The Willamette Basin dams serve multiple purposes including hydropower production, flood risk management, irrigation and recreation reserves, and habitat for many species. However, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to once again disrupt water resources focused on Stayton and Salem in deep drawdown of Detroit Lake and removing flood control dams. Eye witness researchers have pictures of fish easily jumping flood control dams, which shows there is no need for the drawdown or removal. Eliminating the fish concern and that there is no backup for electricity, it seems the purpose is to force out farmers and rural businesses, and force residents onto wind and solar energy.

Best practices are known as superior results based on proven quality as an alternative to mandatory standards. In 2024, the USACE drew-down Green Peter Reservoir with disastrous results that didn't support best practices or any justification to continue drawdowns. The cities of Sweet Home, Lebanon, and Albany employed a coordinated effort to halt the drawdown, but not in time to avoid severe damages.

This week, the cities of Lebanon and Sweet Home in Linn County filed a tort claim against USACE, citing the increased sediment load that severely impacted the water treatment systems of both cities, leading to heightened operational costs, equipment damage, and the need for costly pretreatment system upgrades.

USACE has been doing routine drawdowns for many years without impact under an Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), until NOAA fisheries wanted to add to the EIS. What people didn’t realize is the intent to remove hydropower from 10-12 dams in the Willamette Basin, and eventually from many other rivers (Columbia and Snake).

The fight Klamath County had over dam removal to preserve the salmon resulted in killing 2,000 salmon and a herd of elk. Tort claims are still pending. It resulted in USACE’s discussion of a Supplemental EIS to leave the dams in place and just remove the hydropower. How does that help the salmon move upstream? How does that help local communities with no backup power?

Why is this important? USACE is trying to proceed with Biden's EO under the radar of Trump and deep drawdown nine more dams in the Willamette Basin including Detroit Dam. Removing hydropower in a deep drawdown of Detroit will affect Stayton and Salem's water supply systems and electricity costs. News awareness is lacking and the council seems uninterested, so Salem residents remain in the dark to defend their water and electricity supply.

Lt Robert (Rocket) Powell GDO (Ret) released his comments to USACE, which exposes the involvement in deceit over the decline of fish species plagued with political ideology and pseudo-science by a flawed, ill-created initial premise going back to the 1960’s.

Powell says, “both political deception and military deception are twins in covering up multi-mission events. This is a non-negotiable truth. The Corp. of Engineers’ personnel are not with ill intent as being trapped by issues needing change by order of Trump’s Administration so the entire project is in need of a pause. Instead, they are in a hurry to complete the drawdown of nine dams in the Willamette Valley before the Trump Administration gets mobilized by confining decisions to the agency level, away from the eyes of Trump, employing deceit by the Corp and NOAA fisheries.

“In pre-planning for their differing objectives, information has been kept secret by a set of regulations, and neglected Congressional mandate of citizen involvement. Controlling water is their intent and take down power at the same time. There is a solution to protecting the salmon that has nothing to do with hydropower. If the fish are the initial concern, then the steps taken have been injurious to the fish and many other species for that matter. The damage done by possibly illegal dam removal causing silt travel, has killed thousands of many species, and polluted to literal extinction an entire river in Linn County who lost the use of their filtration in two days costing them millions of dollars in tort claims based on decisions on an incorrect premise.

"The incorrect premise is that dams are the reason for declining fish runs. NGO groups used junk science and outright ideological agitprop to taint the truth needed for discourse is in the NOAA Fisheries document. All up the west coast one can smell and view the up to 2,500-pound sea lion males – the main predator of salmon and other species. New and more valid research shows a complete correlation between sea lion numbers and declining fishery numbers are out of species food supply balance.

"USACE possess information on a device, designed by David White, that would be a one step at a time approach to protect fish from sea lions, especially at the dams in front of the fish ladders. In open media publishing and environmental movements, the intent has been aimed at dam removal. The misinformation has skewed best practices to the detriment of horrific damage in Southern Oregon, and the Willamette Basin is next. Taxpayers are the victims, and the tribes are being used by NGO groups with differing intent. This is happening because of the Woke education, and endless pandering to emotion versus common sense."

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The public can help shape the Detroit deep drawdown by attending public scoping meetings or by sending written comments by June 21 to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: CENWP-PME-E Willamette EIS
PO Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946
or via email at Willamette.EIS@usace.army.mil.

Wake up Salem City Council by speaking to the council or emailing to: citycouncil@cityofsalem.net and Major Hoy to: jhoy@cityofsalem.net.
Stayton City Council list and Mayor Brian Quigley to: bquigley@staytonoregon.gov.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-06-15 12:55:36

Last Update: 2025-06-15 16:17:24

A forest stands silent while two futures compete for its destiny.

Deep in Oregon's coastal range, the 83,000-acre Elliott State Forest has become the unlikely battleground in a conflict that will shape the future of public lands management across the American West. At stake is a fundamental question: Should forests primarily capture carbon or produce timber?

