House Republicans Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem) Rep. Christine Goodwin (R-Canyonville) and Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) issued a statement critical of today’s meeting of the Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response on Measure 110. Mannix and Goodwin serve on the committee.

“What has become abundantly clear is that Measure 110 needs dramatic revisions. On the one hand, people need to be held accountable for their abuse of street drugs, which leads so many of them to commit crimes to feed their addictions. On the other hand, we need to dramatically reform our drug rehabilitation delivery system so that those who are addicted can promptly receive comprehensive treatment which will put them on the road to recovery,” said Mannix.

“Drug addiction thrives in an environment with no obstacles. M110 has decriminalized all dangerous drugs and in so doing has exacerbated a growing drug addiction epidemic in our state. Too many dangerous drugs remain legal, cheap and plentiful on our streets. We need a fresh start to build back bridges to recovery,” said Goodwin. “We need to return the tools to law enforcement to support recovery and build out evidence-based treatment facilities. The state investments in treatment programs need to be accountable for success in ending the suffering of drug addiction. We have chaos in our communities and the public is fed up!”

"Today, we heard more of the same from radical special interests who benefit from the status quo. We also heard heartbreaking stories from people living with the consequences of Measure 110's failure, and they are begging for change. The majority party only wants to talk; Republicans want action. Our caucus has put forward ideas to get addiction, homelessness, and crime under control, and we urge the majority to work with us to implement these solutions in the next session,” said Helfrich.

House Republicans have offered solutions to the failures of Measure 110 that include repealing failed and ineffective aspects of the law and instituting actions widely supported by the people of Oregon, including banning the public use of hard drugs, instituting penalties for those who possess deadly drugs like fentanyl, making treatment mandatory for those arrested on drug-related crimes in order to avoid jail, and directing resources to the county level so local entities can better address areas of acute need.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said, “There are two stories about Measure 110 on the ground. The one in our communities and filling up legislative inboxes is a demand for repealing and replacing this failed ballot measure. The version presented in committee today was primarily special interest activists defending the measure they funded with the goal of spreading this disaster to every state in the nation. At the end of the day, Oregon voters know that they were sold a bill of goods with Measure 110. They know that we need to start fresh, and we had better do it now.

“Senate Republicans have asked Democrats for a special session on Measure 110. We are disappointed in their slow response given the magnitude of the situation.

“In the upcoming session, we have got to recriminalize dealing, possessing, and publicly using deadly drugs, give law enforcement the tools they need to provide accountability that will require treatment for addiction, and allow counties to address needs at the local level. Anything short of that would be failure.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-12-04 14:24:15

Last Update: 2023-12-04 16:31:35

The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 889 (2019 Laws) and House Bill 2081 (2021 Laws) establishing the Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Program within the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) that would apply to insurance companies, hospitals and health care providers, so that health care costs do not outpace wages or the state’s economy.

In 2022, Oregon voters were convinced to make healthcare a human right. The Ballot Measure 111 was and remains to be controversial over increasing payroll and personal income taxes to implement “socialized medicine.” Now the Oregon government website admits to what voters were warned about. “The cost of health care in Oregon has grown and is projected to grow faster than both the state economy and Oregonians’ wages.”

Under Oregon’s proposed plan, every person who lives in Oregon, as well as many of those who work in the state but live elsewhere, would be eligible for comprehensive healthcare coverage without having to make a contribution to the cost of care, at the time of treatment regardless of pre-existing conditions. Patients may also choose any state certified practitioner or specialist without going through a primary care provider.

At the time of voting, it was about providing healthcare for 423,000 Oregonians lacking health insurance of which 70,000 were children. This was after a survey in 2017 indicated many of the uninsured were eligible for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Twenty-one percent choose not to enroll over concerns about quality of care. Currently, about 243,000 remain uninsured. If 80 percent of those who lack health coverage made use of OHP or the subsidies available through the marketplace, the number of Oregonians who are uninsured would drop to 34,000. That would boost Oregon’s health coverage rate to 99 percent (excluding adults ineligible due to undocumented immigration status). “The survey reveals positive progress, but more work is needed to address issues like the number of people who are underinsured,” said Andrew Stolfi, insurance commissioner.

