When enforcement fails, legislators always look for more money to solve problems. Oregon Humane Society (OHS) is behind Senate Bill 1076, sponsored by Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Springfield/Eugene). SB 1076 is hoping to find new money from a new licensing program for animal rescue and breeders.

Oregon has been active in passing animal protection laws within the state. In 2023, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed two bills into law that aim to protect the well-being of animals in the state, and those brought into the state. In addition to animal protection, it made animal cruelty a felony. But, in doing so, they have made Oregon a destination state for mistreated animals.

The Animal Rescue Entity oversight began in 2013 under city and county authority, designed to solve the spreading of diseases, but lacked funding. In 2019 enforcement was transferred to Oregon Department of Agriculture with enough funding to make the program self-funded, but licensing fees were insufficient. A raise in fees was not well received in 2024, so the proposal in SB 1076 is to duplicate breeding practices and animal cruelty statutes ORS 167.374 and ORS 609.420 with a new licensing program on top of other licensing requirements, which adds more administrative expenses than projected to bring in.

Denese Oster testified, “Rescue groups obtain a license with the state already, and breeders license their animals with the counties and cities, and if they are large enough, they obtain a kennel license with that same county or city.” This isn’t about protecting animals; it’s about collecting more money.

OHS historically has imported 60%, the highest number of dogs into Oregon annually, and under this bill would receive an even-greater share of the dogs. Once OHS confiscates animals, under an Oregon Supreme Court ruling, they own them and do whatever they choose with them, and have been known to sell them before a court determines guilt or innocence.

Gny Sgt Rodney Hames testified of the fear that this bill will result in more raid. “The OHS takes in donations, sells the animals they seize and have police powers to help them get those animals. Please remember, the OHS is so poor with their police procedures/due process, a court threw out a few years’ worth of convictions. This bill would also allow the agency staff and the OHS unfettered access to the homes and property of individuals. … The Oregon Humane Society has helped to import and dump onto Oregonians, some of the worst and problematic animals in the country, partly because “we must save all the animals”…. They don’t perform health testing on animals prior to finding homes…They are part of a larger network of groups across the country who transport animals from areas who have failed to control their own pet populations.”

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Several testified how SB 1076 will severely disrupt youth agricultural programs like 4-H and FFA, which depend on responsible breeders for animals used in educational projects. These programs teach invaluable life skills and provide important services to communities. The legislative fiscal office has identified the Oregon Youth Authority with the greatest impact. It will also disrupt Oregon’s pet-related events that generate more than $8.3 million annually for the state’s economy, harming tourism and negatively affect local businesses, potentially causing millions of dollars in losses.

Alexis Jacobson works with livestock breeders testified, “Youth members of these organizations rely on heritage breeders for their project animals, where they will learn responsibility, money management, marketing, career readiness, and much more. While some of these project animals may be sold at their local county fair at the end of the day, some return to their home or farm to become breeding projects for the youth member’s own herd/flock or their family’s herd/flock. If a youth livestock breeder must pay a fee to have a license for their project, that means that much less money is generated from their project. Often, the funds raised from their projects help pay for these members’ college tuition, their first car, their first business, and much more.”

SB 1076 will most likely create an ongoing expense to the state as there are not enough breeders or rescue shops to sustain a program without taxpayer general fund appropriations. Why should taxpayer support a program that is already well regulated and licensed, which could be solved without additional expense just by making the practice of importing unregulated dogs for fee-based adoptions illegal.

Track this bill on Oregon Citizens Lobby Alerts.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-15 23:01:21

Last Update: 2025-04-15 23:34:48

Oregon's gun regulations have evolved significantly in the last two decades. However, the step-by-step changes have accelerated this session. Democrat leadership has doubled-down introducing seven bills and has accumulated their priorities in a gut-n-stuff amendment to Senate Bill 243 with -4 Amendments. It has passed out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, chaired by Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Springfield/Eugene) regardless of the 60% in opposition.

SB 243 as Amended lists gunowner restrictions:

• Dealer purchase waiting period extended to 72 hours after the dealer receives approval number.
• Prohibits anyone to possess, purchase, receive, transport, manufacture, sell, offer to sell, or transfer a rapid fire activator.
• Creates a Class B felony crime of unlawful transport, manufacture or transfer of a rapid fire activator, and Creates a Class A misdemeanor crime of unlawful possession of a rapid fire activator if a person knowingly possesses, purchases, or receives a rapid fire activator. Exemption if registered with federal machine gun law.
• Expands public area restrictions for conceal carry to include grounds adjacent to restricted buildings such as a city, county, metropolitan service district, or port operating a commercial airport, hospitals, schools, residence of any state official, and anywhere a sign is posted, except if there is an adopted policy for concealed carry and post on their website.