The answer carries profound implications for rural communities, climate policy, and the future of public education funding in Oregon.

A Precedent-Setting Transformation

In October 2024, Oregon approved a precedent-setting plan, making it only the second state nationwide to dedicate an entire state forest to carbon storage. Under this 40-year agreement, Anew Climate will manage the forest primarily for carbon sequestration rather than timber production.

Sequestration represents a dramatic departure from the forest's historical purpose.

From 1960 until 1990, The Elliott sold 50 million board feet of timber annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for Oregon schools while supporting over 400 rural jobs. Since the Department of State Lands took over management in 2017, critics claim the forest has lost more than a million dollars annually while funding just two road maintenance positions.

Brett Brownscombe, Elliott State Forest transition director, frames the carbon credit approach as finding a middle ground in a polarized debate: "Wouldn't it be nice to show that a middle ground is working somewhere on a large forest landscape like the Elliott? That's where the Elliott could punch above its 80,000-acre weight."

But critics see something else entirely. The state wants a new policy to redirect resources from rural communities and schools.

Major Partners Withdraw Support

The controversy intensified when Oregon State University and the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians withdrew from the project in 2023. Their reasoning was clear: the carbon storage scheme severely limited research opportunities and traditional forest uses.

OSU's president stated that "monetizing the carbon within the Elliott State Research Forest in its early stages would limit or interfere with the ability of researchers to conduct meaningful research."

This withdrawal raised serious questions about the plan's compatibility with multiple forest values.

The Carbon Economics Question

Proponents argue the forest could store up to 435,000 additional metric tons of carbon dioxide over 40 years, equivalent to removing about 100,000 gas-powered cars from roads for a year. This carbon sequestration could generate nearly $9 million in carbon markets over the next decade.

But these projections face skepticism from multiple angles.

The voluntary carbon market lacks robust regulations to ensure each ton of carbon dioxide released by a polluter is genuinely offset by absorption elsewhere. Critics point out that after the 40-year contract expires, landowners could log extensively or convert the land to other uses. In the case of the Elliot, the people of Oregon are the landowners.

More fundamentally, current carbon prices may be insufficient to drive meaningful change. For carbon projects to effectively incentivize long-rotation forestry and significantly reduce harvesting, experts suggest carbon prices need to reach $30 to $60 per ton, several times today's average cost of about $6.50 per credit in voluntary markets.

Rural Communities and Traditional Values

For timber-dependent communities surrounding the Elliott, the shift toward carbon credits represents more than an abstract policy change. It signifies a potential end to a way of life.

Dr. Bob Zybach, an environmental scientist advocating for a return to 1989 harvest levels, proposes the "Oregon Giesy Plan" as an alternative. This approach would maintain minimum harvests of 50 million board feet annually while preserving 550 miles of forest roads for multiple uses. Proceeds would be directed to K-12 schools as historically intended.

The Giesy Plan had a focus on research and education that fit perfectly into OSU’s obligations as a land grant university, with research focused on real-life problems and regulations while directly involving Oregon school kids and landowners in the process. Republican legislators have responded with bills (HB 3103 and HB 3508) designed to establish sustainable harvest levels and improve active forest management across Oregon's forests.

Meanwhile, the plan does make specific accommodations for tribal interests, including provisions for harvesting red cedar for traditional uses like canoe building and plank housing. It also allows for controlled burning and habitat development for culturally significant foods.

Transparency Concerns

Beyond the substantive debate over forest management philosophies, transparency issues have further complicated the controversy. The state allegedly hid critical financial information, management plans, and data models during the plan's development, which Dr. Sullivan's investigation revealed.

Dr. Dave Sullivan, an emeritus Professor of Business at OSU sued the state over the management of The Elliot. Dr. Sullivan said in a statement, “The proposed plan is little more than an elaborate ruse to convert the Elliott into a de facto wilderness. It appears the plan will shortchange the Common School Fund, something I find morally reprehensible.”

Questions have also emerged about potential conflicts of interest. Geoff Huntington, who played a central role in transforming the Elliott Forest management approach, moved between positions at OSU and the Department of State Lands and eventually became Governor Kotek's natural resources advisor, raising concerns about the political dimensions of the policy shift.

A Microcosm of Larger Tensions

The Elliott Forest controversy represents something larger than a dispute over 83,000 acres of Oregon forestland. It embodies the fundamental tension between climate mitigation strategies and traditional resource-based economies.

The legislature has set the path with the passage of SB 147. Either the State of Oregon will successfully create a world-class research forest for carbon sequestration, or local communities will suffer more severe conditions conducive to larger and widespread wildfires due to an experimental environmental scheme.