OHA continues to rely on data from the 2017 survey to determine gaps in coverage and impact on the Oregon’s health system reforms. If the state hasn’t progressed since 2017, was Measure 111 fairly presented as transparent information. If OHA has made an effort to reduce uninsured to one percent, what point is there for Oregonians to be swept into a universal socialized plan that appears to be unpopular.

OHA is to identify opportunities to reduce waste and inefficiency, resulting in better care at a lower cost. The health care cost growth target is a target for the annual per capita rate of growth of total health care spending in the state. Cost increases of health insurance companies and health care provider organizations will be compared to the growth target each year. The program evaluates and annually reports on cost increases and drivers of health care costs. In 2023, HB 2045 already started to break down what constitutes reasonable factors by specifying that a provider [organization] shall not be accountable for cost growth resulting from total compensation provided to frontline workers.

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OHA adopted a statistical testing method used to assess health insurers and provider organizations against the health care cost growth target of 3.4 percent. How reasonable is the “reasonableness” process when conversations and data are selective and goals are not obtainable, which may be why the controversy continues over funding. On a per person per year basis, total health care expenditures increased 3.5% between 2020-2021. This points towards controlled utilization since cost growth for the commercial market was 12.1%, compared to 6.5% for Medicare and -2.1% for Medicaid. The plan is reported to increase premiums by $4,800 a year for a lower-middle class family. As reference, in 2021 total health care spending in Oregon totaled $31.07 billion dollars.

Timelines and Rulemaking have been rescheduled, and after consideration of macro-economic factors including inflation and labor market trends the Performance Improvement Plans (accountability) was delayed for one year.

OHA is taking applications for a Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) for the Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Program starting in January 2024. They are extending an opportunity to be a RAC member to develop administrative rules that govern the program. A flyer outlines the time commitment and meeting goals. RAC Member Application Form can be downloaded and submit it to HealthCare.CostTarget@oha.oregon.gov by December 29, 2023.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-12-04 10:10:21

Last Update: 2023-12-04 01:09:19

Forty-eight Oregon auto dealers joined 3,882 dealerships across the United State call on the President to tap the brakes on the proposed Electric Vehicle Mandate. Despite all the tens of billions of dollars of bribes/enticements the government is dangling in front of car buyers, millions are saying “no thanks” to EVs.

A reason for consumer avoidance is reflected in the Consumer Reports’ newly released annual car reliability survey. The survey reveals that, on average, EVs from the past three model years had 79 percent more problems than conventional cars. Based on 330,000 vehicles, owners responding covers 20 potential problem areas, including engine, transmission, electric motors, leaks, and infotainment systems.

Now EVs are piling up on dealer lots and auto dealers around the country are revolting, urging the Biden administration to stop forcing EVs on them, which they can’t sell. The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) claims their rules aren't a mandate even though it is in the title. They don't force anyone to sell or buy an EV, but the agency didn't specify what automakers and dealers need to do to satisfy the EPA. Under the regulations proposed, the majority of new vehicle purchases are to be electric within a decade.

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Below is the letter and the list of dealerships that signed is available for download.

Dear Mr. President,

We are auto dealers from across the country who collectively sell every major brand in the U.S. We are small businesses employing thousands of Americans. We are deeply committed to the customers we serve and the communities where we operate, which is why we are asking you to slow down your proposed regulations mandating battery electric vehicle (BEV) production and distribution.

Your Administration has proposed regulations that would essentially mandate a dramatic shift to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), increasing year after year until 2032, when two out of every three vehicles sold in America would have to be battery electric.