House Bill 3075 and HB 3076 also passed out of committee. HB 3075 makes it harder to lawfully obtain a firearm by increasing the firearm permit provisions in Ballot Measure 114, including adding additional eligibility requirements, fees, and doubling the wait time to issue permits to 60 days. HB 3076 directs the Department of Justice to create a state licensure program, adding additional, unnecessary oversight to an industry that already follows extensive federal regulations, including background checks, ATF licensing, and strict compliance laws.

“These bills are an absurd attempt to target law-abiding Oregon gunowners,” said Rep. Alek Skarlatos (R-Winston). “They will ban standard size magazines, impose fees on the exercise of a constitutional right, and place prohibitive regulations on every local gunsmith and gun store, forcing these small businesses to close.”

A citizens initiative in 2000 opened the door for legislators with a passion against firearms to begin chopping away at Second Amendment Rights. Each success brought a new boldness with a new level of restrictions. There is one common sponsor on every bill with individual sponsorship, and that is Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Springfield/Eugene). A close second is Representative Lew Frederick (D-N Portland) and Representative Kathleen Taylor (D-Milwaukie).

In 2000, Measure 5, called Oregon Background Checks for Transfer of Firearms, required background checks be completed before a gun dealers or gun show dealers hand over the gun to private parties.

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In 2015, Senate Bill 941, Oregon Firearms Safety Act, adds the requirement for private or unlicensed firearms sellers conduct background checks. It pass with over 1,000 submitting testimony. Also passed was Senate Bill 525, which prohibits convicted domestic violence offenders and people subject to domestic abuse restraining orders from possessing guns and ammunition. Passing with about 1200 submitted testimonies.

In 2016, Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order No 16-12, which reinstated the policy for Oregon State Police to retain gun registration data for five years after it was suspending in 2010 due to a raid on David Pyles for multiple purchases. It also directed OHA to study the effects of gun violence and suicide, and propose policies related to gun violence and its effect on public health. This order has had the affect of shifting the blame for deaths on the gun and not the status of the individual misusing the gun.

In 2017, Senate Bill 719 created the Extreme Risk Protection Order Law prohibiting a person from possessing a deadly weapon when the court finds that person presents risk in near future, including imminent risk of suicide or causing injury to another person. Sponsored by Governor Kate Brown.

In 2018, House Bill 4145, called Gun Violence Protection People, allows a court order to prohibit possession of a firearm for a misdemeanor conviction. It deals with stalking and domestic violence convictions banned from owning firearms. Submitted testimony was over 2,000

In 2021, Senate Republicans tried eight maneuvers on the floor to derail Senate Bill 554. but passed with the help of three Republicans Senators giving the Democrats quorum to pass the bill. Required gun owners to secure their guns in locked storage when it is not under their control, restricted guns in the Capitol and allowed school districts, community colleges, and universities to ban guns on their premises. Submitted testimony was 1,179 in opposition to 201.

In 2022, voters passed Measure 114, also known as the Reduction of Gun Violence Act. It aims to change gun laws in the state by requiring a permit to purchase or acquire a firearm and banning the sale, transfer, and importation of magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. It created a permit-to-purchase system in Oregon, required background check be completed before transfer of firearms, and limited the sale or transfer of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. The Appeals Court lifted the hold on the implementation of Measure 114, and is now headed to the appellate court for review of the decision.

In 2023, House Bill 2005 dealt with 'ghost guns'. Submitted testimony was 702 in opposition to 216 bearing out the uncertainty. The bill prohibits individuals from owning firearms with no metal parts and as well as firearms or firearm parts that do not have a serial number. Gives owner one year to get firearms and firearm parts serialized.

Gun owners have expressed that gun restrictions on their Second Amendment rights is declaring them guilty without the right to prove their Second Amendment rights, and without any criminal act or intent. One gunowner expressed, "They want to disarm us while at the same time they want to let more criminals go free (HB 2640) and extend sanctuary to sex offenders (SB 820 and SB 821)."