Rob Taylor has been an activist for over 30 years and was the Winner of the 2024 Don Mcintire Award for Excellence in Grassroots Political Activism. Rob’s podcast is on Facebook, Rumble, X, and YouTube @robtaylorreport, or visit the website at www.RobTaylorReport.


--Rob Taylor

Post Date: 2025-06-13 11:46:55

Last Update: 2025-06-13 19:20:18

Oregon House Republicans released HB 3982, which preserves operations and maintenance that are key to core functions of ODOT, especially in rural Oregon, such as plowing roads and filling potholes. The bill stabilizes ODOT and avoids raising the cost of living.

“Our legislation seeks to rebuild Oregonians’ trust in ODOT by refocusing their priorities without asking Oregonians to pay more,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby), a co-chief sponsor of the bill. “With a state budget that has doubled over the last decade alone, we reject the premise that politicians must make life more expensive for Oregonians if we want to fix potholes, plow the snow and keep our streets safe.”

“Senate and House Republicans are leading on transportation solutions that center around Oregonians’ transportation needs and their family budgets. HB 3982 proves that better outcomes come from better priorities, not bigger budgets,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles), a co-chief sponsor of the bill. “Democrats have given Oregonians two bad options: raise taxes, or raise them even more. Republicans are offering another path: cut the waste, refocus ODOT on its core mission, and stop asking taxpayers to subsidize government’s failure.”

“The roots of Oregon’s working-class community run deep, and this bill reflects where they are. Oregonians don’t want to pay more in taxes and fees for a government they should already be getting. They want potholes filled, snow plowed, roads and bridges maintained,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment. “By cutting spending on non-essential programs, this bill will put ODOT on more solid ground than it is today without raising taxes. HB 3982 will be ‘first read’ this Monday and is ready for a public hearing.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

LC 4934 would:

• Prevent a projected $0.60 increase over ten years to Oregon’s hidden gas tax (Clean Fuels Program).
• Redirect over $134 million of current spending on climate initiatives towards critical functions.
• Redirect $38 million in funding for passenger rail service towards critical functions.
• Redirect the payroll tax over two years to provide truckers with a tax credit on future tax bills, repaying them for years of unconstitutional overpayments.
• Adopt recommendations from the managerial review of ODOT, including the creation of the Major Projects Office.
• Modernize fuel taxes and regulations to reduce tax evasion and facilitate easier compliance.

A comprehensive breakdown of the bill can be found here. HB 3982 will be ‘first read’ on the House Floor on Monday, June 9th, and should be referred to the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment. Tell legislators how important it is to not add new taxes.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-06-08 22:32:48

Last Update: 2025-06-20 14:45:30

The FBI Portland Field Office and local law enforcement partners arrested a Columbia County, Ore., juvenile who conspired to conduct an improvised explosive attack and mass shooting at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Wash., on May 22, 2025.

The teen, whose name will not be released due to an effort to limit public disclosure of a minor, was arrested on the morning of May 22, 2025, by deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The detailed and imminent attack plans were reported to the FBI on May 19, 2025. Immediately, the FBI began working with our partners to identify the suspect who was responsible for the threat. The subject was identified the next day, May 20, as a juvenile Columbia County resident who shared nihilistic violent extremist ideology and the plans in online chats. The suspect was placed under court-authorized surveillance for public safety concerns, and a federal search warrant was planned and executed on May 22, 2025, prior to the arrest.

The suspect demonstrated the intent and means to carry out their plan, which included precise details such as a map of the mall, a route the shooter would follow, a plan to use an improvised explosive device commonly known as a chlorine bomb to incite panic, and then to shoot mall patrons as they were exiting the movie theatre before ultimately committing suicide at a pre-determined location in the mall.

An alarming amount of indicators of a cogent path to violence were met - at no point in this plan did it seem like the suspect wouldn’t follow through with their plans.

“This plot was as serious as it gets,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Olson. “We, along with our partners, moved swiftly to interrupt this violent plan and to protect our community.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Initial contact with the subject was made by the FBI, however the arrest was made by local law enforcement on state charges.

The FBI encourages the public to report suspicious behavior to law enforcement, and for parents to engage with their children and have an open dialogue about their online activity.

The Columbia County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting this case.

If you were sitting in this theater, would you prefer it to be a gun-free zone, or be sitting next to someone with a concealed carry permit? A gun-free zone will not protect you. Fortunately, enforcement was notified of this plot. You can help gunowners protect you in like situations by letting legislators know to vote no on SB 254.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-06-08 10:00:16

Last Update: 2025-06-11 16:25:23

Wile Oregon's Department of Forestry has asked for a budget increase of 12% in preparation for an acceleration of wildfires, past survivors are still waiting for federal grant distribution.

Nigel Jaquiss reported in the Oregon Journalism Project that out of the $422 million grant Congress authorized to help Oregonians recover from the destructive 2020 wildfires, records show that more than 90% of the money remains unspent, even as hundreds of families still wait for relief.