Currently, there are many excellent battery electric vehicles available for consumers to purchase. These vehicles are ideal for many people, and we believe their appeal will grow over time. The reality, however, is that electric vehicle demand today is not keeping up with the large influx of BEVs arriving at our dealerships prompted by the current regulations. BEVs are stacking up on our lots.

Last year, there was a lot of hope and hype about EVs. Early adopters formed an initial line and were ready to buy these vehicles as soon as we had them to sell. But that enthusiasm has stalled. Today, the supply of unsold BEVs is surging, as they are not selling nearly as fast as they are arriving at our dealerships -- even with deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives.

While the goals of the regulations are admirable, they require consumer acceptance to become a reality. With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that this attempted electric vehicle mandate is unrealistic based on current and forecasted customer demand. Already, electric vehicles are stacking up on our lots which is our best indicator of customer demand in the marketplace.

Mr. President, no government agency, no think tank, and no polling firm knows more about the automobile customer than us. We talk to customers every day. As retail automotive dealerships, we are agnostic as to what we sell. Our business is to provide customers with vehicles that meet the needs of their budgets and lifestyles.

Some customers are in the market for electric vehicles, and we are thrilled to sell them. But the majority of customers are simply not ready to make the change. They are concerned about BEVs being unaffordable. Many do not have garages for home charging or easy access to public charging stations. Customers are also concerned about the loss of driving range in cold or hot weather. Some have long daily commutes and don’t have the extra time to charge the battery. Truck buyers are especially put off by the dramatic loss of range when towing. Today’s current technology is not adequate to support the needs of the majority of our consumers.

Many of these challenges can and will be addressed by our manufacturers, but many of these challenges are outside of their control. Reliable charging networks, electric grid stability, sourcing of materials, and many other issues need time to resolve. And finally, many people just want to make their own choice about what vehicle is right for them.

Mr. President, it is time to tap the brakes on the unrealistic government electric vehicle mandate. Allow time for the battery technology to advance. Allow time to make BEVs more affordable. Allow time to develop domestic sources for the minerals to make batteries. Allow time for the charging infrastructure to be built and prove reliable. And most of all, allow time for the American consumer to get comfortable with the technology and make the choice to buy an electric vehicle.

Sincerely, Supporting Dealerships


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-12-02 10:25:40

Last Update: 2023-12-01 17:16:40

The 2022-23 edition of the Oregon Statewide Report Card is now available on the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) website. This annual look at Oregon’s kindergarten through grade 12 education system includes key data on students, teachers and schools.

“Academic excellence for students in Oregon remains the top priority for our agency. I took this role to make a difference, and we need to see what the data are telling us and be responsive to that,” Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “Clearly the results show we have more work to do to set Oregon’s students up for success. I care deeply about helping each and every scholar, and know that through centering their needs, aspirations and talents, we can prepare every student for their future.”

“Learning from this report helps us build a stronger education system that serves every student. Moving forward I’m focused on three areas that are central to student success:

• Early literacy
• Sense of Belonging
• Accountability.”

The Oregon Statewide Report Card includes new and returning data, most of which has already been released in the last year. Take aways from the report:

