by Bob Clark
Measure 26-152, Metro government’s local option levy for natural areas, passed overwhelmingly in Multnomah County but narrowly failed in both Washington County and Clackamas County (as of last count yesterday, which is likely to hold). The overwhelming numbers in Multnomah County trump the narrow defeats in Washington and Clackamas counties, and so, Measure 26-152 becomes law. For the average Portland home, the levy amounts to $15 to $20 per year. Continue reading
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
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
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
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!
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
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