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is the state agency responsible for distributing federal wildfire recovery funds. The federal funds, totaling $422 million, were granted four years ago by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help survivors of the 2020 wildfires. But, OHCS has spent less than 10%, including $11.8 million on administration and $21.1 million going to survivors. The fires ignited during the Labor Day weekend, consuming more than 850,000 acres and 4,000 homes in five “megafires”.

OHCS administers federal funds through a program called "ReOregon". However the website has been removed making it impossible to check status or apply for relief. In response to a mid-May public records request and subsequent questions from the Oregon Journalism Project, Delia Hernández, a spokeswoman for OHCS, acknowledged the rollout of the federal aid, which it calls “ReOregon,” hasn’t gone as the department hoped.

“The agency’s risk tolerance slowed down the process,” Hernández told Jaquiss. “Another challenge was that OHCS had not engaged in disaster recovery work of this scale. The agency was trying to figure out: Where did the state lead and where did it take a back seat?”

Spokeswoman Roxy Mayer for Gov. Tina Kotek told Jaquiss that Kotek is “frustrated” with the pace of recovery and the distribution of federal dollars. “The governor acknowledges that ReOregon was initially difficult to navigate for many people who need the support and did not meet community expectations. [She] will not be satisfied until all 2020 wildfire survivors have access to safe and stable housing.

As Oregon prepares for the 2025 wildfire season, which is expected to be worse, will Kotek put demand on her agency to clear up 2020? The agency has tripled in size over the past decade as the state battles a housing crisis, but it had no experience in disaster relief because Oregon had never experienced the residential destruction it saw in 2020. Survivors aren’t buying excuses for risk intolerance or inexperience. They are tired of living in temporary arrangements and want their homes. Even the legislators have turned against them putting additional restrictions on rebuilding.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The OHCS 2025-27 budget proposal (page 483) presents Disaster Recovery and Resilience has $140,062,134 in federal funds for 2023-25 increasing to $167,383,063 and increases for 2025-27 and another increase to $170,404,188 in 2027-29. The increases indicate no distribution of fund are planned until the funds expire in 2029.

According to Jaquiss, OHCS chief financial officer Caleb Yant told lawmakers his agency feels confident the Trump administration will not withdraw the unspent dollars before the grant expires in 2029. The agency has also made substantial funding commitments to survivors in recent months and reached an agreement with HUD in May allowing greater flexibility in distributing such a large amount of money. But Yant apologized for how slowly dollars have gotten to fire survivors.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-06-07 10:34:00

Last Update: 2025-06-06 23:16:17

After Senate Bill 83 passed the Oregon Senate unanimously on April 22nd, with strong bipartisan support and praise from Senate Democrats for responding to public outcry over the flawed wildfire hazard map, the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment voted "Do pass and be referred to Rules. Regardless of trying to blame Democrats in a plot to use the bill as a bargaining chip, they weren't the only votes that halted the progress.

Of course, Speaker Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) could have sent SB 83 to the floor for a vote, but she did as the committee proposed. “When policies don’t work for the people of Oregon…Democrats listen and take action,” Senate Democrats said in April after passing the bill. “Senate Bill 83 passed the Senate floor in a unanimous vote, reflecting a strong spirit of collaboration.”

Now, that spirit of collaboration has seemingly vanished. House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) said, “This bill matters to Oregonians and should not continue to be held hostage. SB 83 has been heavily vetted through an open public process that included multiple hearings, stakeholder input, and thousands of emails from Oregonians harmed by these flawed maps.”

For whatever political games are being played, the Democrats have the power in every committee and every floor vote, so sending SB 83 to Rules instead of a floor vote would have happened regardless of how Republicans voted. But blaming Democrats on a bi-partisan vote seems to smell of deceit.

Rep. Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg), House Republican Whip voted to move SB 83 to Rules instead of moving it to the floor. He now says, “It saddens me to see a group of representatives, who are so beholden to their liberal bosses committed to stealing our kicker, not care at all about the will of the people they represent. We have had almost 40 years to reform wildfire funding and House Democrats are now using these flawed wildfire maps as leverage to take away money from the same people that voted for them. These wildfire maps have cost people property values, insurance increases, and many heartaches.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Rather than allowing a floor vote on a bill that has already earned overwhelming support, including from Senate Democrats, House Democrats—under pressure from Governor Tina Kotek and Speaker Julie Fahey—are delaying SB 83 in an effort to extort Republican votes for their latest attempt to raid over $1 billion from Oregon taxpayers’ kicker refund.

“Oregonians were promised relief. Now they’re being told that relief is contingent on agreeing to a massive tax grab,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “It’s political gamesmanship at its worst—and it’s coming at the expense of rural property owners and families across the state.”