• There are 333 unique languages spoken by Oregon students, which includes about 11.3% classified as English Learners. However, a previous survey showed that there were no students that didn’t speak English.
• In the October 1st, 2022 student enrollment included 2,777 non-binary students. This is an increase from the 1,772 non-binary students reported in the October 1st, 2021 student enrollment.
• In three years, the overall enrollment has dropped 30,281, while teachers increased by 1,328.
• The majority of students in Oregon attend large school districts, comprised of 7,000 or more students.
• Homeless students total 21,478, but only 2,769 are actually unsheltered. The total includes those in shelters, unsheltered, motels and the majority (15,212) are in sharing housing. This group has a 58.6% graduation rate.
• All students four-year graduation rate is 81.3%.
• English Language Arts Academic Achievement’s long-term goal is 80% of which the achieved average is 43.6%. Out of 11 categories, 7 increased slightly after the COVID shutdown for grade schools and 6 for 11th grade, but all categories declined in middle school. The highest achievement categories are Asians at 62.0-64.4% compared to Whites at 50-52.3% and Multi-racial at 47.6-51.3%. At the bottom are English Learners at 11.3-20% and the disabled at 15.8-20%. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanic made the biggest progress as they advance from 20.4 to 30.3 and 34% in high school. Black and Underserved came in at 25.4 to 34%
• Mathematics Academic Achievement also has a long term goal of 80%. Overall the score decline from 36.6% in grade school to 28.5% in middle school and 20.9% in 11th grade. The categories ranked the same with the best performing being Asian (42.6%) and White (25.2%) as 11th grade scores. All categories declined as students advance, and most declined after the COVID lockdown.
• Charter schools made up 7.5% of enrollments or 41,577 students. They out performed public school by 6.3% for English Language Arts and 3.1% in math.
• Ninth Grade On-Track data increased in 2022-23, compared to 2021-22. The total statewide rate increased by 0.8 percentage points to 83.6 percent and is approaching pre-pandemic levels. What it means is they completed the course work.
• Attendance averages increased to about 66% and 61.2% for 11th grade.
• Discipline incidents have increased from 6.5% pre-pandemic to 6.8% in 2022-23. Incidents are below 3% until 4th grade when it gradually rises and going into middle school it jumps to 11.2% and peaks in 8th grade at 14.4% then gradually declines to 3.6% in 12th grade.
• The report doesn’t include 2023 graduation rates. Despite the suspension of the Assessment of Essential Skills, Oregon’s dropout rate more than double in 2021-22.

Probably the most disturbing numbers are for high school. These students have less time to make up where Oregon has previously failed them, and they will soon be competing in the world market for higher education or employment.

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Oregon has some of the most demanding graduation requirements in the country, as measured by course credit requirements. The subject-area credit requirements are listed on the Oregon Diploma webpage. The passage of Senate Bill 744 (2021) suspended the Assessment of Essential Skills policy through the 2023-24 school year. Oregon continues to administer statewide summative tests; however, these tests are not designed to determine if a student should graduate from high school.

ODE has not eliminated state tests of proficiency for Oregon students. Oregon’s state summative tests in language arts, mathematics, and science are required by both state and federal law. Students are expected to take Oregon’s state summative tests. The only change made thus far is to eliminate a duplicative testing requirement, which evidence has shown was not working. The Assessment of Essential Skills policy suspension was recently extended through the 2027-28 school year by the Oregon State Board of Education; however, the nine essential skills have not been eliminated. Students continue to receive instruction and are assessed on these essential skills in classrooms, including those who graduated in 2023.

The report clearly points towards the need for middle school reforms. ODE changes over the past few years have impacted middle schoolers the most, and perhaps the failure of those changes should be analyzed for a more successful high school experience.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-12-01 10:38:43

Last Update: 2023-12-01 17:18:17

Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has announced she will follow the usual procedure for Oregon presidential primaries and not remove Donald Trump from the ballot for the Oregon Republican Party primary. The former President’s qualification has been a major topic in national media, and the Secretary’s office has received significant voter contact on this issue.

In a letter from the Oregon Department of Justice, she was warned, "In recent months, scholars and advocates have argued that, as a result of his role in the January 6 insurrection, Donald Trump is barred from serving as President under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In light of this controversy, you ask whether you should omit him from the upcoming presidential primary ballot. We conclude that Oregon law does not charge the Secretary of State with determining whether a major party candidate in a residential primary election will be qualified to serve as President if ultimately elected."

“Oregon law does not give me the authority to determine the qualifications of candidates in a presidential primary,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “I will follow our usual process and expect to put Donald Trump on the primary ballot unless a court directs me otherwise.”

