by Dan Lucas
People who are granted extensive power over our lives need to understand that power and they need to understand the equally extensive responsibilities that come with that power. Abuses of that power must be met with swift and harsh discipline.
The Obama administration has shown a dangerous ignorance of the power they have been granted by the American people, and an equally dangerous willingness to abuse that power for petty political pursuits. Continue reading
by Dennis Linthicum
The Klamath County Budget Committee is getting plenty of feedback with regard to Meals on Wheels and the Senior Center. The committee is not struggling with the validity or need for the Meals on Wheels program. The issue, given the local stagnant economy and declining county revenue, is whether it would be fiscally prudent to fund these programs at current levels.
Public commentary is mixed but there is a sense that as long as the program passes the “compassion” threshold, then it should be funded. Continue reading
Oregon Senate Republican Office
Oregon Democrats extend tax break for big business – but they vote down tax relief for small businesses
Salem, OR – Providing a stark contrast in priorities, Democrats handily passed a bill Monday morning that extends millions in tax breaks for big shipping corporations while defeating a Republican proposal to give property tax relief to small Oregon businesses.
“Democrats continue to give nothing but lip-service and symbolic gestures to Oregon small businesses,” said Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend). “This was an opportunity to do something for small employers and the hundreds of thousands of Oregonians they employ. Unfortunately, Democrats are becoming known around here as the party of ‘no’ and today proved to be no exception.” Continue reading
Defend Liberty! Youth Conference -
Saturday. May 25, Eugene
Liberty activists of all ages are encouraged to attend the Youth Conference on May 25 in Eugene. The Conference will strengthen the growing campus network of liberty-minded students and connect them with key Oregon organizations. Students should promptly apply for a Registration Scholarship (deadline: May 17), which makes them eligible for travel and lodging assistance.
Non-students will have the opportunity to engage with and support young activists who embrace freedom and limited government. Participants who belong to organizations that want more youth involvement will have a chance to advance that goal.Western Liberty Network is the event organizer. Sponsoring organizations include Young Americans for Liberty, Cascade Policy Institute, Freedom Foundation and Taxpayer Association of Oregon. Continue reading
by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
There is a troubling bill working it’s way through the Oregon state legislature.
SB 692 would create unnecessary energy efficiency mandates on televisions sold in Oregon. The industry is concerned because with more than 20 years of experience working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s ENERGY STAR program, we’ve found that voluntary, market-oriented and consumer-friendly policies and programs are superior to regulatory mandates in protecting innovation, consumer choice and competition while advancing energy efficiency in rapidly-changing electronic products and equipment. Continue reading
By Doug DeFilipps
The Beaverton City Council is considering exempting non-profit organizations that open new affordable housing units from paying the city’s property tax. An associate planner for the city said that “affordable units [are] going to be a major challenge in the future” because “[t]he housing market is tight, and a lot of affordable units in Beaverton are occupied by residents who could pay more but opt for cheaper housing.”
If the goal is affordable housing, then the city should ease the tax and regulatory burden on all development and businesses. That way it would be easier for developers to build new housing, and housing would become more affordable. If a major cause of the lack of affordable housing is “people who could pay more but opt for cheaper housing,” then it makes sense to try to give everyone more, less expensive options.
Continue reading
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