Follow and take action on these and other gun bills on Oregon Citizens Lobby Alerts.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-10 19:28:06

Last Update: 2025-04-11 16:39:30

The Trump Administration sent Oregon Department of Education a Requested Certification of compliance with Title VI and the Supreme Court decision in SFFA v. Harvard.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that “[n]o 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 assurance is given “in consideration of” federal aid, and the federal government extends assistance “in reliance on” the assurance of compliance. See 3 R. Cappalli, Federal Grants § 19:20, at 57, and n. 12 (1982) (written assurances are merely a formality because the statutory mandate applies and is enforceable apart from the text of any agreement).

Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education responded, without signing the Requested Certification, by letter certifying compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when the grants were issued.

Threats to this federal funding without lawful authority or established requirements put key programs at risk that students and schools across Oregon depend on every day. There is no circumstance where it is okay to leverage children’s resources as a political tool. Oregonians paid for and deserve these federal investments. We are standing up for the rights of all Oregonians and will continue to promote diversity in our schools because we recognize it enhances learning outcomes for all students.

Williams maintains since programs were certified compliant when accepted under the prior administration and because the Request for Certification hasn’t gone through rulemaking processes, it has no authority, and she isn’t signing it.

Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement in response: “Since the start of the new federal administration, I promised Oregonians that I would not back down from a fight when it comes to safeguarding Oregon values. Making sure every child has the opportunity to meet their future promise with a strong public education is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government and one of my top priorities as Governor.

“The Trump Administration’s threat to shortchange Oregon students hurts children and families and undermines the dedication and work of our educators. That is why I directed ODE to hold the line today. We will not tolerate this unwarranted and unlawful attempt to take away resources promised to Oregon students and paid for by the tax dollars we send to the federal government.”

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Governor Kotek seems to forget that as Superintendent of Public Instruction, she is responsible for Oregon's fourth-grade students ranking third worst nationally in math and are tied for the fourth-worst score in reading. A study from Harvard and Stanford professors found that Oregon was the only state out of 30 studied where elementary and middle school students continued to lose ground in math and reading from 2022 to 2023. Oregon students are now three-quarters of a year behind in math and two-thirds of a year behind in reading.

Also at risk is the Title IX investigation in Portland schools for subjecting females to discrimination and indignity in their activities, denying them of their civil rights. Kotek continues to allow males to compete in female sports and use female facilities.

Senator Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction) expressed on the Senate floor that “the Committee on Education explained the complexity of the education system requires the help of attorneys to keep schools in compliance with the myriad of laws pertaining to their funding and operation.” Still the legislature's leadership continues to push DEI bills through the legislature.

What Kotek promised Oregonians, just may not be what they want.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-10 16:34:07

Last Update: 2025-04-10 17:48:04

Oregon Senator Jeff Golden (D-Ashland) hasn't recovered from his wildfire mapping bill and now leads his Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire to propose Senate Bill 1154 and the -1 amendment. The bill and amendment amounts to a sweeping overhaul of Oregon’s groundwater policy, threatening local decision-making, property rights, and transparency. This amendment grants unelected agencies excessive power to inspect private property, restrict rural development, and impose mandates without clear scientific evidence or due process. Farmers, homeowners, and rural communities will bear the brunt of these bureaucratic overreaches.

Representative Ed Diehl (R-Aumsville) testified: "The bill and amendment is a massive expansion of state bureaucratic power. Authorizes an unelected interagency team—under a Governor-appointed lead agency—to direct ground water investigations, inspections, permit reviews, and public messaging. These agencies gain authority to:

• Modify or revoke land use permits,
• Rewrite agricultural operating rules,
• Conduct private property inspections without a warrant, and
• Restrict homebuilding and well development outside urban boundaries.

No meaningful checks or opt-outs are provided to local governments or citizens. Once declared a "ground water management area," local landowners are subject to mandates with limited appeal or due process.

SB 1154-1 undermines local decision-making and property rights. Permits counties to prohibit new homes unless they are hooked up to urban-style water systems or community wells—even in rural zones. It also allows DEQ inspectors to enter private property to examine septic systems, with only minimal notice, regardless of consent. The result is a top-down regime that weakens home rule authority and forces Oregonians to comply with broad state mandates crafted by unelected administrators.

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Targets farmers without guarantees of scientific accuracy. Agricultural operations are heavily implicated in this bill, yet:

• No standards are set for how contaminants are scientifically linked to farm practices,
• Agencies can impose restrictions and recordkeeping mandates based on correlations, not causation,
• Nutrient applications and water use can be limited with little recourse for landowners.

This opens the door for regulatory overreach that punishes land stewards who have not been proven to contribute to the problem."

Diehl concludes, "For the sake of Oregonians’ rights, rural communities, and transparent environmental stewardship. We must act now to preserve liberty, privacy, and local control."