State law treats presidential primary elections differently than other elections where the Secretary has the authority to disqualify a candidate. In a presidential primary, voters are not deciding who will hold office or even who will go on the general election ballot. Instead, they are communicating their preference to party delegates who choose a nominee at the party’s nominating convention.

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Legal advice from the Oregon Department of Justice concluded the Secretary lacks the authority to disqualify a candidate in a presidential primary election because there is no set of qualifications for who can be considered at a party nominating convention.

The Secretary’s decision applies only to the primary election, not the November general election.

“I understand that people want to skip to the end of this story. But right now, we don’t even know who the nominee will be,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “When the general election comes, we’ll follow the law and be completely transparent with our reasoning.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-11-30 17:36:41

Last Update: 2023-11-30 17:45:38

The Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response announced the agenda for its third meeting scheduled for December 4th at 9:00 AM.

Since Governor Tina Kotek has indicated she rejects Oregonians desire to repeal M110, she is standing firm in her decision and ignoring reports that thousands of Oregonians are losing their lives to drug addiction every day. She openly admits that she doesn’t think that a full repeal is the answer and that she would rather continue exploring avenues that hasn't proven to help young lives at risk.

Lawmakers continue to hold hearings on effective ways to treat drug addiction and build on drug treatment programs inside and outside of jails. However, this does not address the availability of lethal drugs and how they are entering the state.

The committee's meeting December 4 will allow public comments on solutions to solve the drug crisis Oregonians want to see the state pursue in their communities. Legislators say they will carefully consider these ideas as they continue their work to build a response to the drug crisis attempting to save lives and keep our streets clean and communities safe.

You can register to give public comments scheduled for 11am to 1pm online or call 833-588-4500.

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During the committee’s first two meetings in October and November, legislators dug into the current public health and public safety responses to the drug crisis, hearing from treatment providers, law enforcement experts, and more about programs that are working and problems that need to be solved.

The Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response is co-chaired by Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D – Beaverton & SW Portland) and Representative Jason Kropf (D – Bend). The joint committee serves as the legislative hub for the coordination of an urgent public health and safety response to the drug crisis. Through the 2024 session and beyond, this bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators will provide oversight of state programs and funding, while seeking short and long-term solutions to the drug crisis.

Oregon Push Back has put forth the need to again fund the $21 million passed in 2021 in SB 893 that has closed down illegal pot farms, stopped illegal drugs and slave trafficking. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called the proliferation of cannabis growing operations run by foreign cartels a humanitarian, environmental and public safety crisis. Without a repeal, this funding gets to the source of Measure 110.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-30 11:42:48

Last Update: 2023-11-30 16:34:56

In response to the growing role that generative artificial intelligence is playing in society, Governor Tina Kotek issued Executive Order 23-26, which creates the Oregon State Government AI Advisory Council to develop recommendations for its utilization across state government.

“Artificial intelligence is an important new frontier, bringing the potential for substantial benefits to our society, as well as risks we must prepare for,” Governor Kotek said. “This rapidly developing technological landscape leads to questions that we must take head on, including concerns regarding ethics, privacy, equity, security, and social change. It has never been more essential to ensure the safe and beneficial use of artificial intelligence – and I look forward to seeing the work this council produces. We want to continue to foster an environment for innovation while also protecting individual and civil rights.”

The Council will provide a recommended action plan framework to the Governor’s Office no later than six months from the date of its first convening and a final recommended action plan no later than 12 months from its first convening.

The action plan will aim to maximize potential benefits of ethical and effective artificial intelligence implementation and adoption, along with thoughtful governance and standards to mitigate risk and address privacy, ethics, and equity. The goal will be to ensure Oregon has clear usage policies that outline the acceptable use of AI tools, providing transparency, uplifting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and protecting personally identifiable information and other sensitive information.

The Council will consist of no more than 15 members, all of whom must have a commitment to data ethics and data equity. Council structure seems to be aimed at promoting the majority party’s agenda with members from the Oregon State Chief Information Officer (who will chair the council), the Oregon State Chief Data Officer, a representative from the Governor’s Racial Justice Council, the Department of Administrative Services Cultural Change Officer, and an additional agency representative to be appointed by the Governor.