House Republicans tried to force a vote on the House Floor on SB 83, to give relief to burdensome regulations imposed on communities by the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map. The motion to withdraw the bill from the Rules Committee failed despite receiving bipartisan votes. Only seven House Democrats were allowed to break party lines by Democrat Leadership, resulting in a 29-22 vote. Where is the will of the people?

Senate Republicans urge House leadership to stop playing politics with wildfire relief and represent constituents fairly and honestly. If Democrat leadership continues to use SB 83 against the kicker, it won't be viewed favorably by voters.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-06-05 11:18:41

Last Update: 2025-06-05 23:07:18

Four years into the contract and $10 million spent, Oregon's Secretary of State confirmed the contract has a stop work status. JoeHoft.com reports the story in a Guest Post by Jessica Pollema, South Dakota Canvassing Group.

In early 2023, Joe Hoft published multiple articles raising serious questions about an election software used in at least 35 states called TotalVote. TotalVote is an all-inclusive software which handles almost all aspects of an election including campaign finance reporting, voter registration, processing election results, and election night reporting. TotalVote was developed by a company called BPro, from Pierre, South Dakota, which was purchased by KNOWiNK in 2020. TotalVote is centralized and hosted on the Microsoft Azure cloud – raising questions about cybersecurity, and TotalVote is uncertified, yet is handling parts of the election that must be performed on certified software.

BPro/KNOWiNK software has been proven to have allowed backdated voter registrations in Hawaii, unnatural injections of voter registrations in every county in New Mexico, and the KNOWiNK claims in its product information that election workers can override election results.”

June 3, Pollema brings these articles back in focus. She writes:

The story of TotalVote’s rise raises eyebrows about how centralized election software developed and spread across our nation. As we’ve covered in the past, former South Dakota Secretaries of State paved the way for BPro’s TotalVote system to land in states far and wide, reportedly gifting the source code but requiring convenient sole-source maintenance contracts that avoided competitive bidding.

States like Hawaii (2014), New Mexico (2015), Arizona (2017), Washington (2018), and Pennsylvania (2020) all signed on with BPro for TotalVote; a system handling everything from voter registration to election night reporting. In February 2021, after receiving a huge injection of capital from a private equity firm, St. Louis-based KNOWiNK swooped in, acquired BPro, and took over these contracts, adding 450 jurisdictions to its already massive network of 980 using its Electronic Poll Pad system. Not stopping there, KNOWiNK expanded its reach by snagging Oregon in 2021 for TotalVote’s election night reporting.

Pennsylvania and Oregon had each signed over $10 Million contracts with KNOWiNK for a customized version of the TotalVote System, which was to replace their archaic and unreliable voter roll and election night reporting systems. Each state also requires independent project management oversight for multimillion dollar contracts, and selected Gartner, Inc. for that oversight. Without the status reports and risk assessments from Gartner, we would not have internal documentation of the serious issues that KNOWiNK failed to resolve.

Missed deadlines, scrambled data, programming issues and cybersecurity failures are a few of the many factors causing a deteriorated relationship between the state and the vendor, resulting in the State of Pennsylvania terminating the contract with KNOWiNK, putting them years behind schedule and back at square one.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

In a recent check on the progress of Oregon’s version of KNOWiNK’s TotalVote System project dubbed ORVIS, it was discovered that the entire directory of ORVIS project documents posted on the Oregon Secretary of State’s website had been removed somewhere around the beginning of May. A phone call to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office revealed that a stop work order had been issued to KNOWiNK to halt all work on the ORVIS project, while state officials determine how to proceed. All previously posted Gartner and Executive Steering Committee reports tracking progress of the project have been taken down and are not currently available online.

A Gartner oversight report dated October 2024 revealed the majority of project status benchmarks in the “red zone” or high risk category, two years behind schedule, over budget, again with KNOWiNK apparently not capable of meeting the terms of the contract.

A public records request for evidence of the stop work order did confirm that all work in Oregon has been halted. Millions of dollars have already been paid to KNOWiNK. Will the State of Oregon get their money back?

Read the entire article on how KNOWiNK has impacted other states.

The article also points to page 143 of the Oregon contract that mandates that the system "shall allow the County Elections Staff to override results, if necessary".


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-06-05 05:35:03

Last Update: 2025-06-05 23:05:20

In little reported news, that is likely depressed because it would spoil the Democrat’s agenda to increase taxes, is the McDermitt Caldera lithium deposit recently valued at $1.5 trillion along the Oregon-Nevada border.

A team of scientists made the discovery in a volcanic hotspot along the border in 2023, which they now determined it could be one of the largest lithium deposits ever found in the United States and valued at $1.5 trillion.

Lithium could revitalize America's electric vehicle industry. Lithium is an essential component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, making it one of the most sought-after minerals globally.