Testimony may be submitted before 1pm on April 10. Access links and email address on Oregon Citizens Lobby Alerts.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-09 12:17:13

Last Update: 2025-04-09 14:27:37

A recent January poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, found that 80% of Oregonians oppose increasing the Gas Tax while 79% of Oregonians favor cutting taxes to make Oregon more affordable. The same poll showed that Oregonians see the cost of living as the top issue they face with 56% of Oregonians saying that taxes are too high. The same poll showed 70% favor eliminating state income taxes on tips and overtime pay, and 56% of Oregonians say that taxes are too high. Oregon ranks as the 10th most expensive state to live in, with the 5th highest individual income tax rate. Only California, Hawaii, New York and New Jersey have higher individual income tax rates.

Oregon Republicans, lead by Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles), announced a way to fund critical state services without raising taxes by stop wasting money. Democrats immediately unveiled their grand Transportation plan framework. Republicans response to House and Senate Democrats’ draft proposal to make Oregonians pay billions more in taxes for ODOT’s failures is insensitive to Oregonians.

The Democrat proposal raises $1.9 billion in new taxes and fees. The proposal increases gas taxes by 20 cents (a 50% increase), increases taxes on truckers by nearly 17%, creates a new tax on tires, increases payroll taxes, and more. Read all the tax hikes on Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package (TRIP) 2025 – Starting Point.

Representative Shelly Boshart-Davis (R-Albany), Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation says, “It threatens to increase or create over a dozen taxes to take billions more from Oregonians at a time when too many are struggling with some of the highest costs of living in history. I maintain that we need serious reforms at ODOT before we even consider taxing you more.”

“The Democrats’ tone-deaf proposal throws more money at a system that has repeatedly failed to recognize that its core mission is to provide safe and reliable roads and bridges,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “A dozen new taxes and fees is a slap in the face to all Oregonians that simply can’t afford to pay more for less.”

“Since the beginning of this session, House Republicans have pressed ODOT on budgeting errors, incomplete projects, and mishandling of tax dollars,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart-Davis. “It’s shocking that in spite of Oregonians’ resounding rejection of the tire tax proposal, Democrats are doubling down on this tax at a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet.” Boshart-Davis and Senator Bruce Starr (R-Rural Polk & Yamhill) serve on the Joint Committee on Transportation, appeared on the Oregon DOGE podcast to talk about some of the problems at ODOT and the need to provide real oversight.

It wasn't until ODOT testified that the committee was aware of the budget error in 2023 that resulted in over forecasting federal funding by $1.1 billion, which they used to front load projects that had to be delayed. Now they are requesting these projects get funded, however the Governor's budget is for $1.75 billion, and it takes $352 million to maintain core services.

Oregon DOGE discussed possibilities for ODOT reform including:

• Bike lanes and paths take up $70.5 million that doesn't move traffic.
• ODOT has it’s own Social Equity and Civil Rights Budget of $29.8 million for 30 employees (ORS 200.190 to emerging small business. Why is these not centralized in DAS?
• ODOT’s budget includes cleanup homeless camps.
• Sidewalks to nowhere. A settlement from 2017, AOCIL v. ODOT, awarded $18 million for curb ramps and traffic signals on the entire state highway system installing curb ramps where there is no sidewalk and opens into fields. Then Federal laws changed for handicap ramps and if not within one-eighth of an inch, they have to be redone.
• SB 715 adds $10 million for a metro high-speed rail.
• The Clean Truck temporary rule went into effect January 1, 2025, which requires converting to electric. There are currently 12 electric long-haul trucks in Oregon. The technology and infrastructure won't support even 100 trucks, which is equal to all the houses in Eugene. It would take building 55 power station per week, which ODOT lacks funding for. Boshart-Davis has introduced a 2-year waiting period in HB 3119.

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Transportation affects everything you buy and where you go. The proposed new taxes will also impact the economy, and future developments. It will raise the cost on Governor Kotek's affordable housing plans. A recent study highlighted how other states are actively poaching Oregon businesses by offering more favorable regulatory environments. High taxes and burdensome labor mandates are among the factors driving companies and their jobs out of state. Additionally, as housing becomes less affordable due to inflated building costs, more Oregonians are leaving for states with lower living expenses


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-09 11:55:23

Last Update: 2025-04-09 14:26:44

The Oregon legislature is entertaining three legislative bills that defy the court decision and ignores consequences from the Trump Administration on DEI issues. The uncertainty of what the federal government will do to Oregon’s budget doesn’t seem to be of concern to Democrats. They are full-steam ahead challenging President Trump that could cut a good portion of $38.6 billion that Oregon receives.