Governor Kotek will also appoint up to eight additional members, which may include community organizations with demonstrated expertise in data justice, artificial intelligence experts from Oregon universities, and representatives from local governments. Additionally, the President of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Oregon State Senate and the Speaker of the House shall appoint one member of the Oregon House of Representatives.

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Last year, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights. The document is a non-binding ‘white paper’ intended to support the development of policies and practices that protect civil rights and promote democratic values in the building, deployment, and governance of automated systems. It lays out five principles centered on the need for ethical and equitable principles that should guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems to protect the American public in the age of artificial intelligence.

While the Governor and the ‘white paper’ both lay out specific data privacy practices, it seems contrary to the Secretary of State’s pilot project gathering information and the plans to develop spying software.

Full membership and meeting times will be announced at a later date.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-30 10:19:31

Last Update: 2023-11-30 00:37:41

Newberg human rights attorney, Will Lathrop (R-Newberg), has filed to become Oregon’s next Attorney General. Lathrop began campaigning on January 2nd of this year. Lathrop has raised $300,000, campaigned in 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties, and earned endorsements from over 70 elected leaders and law enforcement members from every corner of the state. The current Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (D-Portland) has said that she will not seek re-election.

“I am running for attorney general because I have the vision and experience to lead our state towards a future with safe, healthy, and thriving communities,” said Lathrop. “It’s painful for me to watch the state that I love suffer. Oregon is a wounded beauty – a beautiful state marred by crime and addiction. I represent a dawn of new leadership that will bring lasting change and ensure a safer, healthier future for Oregonians.”

According to a statement from his campaign, Lathrop is a sixth generation Oregonian who has spent his career fighting for victims of crime and abuse, rebuilding criminal justice systems, and taking on corrupt politicians and governments. As a prosecutor in Yamhill County and child-abuse prosecutor in Marion County, Lathrop worked on protecting victims from violence. In Northern Uganda, Lathrop fought violent land grabbers and returned land to widows and orphans after a 21 year civil war in the region. In Ghana, Lathrop rescued victims of child trafficking and forced labor, and successfully prosecuted slave traders and masters in his project area.

“As Oregon’s next attorney general I’ll focus on reducing crime and restoring safety in our communities, limit harmful government overreach by ensuring state agencies follow the law, and restore trust in our government institutions by enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for public corruption,” added Lathrop.

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Notable supporters include U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and 2022 Republican nominee for Governor, Christine Drazan.

“I’m proud to endorse Will Lathrop to be Oregon’s next attorney general, who I trust to combat drug trafficking, stand up for crime victims, and restore peace and safety in our communities. Will’s vast experience, from his work protecting victims at the county level in Oregon to the world stage as a human rights attorney, makes him uniquely qualified to serve Oregonians as our next attorney general,” said Rep. Chavez De Remer.

“Oregon needs new and inspiring public safety leadership that isn’t driven by political agendas and partisan politics. Salem politicians have failed to repeal Measure 110 and have sided with defund-the-police radicals over the men and women in law enforcement,” said Drazan. “Will Lathrop is an experienced public servant who Oregonians can trust to stand up for victims of crime, work with law enforcement to protect our neighborhoods, and hold agencies and public officials accountable to the law.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-11-29 10:53:18

Last Update: 2023-11-29 11:14:18

All eyes have been on the teacher’s strike at Portland Public Schools and, at last, they have reached a tentative agreement. The minute Governor Tina Kotek involved herself in the strike, it indicated there would be statewide implications. Governor Kotek has now announced the next steps she will lead to address core issues that educators have raised to improve outcomes for students across Oregon.

“The strike was a reflection of larger challenges that districts across the state are facing,” Governor Kotek said. “From salaries not staying competitive with the market, to backlogs in facility maintenance, to classroom disruptions related to the behavioral health needs of students, we clearly have work to do.