In 2020, Elon Musk announced a new generation of electric vehicle batteries at Tesla's "Battery Day" event. These batteries, described as "tabless" and cylindrical, are expected to provide five times more energy, six times more power, 16% greater driving range compared to Tesla's current cells, and have the same time to recharge as it takes to fill up a tank of gas. Tesla aims to reduce the cost of its battery cells to below $100 per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is expected to make electric cars roughly the same price as combustion engine vehicles, aiming for a $25,000 electric car in the future.

The Trump Administration is eager to reduce its reliance on foreign lithium for sovereignty reasons, and the use of slave labor by foreign countries. A Republican bill, HB 2425, passed the Oregon House with support of leadership, which creates a task force to look at who is supplying the goods and services that public bodies in this state buy and to make sure that the products don’t involve forced labor or child labor. Will Democrat leadership apply this policy to the McDermitt Caldera?

According to a 2023 study published in Minerals, the McDermitt Caldera could hold between 20 and 40 million metric tons of lithium. Expert analysts state that if efficient extraction methods prove efficient, the US could position itself as a leading global supplier of the valuable metal. In other words, if all goes well, a discovery like this could secure leadership in the US battery industry.

In march the environmentalists looking for another spotted owl theory that they still haven’t proven. Out of controversy and confusion, which direction will Oregon's leadership take? Will they continue to push their EV agenda to reduce climate change while providing jobs and a chance to reduce taxes to make Oregon more attractive to business, or yield to environmentalists? They have the community questioning whether McDermitt Caldera will destroy the fragile desert ecosystems, including habitats for the sage-grouse and pronghorn antelope.

The McDermitt Caldera’s lithium is trapped in claystone. It evolves an intricate extraction techniques like acid leaching are required to safely and adequately extract the lithium. Nevada is estimated to have a higher concentration, but mining companies are still exploring Oregon’s side.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

There is also opposition from tribes surrounding the McDermitt Calder with a rich cultural heritage area for several Indigenous tribes. Tribal leaders are calling for the US government to halt mining plans to protect sacred lands and ceremonial sites that have been integral to tribes' cultural identity for generations.

In order for Oregon’s mining proposals to progress, investors need stability in policies that don’t compete with Nevada to remain optimistic about a secure ongoing demand for lithium.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-05-19 22:39:59

Last Update: 2025-05-20 00:31:55

Headlines across Oregon are painting a picture of a grim forecast following Democrat’s lead. When the forecast is compared to the Democrat’s wish list to grow government, it is never enough. In real numbers, the forecast is projecting a 11.98% increase. The 2024-25 biennium CPI-U rose by nearly 5.7%, well positioned to maintain service levels.

Minority leader Senator Daniel Bonham (R-Hood River) said, ”Oregon just dropped to #44 in the Chief Executive’s national business climate ranking this year — yet lawmakers continue pushing legislation that increases costs, overregulates industries, and creates an unpredictable economic environment.”

If Oregon doesn’t stop attacking the private sector, we won’t have a private sector left, according to a University of Oregon study showing that Oregon is no longer a competitive place to do business. The states attracting our businesses — Idaho, Texas, Florida — are doing so by cutting red tape, lowering taxes, and treating job creators as partners, not cash cows.”

Oregon’s steadily eroding business climate should motivate legislators to seek improvements. But, lawmakers continue pushing legislation that increases costs, overregulates industries, and creates an unpredictable economic environment. Among the many policies under consideration is SB 916, which allows striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits, will erode the state’s competitiveness even further.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Representative Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport) stated, “We do not have a revenue problem – we are up 12% from the previous biennium. We have a spending problem. Government was not designed to be all things to all people. We should never do for Oregonians what they can do for themselves. Republicans believe in the people, not taxes and more spending,”

House Democrats have blamed tariffs and federal uncertainty despite their reckless spending which has doubled the state budget over the past 10-years.

We ought to be asking Democrats, who have been solely in control of the state budget for 10 years, why the state is not improving, despite revenue that has doubled for over 10 years. Why aren’t Oregon schools better? Why does ODOT say they won’t be able to maintain and plow roads? Why is crime and public safety a growing concern statewide? Why is housing limited and expensive? Why is Oregon far less affordable than 10 years ago?

“The bottom line,” says Reschke, “is that Oregonians, who say affordability in Oregon is their number one concern, should not accept the idea of one more dime in new taxes — whether at Federal, State or local levels. The problem with government budgets is not revenue, it is spending and priorities. Oregonians must demand better from their elected officials, instead of accepting more taxes, which never permanently fix the budget problems, but instead cover up the real issue of the cost of government growing faster than revenues. “


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-05-18 22:10:56

Last Update: 2025-05-18 23:39:50

The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis released the June revenue forecast and economic outlook. Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement in response to the revenue forecast: “While the Trump Administration spreads uncertainty in our economy and our social safety net, I refuse to let Oregon be knocked off of our game. We know the problems we need to solve here at home regardless of the chaos coming out of Washington, D.C.