There are about 12 bills that are related to diversity in education in this 2025 legislative session. A couple of bills are aimed at bringing the state into compliance, but they never received a hearing. These three bills received a hearing despite having a court decision against them.

• HB 3006 would allow the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to award grants to school leader candidates based on race.
• HB 3200 seeks $10,000,000 from the state’s corporate activities tax for the scholarship program for culturally and linguistically diverse teacher candidates.
• HB 3030 would give money (scholarships) to future school leaders based on their race, where their family is from, or what language they first spoke.

These bills are very similar to a previous state program that was challenged in court. In Lynn v. Goff, a longtime Spanish teacher who worked in Oregon schools for over 20 years was denied the same financial help from a state program that was giving to other teachers, simply because he is white. The state settled the case and ended the program. Reintroducing the same kind of race-based policy now through HB 3006, HB 3030 and HB 3200 risks repeating that mistake at the expense of taxpayers.

The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed the unconstitutionality of using race when they addressed reverse discrimination in the Chevron decision. The U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause makes it clear: the government cannot treat people differently based on race.

The Chevron decision was an employment promotion case. SB 569 is also moving forward, which tells state agencies to grant money to groups that help a business to get certified as a minority owned business so it can have a better chance to get a public contract.

Representative Dwayne Yunker testified: “Now, HB 3030 is trying to do the same thing all over again. But courts have said many times: the government cannot treat people differently just because of their race. This breaks the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. The state has no strong proof that this kind of race-based program is needed, and that means it likely won’t survive a legal challenge.”

Goal setting with benchmarks was pushed for state agencies under Governor Kitzhaber, and announced a goal to achieve a 100% high school graduation rate by 2025 during his inaugural speech in January 2011. Goals were established in 1991 in ORS 342. Along came DEI and in 2021, HB 4031 amended ORS 342.437 to include: The percentage of diverse employees employed by the Department of Education reflects the percentage of diverse students in the public schools of this state. This is stated as a ‘goal’ to meet a benchmark, but the statutes frown on failure and the Department of Education requires school districts to have a plan to meet the goal. This has become an issue in a few districts, now stuck with teachers that are violating other policies.

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Yunker says, “While supporting future educators is important, these bills do so in a way that is not fair to everyone. Grant programs should be based on merit, need, or qualifications—not on identity. … Oregon should support all aspiring school leaders equally. Fairness means giving everyone the same chance, no matter who they are or where they come from.”

Oregon should be scrambling to come into compliance with federal changes. However, the legislature has not taken steps against losing education funds and instead of eliminating DEI from schools, the leadership has doubled down, even after Oregon universities lost federal grant funding. Portland school district is being investigated for letting males participate in female sports. Nothing is being done to change sanctuary state protections, but instead, they propose to extend sanctuary status to sex criminals.

If the legislature doesn't pass reforms, the taxpayers will be left with the debt.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-03 16:40:28

Last Update: 2025-04-03 23:01:41

In a shocking turn of events, Oregon lawmakers have discovered a way to fund critical state services without raising taxes: stop wasting money.

For years, Oregonians have been told the only way to fix roads, improve schools, and keep communities safe is through yet another tax hike. But after taking a closer look at the budget, lawmakers stumbled upon an overlooked goldmine—billions of dollars tied up in bloated state agencies, redundant programs, and, of course, the ever-expanding influence of public sector unions (often referred to as Oregon’s fourth branch of government).

“We couldn’t believe it,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “It turns out, if we stop funneling money into bureaucracy and special interests, we might actually be able to fund the things Oregonians care about.”

The discovery has sent shockwaves through Salem, where many have spent years perfecting the art of growing government without improving services. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are doubling down on this radical new approach—ensuring tax dollars actually benefit taxpayers.

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“We know it’s unconventional,” said Bonham. “But we owe it to Oregonians to at least try this ‘living within our means’ experiment. Who knows? It might just work.” Stay tuned for updates, assuming this idea doesn’t mysteriously disappear into a task force that never meets."

Connect with Oregon D.O.G.E. for real conversations with Oregon lawmakers. Currently discussions are on financial responsibility, where money comes from and where it is going. They cut through the noise to bring unfiltered, honest discussions on the issues shaping Oregon.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-02 14:58:14

Last Update: 2025-04-02 23:58:43

Oregon is the fifth least affordable state for housing due to a combination of high home prices and rising interest rates, which have made homeownership increasingly difficult for residents. According to the National Association of Realtors, Oregon’s housing affordability score indicates homes on the market are largely unaffordable to local buyers.