“I commit to continuing the work. As your Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, I commit to partnering with educators across the state to tackle the systemic issues that contributed to this strike. We all have an opportunity to do our part to ensure our schools are safe, successful places for students, teachers, and school employees.”

To address many of the underlying structural needs facing our schools, Governor Kotek will take the following steps:

1. Develop a statewide action plan, with the help of a multidisciplinary group of leaders, to support the social-emotional health needs of students in school settings and strengthen resources and capacity of school staff to meet these needs.
   
   
2. Partner with the legislature on their work to establish minimum teacher salaries and review funding for schools.
   
   Salary Schedules: The Governor will closely monitor and review the recommendations of the legislature’s Task Force on Statewide Educator Salaries. She wants to see a proposal for minimum teacher salary schedules that make Oregon competitive with our neighboring states, mitigate competition between neighboring districts, and reflect local cost of living. She also wants to see a plan to fund that proposal over the next several years.
   
   Funding: While the legislature ultimately adopts the budget, the Governor’s office must be a partner to ensure the methodology makes sense for today’s realities. The Governor will direct the Chief Financial Officer and the Oregon Department of Education to partner with the legislature and education stakeholders to review and revise the methodology for school funding.

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3. Create the Office of Transparency within the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to make budget information that the State already collects from districts more accessible and easier to understand. This is intended to ensure labor and district partners and the public have the same budget information that the State does and strengthen transparency and improve customer service to Oregonians. ODE will include data about future estimated revenues that districts may have, the share of district funding that comes from State sources compared to local sources, and the share of district expenditures spent on administration. This work will draw from the work of states such as Arizona, Illinois and Michigan, and from ODE’s ESSER dashboard.

A full document outlining Governor Kotek's commitments can be found on the government webpage.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-28 16:58:22

Last Update: 2023-11-28 17:41:02

Free Speech For People, a national nonpartisan legal advocacy group, has spearheaded the nationwide effort to “hold insurrectionists accountable for their role in the violent assault on American democracy” that took place on January 6th, 2021. Despite release of videos proving Trump supporters were not the instigators of January 6, FSFP along with Mi Familia Vota (TrumpIsDisqualified.org), are calling on Secretaries of States and top election officials across the country to apply Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment against Donald Trump, and all other elected officials who participated in what they call an insurrection, from running on any future ballot. They have sent letters to secretary of states and chief election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits anyone who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” after taking an oath to support the Constitution from again holding public office.

The letter states, “Pursuant to ORS 183.410 and OAR 137-001-0080, we request that you issue a temporary rule (and subsequent declaratory ruling) that Mr. Trump is constitutionally ineligible to appear on any Oregon future ballot for nomination of election to federal office. Due to the urgency involved in this determination and the time required for probable judicial review before the printing of Oregon’s 2024 primary election ballots, we request a response to this request by December 1, 2023.”

After several pages trying to convict President Trump in their narrative, they suggest if he is innocent, he should still be denied to run even though the Senate failed to convict Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial. They claim it is irrelevant. After all, Mr. Trump still has due process of law.

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This is an out-of-state organization attempting to put a bigger wedge of distrust between the Secretary of State and voters. They are suggesting Oregon taxpayers can foot the bill when Donald Trump takes on the state in a court challenge, which many observers predict that the state will lose according to recent video releases of January 6 events.

Many Oregonians think that Oregon’s Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has already insulted voters with her intentions to spy on communications in search of what she classifies as misinformation. Restricting a key candidate on the Presidential Ballot will further insult voters intelligence and charge taxpayers.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-25 10:02:19

Last Update: 2023-11-27 17:09:12

Dana Hindman-Allen has filed to run for Clackamas County Commissioner for the seat currently held by Martha Schrader. She is a Realtor, business owner, and fifth generation Oregonian, who is currently serving on the Clackamas County Parks Advisory Board since 2021.