“Oregonians will come together and take care of each other. I am committed to working diligently with the Legislature from now through the end of the session to make hard budget choices and address our challenges head on, despite the dampening of economic growth.

“Progress requires persistence. There are still too many people sleeping outside. There are not enough houses. There are not enough places to go for care or people to provide that care. Our kids must be served better by our schools. The cost of living is on the rise. These crises don’t take an intermission, so neither can we. All of us need to dig deep, be nimble, and lead with long-term strategy over caution so we can deliver for Oregonians."

It's the first forecast Democrats aren't trying to make the results look rosy instead of heeding the warning of uncertainty. As much as they tried to rosy up past forecasts, they now have someone to blame for their own bad policies that are making Oregon one of the highest taxed states. Kotek's idea that Oregonians should "dig deep" is the policy that created the uncertainty.

Kotek's urge to micromanage the legislature violates the Oregon Constitution on the separation of powers between the three branches. Is she pushing the matter to justify being a dictator? Even the forecast states that fiscal policy could provide material offset. However, the "total available resources are now expected to equal $37.4 billion, which is down $755.7 million from the prior forecast. It should be noted that almost $250 million of this decline is due to increased spending in the current biennium." It seems that this is a constitutional violation of a balanced budget and provides pressure to raise taxes and steel the kicker. Mismanagement of funding can't be blamed on the Trump Administration.

Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) is blaming President Trump's tariff dealings on a slowdown of the economy. "Oregon's economy is greatly reliant on our international trading partners, and it is clear the tariffs and chaos from the federal administration is making it harder for businesses to plan and slowing economic growth. With this forecast, we are starting to see real impacts to businesses, workers, and state revenues. Legislators must continue with a cautious and prudent approach to balancing the state’s two-year budget, knowing tough choices lie ahead." However, the forecast indicates that Trump's tariffs haven't affect the fiscal forecast except for an accumulation of products in anticipation of a prolonged period of negotiation with particularly China as our top trade country.

To dig the hole deeper, Governor Kotek issued a statement in response to Congressional Republicans' discussion to reform Medicaid to cut costs in waste and fraud. “I am outraged by the proposed Medicaid cuts. It’s a reckless plan that will hurt people and Oregon’s health care system. One in three Oregonians rely on Medicaid – the Oregon Health Plan – for their health insurance. That’s 1.4 million neighbors and loved ones. Their proposal is not just shortsighted – it’s morally indefensible.”

President Trump announced equalization of drug prices. Other countries are setting their prices and telling drug companies to collect the rest from America. Trump said it will cut drug prices from 50 to 90 percent. This will allow Medicare and Medicaid cost to go down. Trump stated, "we will no longer subsidize healthcare for other countries." Robert Kennedy Jr. said, "America has four percent of the world population and pay 75% of healthcare costs."

President Trump has made it clear that no benefits will be affected vowing to improve the program. They are looking for efficiencies to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks not taxing tips, overtime, and social security benefits.

Senator Ron Wyden, top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, should have fact-checked his statement. He said Trump talked often about helping the middle class while on the campaign trail. “When the campaign is over, they’re back to helping people at the top and paying for it by sticking it to folks of modest means.” He described the Republican tax-cutting plans "back to supercharging trickle-down.” However, the tax cuts are aimed at middle and lower income families.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Last week both Governor Kotek and House Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard, Metzger, & S. Beaverton) spoke out against President Trump’s tariff claimed his reckless tariffs alone will cost Oregon families thousands of extra dollars a year. His decisions are putting pressure on wallets and disrupting the industries essential to Oregon’s economy.” Trump's tariff leverage has already reduced the amount of fentanyl coming across the boarder. Kotek should be as concerned, instead she doubles down on being a sanctuary state.

President Trump said he refuses to let the United States be taken advantage of and believes that tariffs are necessary to ensure fair trade, protect American workers, and reduce the trade deficit—this is an emergency. The annual cost to the U.S. economy of counterfeit goods, pirated software, and theft of trade secrets is between $225 billion and $600 billion. Counterfeit products not only pose a significant risk to U.S. competitiveness, but also threaten the security, health, and safety of Americans, with the global trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals estimated at $4.4 billion and linked to the distribution of deadly fentanyl-laced drugs.

Oregonians are affected by this imbalance, but Governor Kotek doesn't seem to be interested in pursuing this large and persistent trade deficit in both industrial and agricultural goods, offshoring of our manufacturing base, empowered non-market economies like China that hurts Oregon’s middle class and small towns.