Governor Tina Kotek has thrown her support behind HB 2258 Amendment. The legislation aligns with the Governor’s efforts to cut the bureaucratic red tape by removing local control and the public process for land use. She claims you stand in the way of an affordable home for every Oregonian.

House Bill 2258 would create land use and design standards for the plans, providing predictability for developers, cities, and counties. The bill would also provide a series of pre-approved building plans, streamlining approval processes and eliminating barriers to building small apartments, single-unit dwellings, duplexes, townhomes, and other middle housing options.

What once was feared, that Oregon’s farmland and open spaces would be overrun with urban sprawl, has now become the squeeze that is exploding housing prices. Added to the dilemma is that wages can’t keep up, nor should they. Oregon’s unemployment rate has increased 0.3 percent to 4.4% from 3.6% in November and 3.4% last July. This steady increase seems to indicate a systemic problem with policies in which 80% of businesses are considering leaving the state? Now SB 712 would increase property values by 3% each year for tax purposes.

Governor Kotek reasons, “Families struggling with the high cost of housing are forced to make impossible choices – between staying in the communities they love and finding a place they can afford. This affordability crisis deepens our homelessness crisis. It demands creative, practical solutions to increase the supply of homes quickly. We have to cut red tape and get out of our own way. Pre-approved building plans just makes sense.”

“Solving the housing crisis requires us to be creative, innovative and focused on the end goal — more homes on the ground,” Representative Pam Marsh (D-Ashland), Chair of House Housing and Homelessness Committee, said. “I’m grateful to the Governor and her team for their leadership in cutting through the bureaucracy that imposes years of delay on housing projects. We just can’t keep waiting.”

Currently, housing providers face long, unpredictable permitting processes across different cities and counties. The same building plan is often subjected to local review every time it is submitted, even if it had previously received a permit. This red tape blocks or stalls projects, making them more costly. Under Section 5, DCBS may designation prototype plans for expedited approval. Kotek sees this as increasing the supply of homes quickly, and lowering costs over time.

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The Land Use Commission may specify approved residential development types allowed, which will restrict local control, nor will local governments need to request an exception under land use laws. The building and land use plans would be applicable to specific sites that are especially suitable for development, such as vacant and relatively flat lots not within environmentally sensitive areas.

One city manager testified in opposition of HB 2258 amendment's elimination of the public’s ability to engage in the process: “Circumventing local regulations that the public has created and supported erodes trust between the city/state and the community we serve. Oregon is a vast and diverse state. Local governments tailor their local codes and zoning to their communities’ needs and concerns; some communities need to address wind and flooding in their building codes while others may need to think more about wildfire. Some have an aging population and may need to think about aging in place, while others may need more homes for growing families or young professionals. A home that may work well for one region may be unsafe or not fit for the community needs in another. This bill creates a one-size fits all model for housing, which does not work for our communities.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-04-02 14:33:58

Last Update: 2025-04-02 18:28:52

Captain Seth Keshel was in Oregon at the 2021 Gathering of Eagles presenting his analysis for strengthening the vote. His analytical method of election forecasting and analytics is known worldwide.

Keshel presents a summary of President Trump’s Executive Order that is titled, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” It precedes the Make Elections Secure Act (MESA) proposed in Congress, which is said to end stolen elections forever.

Keshel says the most encouraging part of President Trump’s remarks while signing the order is that they’ve got plenty of other items they would like to address in the coming weeks to end “fake elections.”

Some key highlight to the Executive Order are:

1. Cuts down on illegals in the voter rolls by sharing data with DHS and requiring a citizenship question on the national voter registration form.
2. Federal election-related funds will be conditioned on states complying with the integrity measures set forth by Federal law, including the requirement that states use the national mail voter registration form that will now require proof of citizenship.
3. Improves the integrity of elections by directing the updating of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and security standards for voting equipment and prioritizing federal grant funds accordingly.
4. Sets a single Election Day deadline, the Attorney General shall take appropriate action against states that count ballots received after Election Day in Federal elections. Federal election funding will be conditioned on compliance.
5. Instructs Department of Justice to prosecute election crimes and foreign interference.
6. Repeals Biden’s Executive Order 14019, “Promoting Access to Voting,” which engages government in voter registration and other items that corrupt elections.

