Oregon’s $272 million “windfall”: a fortuitous prediction indeed

by In the news Friday, May 24. 2013

Sen. Doug Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls)

“It appears that the Governor, and Democrat legislative leadership, are willing to do whatever it takes to continue to protect the bloated costs of the Public Employee Retirement System.”

For the past several months, the legislative Democrat leadership has been steadfast, in telling anyone who would listen, that they needed at least $275 million in new revenue, in order to balance the state budgets. The Republican Senate has been equally steadfast, in telling anyone that would listen, that meaningful restructuring of the Public Employee Retirement System is essential to balance state, school and local budgets. Continue reading →

Posted by at 05:00 | Posted in OR 77th Legislative Session, Oregon Senate, State Budget | 3 Comments

Ben Unger: stung by fluoridation loss

by In the news Thursday, May 23. 2013

by NW Spotlight

After Tuesday night’s resounding defeat  of Portland’s fluoridation measure, Oregon State Rep. Ben Unger (D-Hillsboro) must still be licking his wounds.

As a career political operative, Unger has grown quite used to being on the winning side of campaigns.

His campaign website lists these achievements, starting with his election as student body vice-president at the University of Oregon and continuing with the Yes on Measure 49 campaign in 2007, former Oregon Attorney General John Kroger’s 2008 campaign and his own legislative race last year. Continue reading →

Posted by at 05:00 | Posted in OR 77th Legislative Session, Oregon House, Portland Politics | 34 Comments

Wyden defends IRS targeting conservative groups

by In the news Wednesday, May 22. 2013

by Shelby Sebens and Dustin Hurst, Northwest Watchdog

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is turning the tables of the IRS scandal from the government taxing authority to the organizations it unfairly targeted.

“If political organizations don’t want to be scrutinized by government they shouldn’t seek privileges like tax free status and donor anonymity,” he said during the Senate Finance Committee’s more than three hour hearing on the IRS scandal.

The IRS is embroiled in a national scandal after revealing that it has targeted tea party and conservative groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for nonprofit, 501(c)4 status. Continue reading →

Posted by at 05:00 | Posted in Federal Government, Portland Schools | 14 Comments

PERS cartoon says it all

by In the news Tuesday, May 21. 2013

By Taxpayer Association of Oregon

The lawmakers in Salem have been ignoring the $14 billion PERS crisis with cosmetic fixes, while at the same time suggesting we cuts prisons.
This is how the public is seeing the debate!

Posted by at 02:30 | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Governor’s ultimatum is not the leadership on PERS reform we need

by In the news Tuesday, May 21. 2013

by Sen. Larry George

Salem, OR ­– Senator Larry George (R-Sherwood) issued the following statement yesterday morning after a remonstrance on the Senate floor:

“The Governor’s caustic, partisan press release Thursday evening is a disturbing departure from his private statements and the bi-partisan, collaborative tone over the past several weeks. In a private conversation with the Governor on Wednesday, he stated that his proposal was not an ultimatum to paint Republicans into a corner. He stated his proposal was an initial step to break the log-jam on PERS negotiations. Continue reading →

Posted by at 05:00 | Posted in Gov. Kitzhaber, OR 77th Legislative Session, PERS | 10 Comments

Why Do Transit Officials Lie About Light Rail?

by John A Charles Jr. Monday, May 20. 2013

The transit agency for Vancouver (C-TRAN) is reconsidering its support for the Columbia River Crossing Project, which includes light rail to Vancouver. In a staff report prepared for this week’s C-TRAN board meeting, the following claims are made:

Light rail offers faster service (17 MPH) than bus rapid transit (14.5 MPH);
The extended Yellow MAX line will arrive in Vancouver every 7.5 minutes; and
Light rail will carry 6,100 people over the Columbia River during the peak period.
All of these answers are wrong.

C-TRAN express buses running from various points in Vancouver to Portland city center currently average 31-45 MPH (depending on the route) in the morning peak period. In the afternoon peak they average 20-30 MPH traveling northbound. Continue reading →

Posted by at 05:00 | Posted in Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

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