Studies have repeatedly shown that tariffs can be an effective tool for reducing or eliminating threats that impair national security and achieving economic and strategic objectives. Instead of spreading millions in litigation, Governor Kotek and AG Rayfield would benefit more for Oregon by modifying policies to take advantage of federal actions.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-05-13 02:00:47

Last Update: 2025-05-15 02:13:27

Oregon House Speaker, Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene and Veneta) refused to move modernization of Oregon’s Sanctuary State law House Bill 3551 for a public hearing. House Republicans took action forcing a vote on the House Floor. The legislation would allow law enforcement agencies in Oregon to work with federal authorities to identify and remove individuals convicted of violent felonies, Class A misdemeanors, and felony sexual offenses. The motion to withdraw the bill from the Judiciary Committee failed despite receiving bipartisan votes, with a majority of House Democrats voting to shield undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes from federal law enforcement.

“Our communities should not be sanctuaries for murderers, rapists, and other violent criminals. This bill is a common-sense policy that protects Oregonians by holding the most violent criminals accountable. But common sense isn’t very common in Oregon, as my bill never even got a hearing,” said Rep. Alek Skarlatos (R-Canyonville) who introduced the bill, and made the motion. “Allowing state and local law enforcement to work with federal authorities to identify and remove illegal immigrants and foreign terrorists who are charged with some of the most heinous crimes is too popular and pragmatic for Oregon Democrats.”

The vote follows the announcement from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on the largest fentanyl bust in DEA history involving the arrest of a Sinaloa cartel leader, Heriberto Salazar Amaya, an illegal immigrant living in Salem. Authorities say he had been removed from the U.S. twice already.

“Today we had an opportunity to keep our communities safe by denying sanctuary protections to violent criminals, terrorist gangs, and dangerous rapists,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby), a sponsor of the bill. “House Democrats blocked common sense legislation that would give law enforcement additional tools and resources to do their jobs and hold violent criminals, in the United States illegally, accountable.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Governor Tina Kotek has stated that she “won’t back down” from shielding criminal illegal immigrants operating in Oregon and Attorney General Dan Rayfield recently said that he would not use state resources to keep communities safe from undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes. Instead, Rayfield is using state resources to shield violent criminal illegal immigrants.

A statewide poll commissioned by House Republicans revealed that 69% of Oregonians support deporting undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a crime while in the United States. The statewide poll was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies between January 4–7 of this year, surveying 500 registered Oregon voters with a ±4.38% margin of error.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-05-11 20:44:53

Last Update: 2025-05-12 00:46:47

Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard, Metzger, & S. Beaverton) points out, it’s been 100 days of President Trump’s second term, to claim that his administration’s policies are already hurting families, businesses, and communities across the state.

Bowman claims, "The Trump administration is creating chaos in Oregon and across the country. He is damaging our economy and increasing the cost of living. Trump’s reckless tariffs alone will cost Oregon families thousands of extra dollars a year. His decisions are putting pressure on wallets and disrupting the industries essential to Oregon’s economy.”

Bowman used the 90-day pause to spout criticism, but now he's in a difficult position. The Trump/UK tariff deal broke the dam and others are lining up. All except China, the U.S number one enemy. Why has Oregon entrusted our economy in China as the top foreign deports, and third on imports? So is Bowman trying to protect China and keep Oregon dependent on China for our economy? Why isn’t Oregon paying more attention to being the supplier instead of adding restrictions on business.

Economists say that the shift is essential because a consumer nation isn’t a nation. There may be a short period of adjustment, but getting production supplies from within the U.S. will increase the supply chain and will grow our economy. It seems that Bowman is advocating for the status quo even if change is what Oregonians want, according to polls.

Earlier this month, The Oregonian reported a federal freeze on $225 million in grants has endangered vital clean water initiatives and emergency preparedness programs, critical to the health and safety of Oregonians. Nearly three dozen projects in Oregon are on the chopping block for money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Federal officials effectively halted the grants and local leaders worry the money will never arrive in Oregon.

Bowman claims Oregon is not standing idly by, but have passed six bills fighting for affordability. However, what the Trump administration is looking for are violations of the constitutional law in equality or reverse discrimination that was confirmed in the Supreme Court’s Chevron decision. Democrats introduced at least 24 bills in violation. Bills that would have made corrections, such as no males in female sports, they blocked.

Bowman defends their stand: “Across the state, thousands have taken to the streets in peaceful protest, demonstrating their opposition to these reckless policies. Governor Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Oregon House Democrats are holding the line against federal overreach — defending our values of fairness, opportunity, and inclusion.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Oregon House Democrats are urging all Oregonians to get involved, but apparently only to “push back against harmful federal policies and deliver a stronger, more resilient Oregon for future generations.” It seems they want Oregonians to break constitutional laws so they won’t be the only ones and they can hide in the numbers.

They suggest engaging with your community and participate in community events and initiatives to make your voice heard. Then ask why they want to vote for keeping the status quo while businesses are leaving the state and projected to continue to leave for the next five years, why support schools that are failing our kids, and why Oregon is one of the highest taxed states with nothing to show for it.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-05-09 23:04:32

Last Update: 2025-05-10 00:06:11