Leadership in the Oregon legislature seem to be operating in a vacuum. Out of the six points listed, only now, are they moving to keep a few bills alive with public hearings.

1. HB 3470 requires verification of citizenship to register to vote. Public hearing was held March 12.
2. No action to use the national mail voter registration form that will now require proof of citizenship.
3. No action to update voting equipment affecting federal grant funds accordingly.
4. SB 210 In-person voting day of election. Public hearing held March 31, open for testimony.
5. No action on prosecuting election interference.
6. HB 2444 limits voter registration to citizens with ID. Bill has not received a hearing. SB 1046 violates the executive order by automatically registering voters who do business with the Department of Fish and Wildlife – received a public hearing March 31, open for testimony.

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   All of the above bills are Republican sponsored bills. The election bill Democrats proposed is HB 3166, which adopts ranked-choice voting after 60% of voters voted against it in the last election. It also incorporates an open primary.
   
   The Trump administration isn’t playing games. They have ended Oregon’s COVID grants a year early, the Portland school district is under federal investigation for allowing a male to compete in female sports, and revoked wavers for Oregon universities utilizing federal funds for illegal migrants. Governor Kotek, as Superintendent of Schools, refuses to cut DEI out of schools. The noncompliance will surely see a large cut in federal school funds. Oregonians have to ask legislators, why fight a losing battle with taxpayer’s money, put Oregon in financial straights and cheat students?
   
   
   --Donna Bleiler
   
   

   Post Date: 2025-03-30 11:24:23

   Last Update: 2025-03-30 02:14:56

   
   

The Oregon Health Authority announced that $117 million in federal money for state health programs in Oregon has been canceled by the Trump administration, a decision that will harm Oregonians across the state.

“Now that the pandemic is over, the grants and cooperative agreements are no longer necessary as their limited purpose has run out," read notices of termination. The clawed-back funds were based on use for Covid testing, vaccination, community health workers and initiatives to address Covid health disparities among high-risk and underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities, as well as global Covid projects, according to CDC leadership.

Oregon is using the terminated grants to fund a variety of services, including: public health clinics working on immunization disbursement, training and education; Oregon's 988 crisis hotline; substance use treatment, prevention, and recovery services; OHA's Public Health Equity Office, which provides technical assistance and training to community-based organizations; and communicable disease surveillance and testing capacity.

Oregon delayed distribution of funds, particularly to schools, warning not to use it to enhance ongoing services that would increase ongoing budgeting. Now it appears OHA has been deerlick in not depending on temporary funding for permanent programs.

These COVID-era grants through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) were ended more than a year earlier than expected, which will cause disruptions within OHA and for the people these programs serve.

"Federal spending cuts will hurt Oregonians," said Sen. Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. "This administration is taking a chainsaw to critical programs that Oregonians rely on to keep us safe and healthy. "

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"Oregon's budget is designed to leverage federal funds to help as many Oregonians as possible. If the federal administration chooses to end funding, we will struggle to be able to continue these services," said Rep. Tawna Sanchez (D-Portland), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. "We will work through this session to protect core services despite the unprecedented actions from the federal administration.”

Oregon received a warning that the Trump Administration means business. The legislature has still not taken steps against losing education funds and eliminating DEI from the curriculum, or stop males from participating in female sports, which is under federal investigation. Nothing is being done to change sanctuary state protections, but instead, they propose to extend sanctuary status to sex criminals.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-03-29 13:52:34

Last Update: 2025-03-29 20:47:28

A Marion County judge issues a decision that blocks Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s executive order mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) on state-funded construction projects. The ruling affirms what Republicans have said all along: Kotek overstepped her authority with an unconstitutional power grab that has already driven up costs and hurt Oregon’s economy.

“Governor Kotek had no authority to unilaterally impose project labor agreements after the legislature repeatedly rejected them,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “This ruling is a victory for fairness, competition, and the rule of law in Oregon.”

A recent report from the Common Sense Institute (CSI) highlights the devastating economic consequences of the Governor’s now-blocked mandate. According to CSI, requiring PLAs for state-funded construction projects could have increased costs by up to 20%. Even a 10% rise in construction costs would have led to the loss of over 33,000 jobs by 2030 and nearly 28,000 jobs by 2040—a blow Oregon’s economy cannot afford.

The report also underscores how restrictive PLAs would have made it harder for the vast majority of Oregon’s construction workers to compete for state contracts. Fewer than 20% of Oregon’s construction workforce is unionized, yet the PLA mandate would have forced contractors to comply with union hiring hall requirements and duplicative benefit costs. This would have disproportionately harmed non-union, minority-owned, and local businesses—some of the very groups the Governor claims to support.