“I believe that we have to take meaningful action to protect quality of life, public safety and livability throughout Clackamas County, we don’t want failed Portland policies imported to our County.” Hindman-Allen said.

She added, “All over the metro area, residents have witnessed businesses suffering due to crime and cost of living spiraling out of control. As a Realtor for the last 11 years, I have worked with clients who expressed the resounding sentiment of wanting to relocate to neighboring Clackamas County because of the lower property taxes and fiscally conservative County operations.” “However, we cannot stay idle because our communities are fragile and need efficient, professional leadership to maintain and support thriving Communities. In Oregon we have seen how quickly bad decisions in Government have consequences on us all.” Furthermore, “Fresh perspective is needed in a long held incumbent seat, and I believe I have the foresight and business competency to improve efficiency and create dynamic successful relationships with community partners and elected officials to keep Clackamas County from being derailed. I will also welcome businesses seeking a new home and advocate for businesses that are overburdened by oppressive taxes, regulations that suppress innovation and make it hard to maintain a quality work force.”

Hindman-Allen was an Educational Assistant for the Oregon Trail School District for over 10 years, she even launched a volunteer-run theater program there where she produced and directed full-scale theatre productions for the Oregon Trail Academy. She also was a licensed residential Mortgage Broker and understands fiscal strategies and accountability. It is essential for public participation in your government. I will welcome all the community members.

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Hindman-Allen said, “Everyone has been impacted by forest fires, we need to partner with our Forestry Management leadership and firefighters to work on sustainable Forest management practices, while making sure our Fire Fighters have enough resources to fight the fires swiftly and efficiently before they get out of hand. My main frustration is with politicians serving their political careers rather than their constituents, and lack of true collaboration with citizens is the driving force behind the desire to serve. When the citizens make it clear to the government that they are opposed to a particular policy and the government continues to steam roll the public, we have problems. One such example is the tolling proposal of Interstate 205, which I do not support. It is just another tax that residents don’t want, another short-sighted policy that will have lasting consequences for citizens who live, work, and travel throughout the area.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-11-24 18:29:40

Last Update: 2023-11-25 09:57:05

The Oregon Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers who plan to apply for the new Agriculture Employer Overtime Tax Credit that they need to set up a Revenue Online account soon.

Taxpayers who want to apply for the tax credit need to have a Revenue Online account prior to filling out an application. Applications must be filed electronically and will be available by January 1, 2024. No paper applications will be accepted. The application window closes January 31, 2024.

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4002 in 2022 along party lines. The measure requires agricultural employers to pay certain workers for overtime hours worked, and creates a refundable personal or corporate income tax credit for employers for a percentage of wages paid as overtime pay, starting with the 2023 tax year.

The bill was passed despite a year-long workgroup saying they could not find a viable compromise that didn’t harm agriculture. Representative Anna Scharf (R-Polk) said, “this bill will only harm the workers that the supporters of the bill said it was designed to help. Farms cannot afford the overtime costs associated with this bill and will cut workers hours, cut positions, and automate additional processes eliminating jobs permanently. Tax credits take years to get, if they are received at all.”

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This tax credit shifts the burden onto taxpayers for up to $55 million when Oregon is already one of the highest taxed states. The tax credit table is designed to hit employers that employ over 25 the hardest. The bill also specifies the hour threshold at which overtime is paid for different years, industries, and number of employees. Dairies that employ not more than 25 can apply for 100% overtime over 55 hours, while nondairy can claim 90% for 2023 then 80% for two years reducing to 60%. Employers over 50 are eligible for somewhat less graduating down to a 40-hour threshold and a 15% credit.

The department provides a video about how to set up and log in to a Revenue Online account.

If Ballot Initiative 3 is successful, which criminalizes breeding practices, labor cost will be the least of Oregonian’s worries.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-22 10:22:14

Last Update: 2023-11-22 15:50:41