Friday, June 30 in Salem.

Despite her credentials as an auditor, Secretary of State Designate Griffin-Valade will have her hands full as Oregon's chief elections officer.

After Secretary of State Shemia Fagan focused much energy and taxpayer resources countering what she called "false election information," some have questioned the role that the Secretary of States office has played in what they call "countering false election information." Many find it inappropriate for the agency involved in managing elections in Oregon to engage in suppressing investigations into election integrity -- especially with cartoonish productions that treat voters like children.

In an open letter to Oregonians, acting Secretary of State Cheryl Myers pointed out that during the last legislative session that Legislative funding for programs designed to combat false election information was reduced from $370,000 to $150,000. According to Myers, "With election workers bracing for a challenging 2024 election season, states like Washington, Colorado and California are making significant investments in this area." Legislative budget writers apparently have less of an appetite for this kind of information control.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-06-28 17:49:03

Last Update: 2023-06-28 22:16:05

Aashington County Administrator Tanya Ange has appointed Dora Perry to serve as interim Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. Perry will take over from Latricia Tillman who served for three years as the county’s first Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. Tillman says she is departing Washington County to travel and spend time with family.

Washington County says that Perry has over 30 years of experience with a focus on social justice, equity and inclusion.

She is the founder and principal of Cultural Coaching Solutions LLC, a minority-led consulting firm.

She also played a key role in the establishment of the Office of Equity and Human Rights for the City of Portland, including serving as its interim director.

“We are grateful to Dora for taking this important interim appointment and for carrying on with Latricia’s foundational accomplishments over the last three years,” said County Administrator Tanya Ange.

Perry went to the University of Washington and also got an arts degree in urban planning at Portland State University, with a concentration in housing and community development.

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She is a former commissioner of the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs, past president of the African Women’s Coalition, past co-chair of the board of Unite Oregon and past board member of Resolutions Northwest.

Washington County is located on the western side of the Portland metropolitan area and has a population of 606,378, the second largest in Oregon. It has a budget of $1.6 billion and is staffed by 2,368 full-time equivalent employees.

In February 2020, Washington County created the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (OEICE) to ensure that all Washington County residents have culturally and linguistically appropriate access to the County's services.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-06-27 18:54:38

Last Update: 2023-06-27 19:20:53

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, as Superintendent of Public Instruction, has now announced that she has appointed Charlene Williams to serve as the next Director of the Oregon Department of Education and Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. Kotek says that Dr. Williams has a lot of experience as a public school administrator and a teacher.

Kotek says she will be the first Black woman in Oregon history to be appointed to the role.

Williams will officially take over as interim director on Monday, July 10. The Oregon Senate will take up her confirmation as permanent director in September.

“Dr. Williams will be a transformative, inclusive education director for all of Oregon,” Governor Kotek said. "I’m thrilled to work with someone who is highly skilled in developing and implementing programs designed at closing education gaps."

“First and foremost, my goal will be to support students in every corner of the state so that they have the same chance to succeed", Dr. Williams said. "I recognize the significance of my appointment to this role and the immense amount of work we have ahead of us. I’m looking forward to building partnerships with students, educators and families across Oregon that advance equity and student success.”

Williams spent the past seven years as an administrator in Southwest Washington public school districts, most recently as deputy superintendent at Evergreen Public Schools.

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Williams previously served as an assistant superintendent in the Camas School District from 2016 to 2022.

She facilitated the adoption of the district’s first equity policy. She was also a recipient of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Award for promoting access, equity, and social justice in public schools.

Williams also previously worked for seven years at Portland Public Schools. Her last role at the district was as the Senior Director of School Performance, where she worked with the teacher's union.

Williams arrived in Oregon in 1999 to become a program coordinator and curriculum developer at Portland Community College.

“I am confident that Dr. Williams will continue ODE’s commitment to serving each and every student in Oregon’s 197 diverse school districts and striving toward equitable access to education for all our children,” Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill said. “Throughout the process I learned that Dr. Williams is a collaborator, she believes every student matters, and that she is deeply committed to serving all of Oregon’s kids. She is the right leader for Oregon schools at this time.”


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-06-27 17:52:28

Last Update: 2023-06-27 18:35:45

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