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“Oregonians deserve policies that encourage open competition, not backroom deals that favor special interests,” Bonham continued. “Now that the court has spoken, the governor should finally respect the constitutional process and abandon this misguided policy once and for all.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-03-27 13:23:35

Last Update: 2025-03-27 23:49:51

Oregon Senate Republicans are pushing back against the proposed amendment to Senate Bill 243, arguing it does nothing to address the real drivers of gun deaths while attacking the constitutionally protected rights of responsible gun owners.

“Gut and Stuff” is a common end-game play Democrats have increasingly used as a chest board move. A typical bill for gut and stuff are bills written to do a simple study on a subject that has to match the area for the gut-and-stuff amendment. This move bypasses a true public hearing since amendment are not adopted until the work session.

The response to the bill intended to implement Measure 114, HB 3075 has 2,870 testimonies in opposition and 794 in support. That’s 72% in opposition they cannot overcome. The date of this writing, SB 243 has 90% opposition.

SB 243 is an omnibus gun ban bill combining the Democrat’s agenda for gun restrictions into one bill. These are the areas it covers and the bills it incorporates with the percentage in opposition.

• (HB 3076 62%/SB 429 98%) Imposes a punitive three-day waiting period on firearm purchases, stalling law-abiding citizens desperate for protection—especially victims of abuse or stalking—while piling pointless delays on those already vetted by Oregon’s strict background checks.
• (SB 696 99%) Prohibits anyone to possess, purchase, receive, transport, manufacture, sell, offer to sell, or transfer a rapid fire activator – Class B felony, possession is Class A misdemeanor, exemption if registered with federal law machine gun.
• (SB 697 98%) Russell Paul Evans Act prohibits possession or owning under 18 of a firearm for any reason, except temporarily transfer by a parent. Strips 18-to-20-year-olds of their constitutional right to buy firearms, relegating them to a short list of outdated long guns while banning handguns entirely, leaving young adults defenseless and shattering rural traditions. Prohibits under 21 from selling, deliver or transferring any firearm.
• (SB 698 98%) Ban unloaded firearms from vast swathes of public buildings, and vague “adjacent grounds”, such as hospitals, public building, schools, residence of any state official, and anywhere a sign is posted, except if there is an adopted policy for concealed carry and post on their website. Disarming permit holders creates soft targets for shooters, and sowing confusion with unclear boundaries.

Even though the amendment has not been introduced, the hearing was planted with unrelated stories meant to move emotions, but lacked intelligent reasoning. How can legislators care about safety when they want to disarm citizens while at the same time, they want to let more criminals go free (HB 2640) and extend sanctuary to sex offenders (SB 820 and SB 821).

Between 2019 and 2023, Oregon recorded 3,125 firearm-related deaths, 77% of which were suicides. At the same time, Oregon ranks among the worst states for mental health treatment access despite having one of the highest rates of mental illness. Rather than tackling these core issues, SB 243 imposes more restrictions that will do little to stop crime or reduce suicides.

Adding to the concerns, the process has been an abuse of power. A 23-page amendment with sweeping new gun control measures was dropped just one day before the public hearing, replacing what was originally a half-page study bill. This last-minute maneuver denies Oregonians the transparency and input they deserve, and it’s a growing problem.

“This is no way to govern. Dropping a massive gun control amendment at the last minute, without public scrutiny, is an insult to Oregonians,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “On top of that, this bill punishes law-abiding citizens while ignoring the reality that most gun deaths in Oregon are suicides, not homicides. Instead of ineffective restrictions, we should be addressing the root causes—mental health and violent crime.”

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“Oregon already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, yet gun deaths continue to rise,” said Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Meanwhile, states like New Hampshire, with far fewer gun restrictions, experience lower firearm deaths per capita. The data is clear: this bill won’t make Oregon safer.”

“This is yet another example of urban legislators forcing restrictions on law-abiding gun owners in rural Oregon while ignoring the real problems behind gun deaths,” said Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), a member of the Joint Ways and Means Public Safety Subcommittee. “Oregon’s mental health crisis is being ignored in favor of ineffective gun control policies that won’t stop criminals or reduce suicides.”

Track this bill at Oregon Citizens Lobby Alerts. Testimony can be submitted until March 29 at 3pm.




--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-03-27 13:11:26

Last Update: 2025-03-27 22:58:59