by Larry Huss
Wednesday, July 23. 2008
“ Diplomacy is the art of putting lipstick on a pig.”
United States Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice returned this week from yet another futile negotiating session between Iran and the six world power nations regarding the halting of Iran’s program designed to produce nuclear weapons – a negotiating process that has been going on for five years. Secretary Rice concluded that Iran is not serious about the negotiations and that it has been giving the parties the “run-around.” If, in fact, it has taken Sec. Rice and the diplomats from the other super power nations five years to figure this out, it would suggest that the United State and its five fellow "“super powers” need to clean out the rat holes of their diplomatic corps and start over with people who can realistically and timely assess the character of rogue nations.
Continue reading "Lipstick on a Pig"
by In the news
Tuesday, July 22. 2008
[  Press Release from Oregonians for Employee Freedom]
Jeff Merkley has a hard time with the truth.
- Tracker Lie
- Issue Ads Criticism
- Campaign Contributions
- Crime Fighting Follies
- Employee Privacy
In a classic case of “Do as I say and not as I do”, Jeff Merkley’s campaign was busted for having a tracker lie about who they were during the Primary race with Steve Novick. ( http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=11313). Ironic, since the Merkley campaign had taken the NRSC to task for doing the same thing to them just prior to that.
by Jerry Dawson
Tuesday, July 22. 2008
 You only have to wait until January, 2009, to buy a $10 ticket for Oregon’s new big money, one million dollar lottery raffle game where your chances of winning are the best ever – one in one quarter million! It’s a certain win-win for both the gambler and the state! Consider the following:
Continue reading "Oregon’s New Big Money Raffle Best Idea Ever"
by Cascade Policy Institute
Monday, July 21. 2008
 By Vanessa Holguin
As children, our parents have absolute responsibility for our lives. Without their willingness to constantly supervise and direct us we simply could not survive. However, once we attain a certain degree of economic self-sufficiency and maturity it simply becomes unacceptable to let anyone but ourselves take control of our lives. How many of us would willingly agree to have our parents ultimately decide whom we date, what we eat, where we live, what we study, or even something as seemingly trivial as what to wear for work everyday? Only a few―the physically incapacitated, the mentally challenged, the emotionally immature, and lastly the plain indolent―fail to ever cut the strings of dependency.
So why is it that so many of us are happy to regress back to our childhood state when the relationship at hand involves adults and governments? Although we find sufficient cause for complaints against governmental leadership our passive behavior indicates at worst an equivocal and dangerous “government knows best” mentality and at best a complete disconnect with politics.
Continue reading "Is Voting Enough?"
by Jerry Dawson
Sunday, July 20. 2008
 Recent studies by the Spring Mountain Science Association, in conjunction with previous studies completed by Arizona State University, have proven, once and for all, that man is the root cause of global warming. Here are the facts:
Continue reading "FACT - Humans Cause of Global Warming"
by In the news
Sunday, July 20. 2008
 Let’s talk about taxing the rich since Barack Obama plans to do it.
Barack Obama plans to tax the rich, or so he says, although how you define “rich” depends on what kind of dollar figures you might be earning. The fact is Barack Obama’s plans call for taxing people who make a lot of money—above $250,000.
If you talk to economists they’ll tell you, you can’t get enough taxes even out of that group of people in America to fund the kind of programs that Obama is planning.
Continue reading "Lars Larson on Taxing the Rich"
by In the news
Saturday, July 19. 2008
 House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) asked the Legislature’s presiding officers to convene a special session to clarify the boundary of House District 29.
Rep. Hanna said a special session will restore fairness to Jeff Duyck, who is being disqualified by the Secretary of State even though he’s lived and voted in the district since it was originally drawn. In a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker, Rep. Hanna wrote that Duyck’s likely disqualification “demonstrates that the government takes no responsibility” for its mistakes.
Continue reading "House Republican Leader Calls for Special Session to Restore Fairness in Dist. 29"
by In the news
Saturday, July 19. 2008
by Cascade Policy Institute
Friday, July 18. 2008
 Cascade Policy Institute cordially invites you to attend The Milton Friedman "Legacy of Freedom" Luncheon, on what would have been the Nobel Prize-winning economist's 96th birthday.
With Featured Speaker Rob Kremer
Thursday, July 31
12:00 - 1:30 pm
at McMenamin's Kennedy School in Portland
Cost is $20.00
Please RSVP to Nancy by e-mail or phone 503.242.0900.
by Capitol Watch
Friday, July 18. 2008
Press release from Senator Bruce Starr
Senator Starr proposes overhaul of redistricting process
Broad support for a bi-partisan commission
Salem, OR – State Senator Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro) has proposed a new plan to make the way Oregon draws new legislative districts bi-partisan, objective and fair. Starr will introduce the plan before the 2009 Legislative Assembly.
“This plan takes the politics out of the redistricting process so neither party can play kingmaker with Oregon’s representatives,” said Starr. “Past redistricting plans have been used by political parties to create grossly gerrymandered districts that look more like Rorschach inkblots than legislative districts. Our state has a great legacy of fairness, and our redistricting process should eliminate any possibility for partisan games so that our elective districts are drawn with the best interests of voters at heart.”
Continue reading "Senator Starr proposes overhaul of redistricting process"
by In the news
Friday, July 18. 2008
 [Coalition for a Working Oregon Press Release]
Federal “No Match” Rule could disrupt the Oregon economy and eliminate jobs within the state’s most critical industries
CORVALLIS, OREGON – The Coalition for a Working Oregon (CWO) released a study today that predicts significant reductions in economic output and job loss in the state if the federal “No Match” rule is implemented. The study, conducted by William Jaeger, Ph. D., Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Oregon State University, is entitled Potential Economic Impacts in Oregon of Implementing Proposed Department of Homeland Security “No Match” Immigration Rules. The report details possible economic consequences in Oregon of the proposed “No Match” rule, a federal regulation designed to identify and eliminate undocumented workers in the U.S. workforce.
Continue reading "Study shows economic pain if immigration rules implemented"
by Kurt Weber
Friday, July 18. 2008
 More and more easily-searchable, easy-to-understand government budgets are going online across the country. Some are being posted by private organizations tired of foot dragging by public servants. In N. Dakota, a state-focused think tank undertook the “ Sunshine on Schools” project and placed online the budgets of all K-12 school districts in the state. In addition to basic district information, the website contains historical data, and teacher and administrative salaries. Further, it tracks categorized revenue and spending back to 1985. NDPC proposed to state lawmakers in 2007 that school districts be required to do this; the feedback from legislators and school administrators: There weren’t enough funds. Interestingly, NDPC accomplished the job for some $35,000. Propose this idea to your local Oregon school district; if you get the same “no funds” answer, point them in the direction of The Peace Garden State.
by Kurt Weber
Friday, July 18. 2008
More and more easily-searchable, easy-to-understand government budgets are going online across the country. Some are being posted by private organizations tired of foot dragging by public servants. In N. Dakota, a state-focused think tank undertook the “ Sunshine on Schools” project and placed online the budgets of all K-12 school districts in the state. In addition to basic district information, the website contains historical data, and teacher and administrative salaries. Further, it tracks categorized revenue and spending back to 1985. NDPC proposed to state lawmakers in 2007 that school districts be required to do this; the feedback from legislators and school administrators: There weren’t enough funds. Interestingly, NDPC accomplished the job for some $35,000. Propose this idea to your local Oregon school district; if you get the same “no funds” answer, point them in the direction of The Peace Garden State.
by In the news
Thursday, July 17. 2008
 [Statement from the Taxpayer Association of Oregon PAC]
Merkley’s Tax and Spend Ways a Threat to Oregon
Beaverton, OR – In light of Jeff Merkley recent campaign conversions on many issues ( see Crime flip-flop), The Taxpayer Association of Oregon PAC felt compelled to re-affirm Merkley’s tax record. “Having voted to raise billions of dollars in higher taxes and fees in Oregon, State Rep. Jeff Merkley now wants to raise billions more by seeking a run to the U.S. Senate in 2008. Few people in the legislature are more aggressive about passing new taxes than State Rep. Jeff Merkley.” said Jason Williams of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon. The Taxpayers Association of Oregon PAC compiled a list of his tax votes dating back to 1999 to demonstrate a very forceful record of raising taxes at all levels of government (see below).
Continue reading "Jeff Merkley cannot hide from tax record"
by In the news
Thursday, July 17. 2008
 [Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney]
SALEM – A report released today by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries provides further evidence that Oregon must move forward to retrofit school buildings and emergency services facilities so that they will not crumble in a major seismic event, Senate President Peter Courtney said Monday.
“The Geologic Hazards, Earthquake and Landslide Hazard Maps, and Future Damage Estimates for Six Counties in the Mid/Southern Willamette Valley” report indicates that an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter Scale in Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Oregon Coast would result in $12 billion in property damage and nearly 1,000 deaths in the region, which includes Yamhill, Marion, Polk, Benton, Linn, and Lane Counties.
Continue reading "Senate President Peter Courtney: Schools not safe for quakes"
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